KEEP CALM and HIKE ON
All Florida State Parks, and most park facilities, have reopened. Most Florida State Parks are operating from 7AM to sunset, but there may be some exceptions. The public can now access most trails, boat ramps, marinas, golf courses and other outdoor recreation opportunities. Most park facilities - Visitor Centers, park offices, restrooms, etc.- are also open. Playgrounds and other social gathering places may be open as well. Signage throughout the parks will encourage proper social distancing and provide information about the cleaning standards for particular facilities or spaces.
Parks or areas of parks could be closed when the capacity is reached. Check out our COVID-19 Closures page for the most up to date information
Hillsborough County
Boyette Scrub Preserve, Riverview: Balm-Boyette Scrub Preserve encompasses almost 5,000 acres of prime wilderness habitat with some of the watershed's most scenic hiking trails. Natural habitats include sand pine scrub, xeric oak scrub, pine flatwoods, hardwood hammock, wet prairie, freshwater marsh, cypress swamp, and hardwood swamp. Many protected species of plants and animals may be seen here, such as Florida golden aster, Eastern indigo snake, Sherman's fox squirrel, sandhill crane, Southeastern American kestrels and gopher tortoise. Triple Creek Preserve adjoins Balm-Boyette Scrub's north boundary with 2 miles of hiking trails linking to the Balm-Boyette trail. Both properties were purchased by Hillsborough County under the Environmental Land Acquisition program.
Little Manatee River State Park, Wimauma: Little Manatee River State Park's nature trails have been designated as some of best hiking trails in south Hillsborough County . The Florida National Scenic Trail runs through the park and is maintained by Florida Trail Association. A 6.5-mile loop here is listed as one of their top trails in the state, taking hikers through a diversity of habitats in the park's northern wilderness area. All hikers must register at the park's ranger station. Wildflowers and songbirds are abundant in spring and fall.
Flatwoods Park, Thonotosassa: Northeast of Tampa is the 5,400-acre Flatwoods Park, part of the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve with more than 60 miles of forest trails within five parks. With entrances on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and Morris Bridge Road, Flatwoods Park is best known for its paved 7-mile loop which is popular for biking. The park is on the Great Florida Birding Trail, but watch out for off-road bicyclists, too, who frequently use these trails. Adjacent parks in the preserve include Dead River Park, John B. Sargeant Park, Morris Bridge Park, and Trout Creek Park.
Hillsborough River State Park, Thonotosassa: Adjoining the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve is the 3,000-acre Hillsborough River State Park, noted for its natural setting of pine flatwoods, hardwood hammock and cypress swamp. Hikers can enjoy four trails with over 7 miles of trails, including a sub-section of the Florida Trail. Pick up a trail map at the ranger station. If it's rainy season, call ahead (813-987-6771) to check on trail conditions as much of the property is prone to seasonal flooding.
The Old Fort King Trail, a supply route from Tampa to Ocala during the Seminole and Civil wars, is now a trail that connects the state park to the adjacent wilderness preserve. The trailhead is located in nearby John B. Sargeant Park.
Pinellas County
Brooker Creek Reserve, Tarpon Springs. Under the Pinellas County umbrella, the 8,300-acre Brooker Creek Preserve in north county offers 5 miles of easy marked trails perfect for families. An excellent education center (open only on weekends) is a good place to begin a hike. Trails meander through forested wetlands, pine flatwoods, cypress swamps and palmetto plains . Portions of the trails include boardwalks; keep an eye out for wading birds, deer, snakes and gopher tortoises. Check the web site for guided walking tours to spot birds and native plants which are offered regularly.
Honeymoon Island State Park and Caladesi State Park, Dunedin: These two adjacent state parks offer excellent bird watching opportunities thanks to their coastal location on the Gulf. The star is Honeymoon Island, where hikers will spot osprey and eagle nests, a wide variety of shorebirds, and one of the few remaining virgin slash pine forests in South Florida. Start at the excellent Nature Center before taking a jaunt on one of the easy, marked trails perfect for beginners and families. Accessible only by boat or ferry from Honeymoon Island, Caladesi Island's 3-mile trail that winds through the interior of the island makes a fine hike, but walkers who stroll the adjacent shoreline will be richly rewarded with seabird and shorebird sightings.
Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, St. Petersburg: Located on Lake Maggiore in the heart of south St. Petersburg, Boyd Hill Nature Preserve offers 3 miles of nature trails over 245 acres and five ecosystems. Bring your binoculars, this is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail. An extensive program of guided hikes makes this a great destination for a family outing.
Fort De Soto Park, Tierre Verde: The largest park within the Pinellas County park system, Fort De Soto Park consists of 1,136 acres of diverse habitat from beaches to mangroves, wetlands, palm hammocks, and hardwoods. A top birding destination as well as sea turtle nesting site from April to September, the park affords plenty of opportunities for wildlife watchers. Seven miles of paved multi-use trail connects both ends of the park while a 1-mile nature trail in the Arrowhead Picnic area, and a 3/4 mile nature trail in the Soldiers' Hole area provides a glimpse of some the native fauna and flora. Free one-hour nature walks geared for families are offered Saturdays and Sundays at 10 am from the main Ranger Station; registration required by calling (727) 893-9185.
Manatee County
Hiking opportunities for nature lovers abound at Manatee Country Preserves. A variety of birds and wildlife take refuge in the preserves' pine flatwoods, hardwood swamps, xeric oak scrub, depression marsh, and vast dry prairie. Keep an eye out for burrowing owl, snowy egret, white ibis, gopher tortoise, and at least two endangered/threatened species, the Florida scrub jay and the eastern indigo snake.
For a description of all preserves with location and trail information, go to mymanatee.org.
Preserves known for hiking include Duette Preserve, the largest in the system, with over 21,000 acres and 16 trails crossing the Manatee River in various locations. The preserve is closed to visitors during Hunt Weekends.
Emerson Point Preserve, at the mouth of the Manatee River, offers hiking along several miles of paved and packed shell trails and boardwalks and via a 60 foot tall observation tower. The 487-acre
Robinson Preserve offers hiking on packed shell trails and boardwalks along waterways, marshlands and uplands, and a 50-foot observation tower.
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