The best day hikes depends on what you are looking for. When I want a hike in the mountains, I head for Georgia and North Carolina. When I want to see wildlife, I hike in several amazing parks in the Tampa Bay Area. My favorites are a county park named Lettuce Lake, Hillsborough River State Park and a wilderness area called Flatwoods.
Lettuce Lake forms part of the flood plain for the Hillsborough River. During the dry season the entire “lake” can dry up. I’ve even see turkeys with their chicks foraging along the dry flood plain. During the summer after heavy rains, the “lake” frequently connects two parts of the river. A boardwalk borders much of the flood plain, and from this boardwalk in early spring, you can see a nesting pair of Ospreys raise their young in a tall cypress tree. At the east end of this boardwalk you may be lucky to see nesting Night Herons in late winter. On warm, sunny days alligators bask on logs, joined by turtles and snakes. In the late fall and early spring migrating birds travel through Lettuce Lakes on their journeys.
A 1.25 mile paved bike, roller blade and walking trail curves through the park. I often see tortoises, rabbits and armadillos having dinner along the side of the path. Throughout the park, there are trails through oak, pine and scrub habitat. One trail leads to a Cypress Dome. You can easily walk three miles in this park without repeating the same path.
If you want to avoid the crowds arrive early. During the summer months, camp kids often visit the park with their counselors. The nature trails through the woods offer a quiet walk.
This park offers extremely easy hiking in the woods and along the boardwalk. However, the park can flood. The boardwalk has been closed because it was under water. I have walked on the boardwalk when there is no water underneath, and I have walked on it, when the water touched the bottom of the boards I was walking on. I watched a yellow rat snake swim up to the boardwalk, lift his head, make his way onto the boardwalk, wiggle to the other side and back into the water to swim away. The trails can also flood, but this is rare.
For someone who is nervous about snakes, don’t be. I find them, because I am looking for them.
For a quick trip in the woods, Lettuce Lake is my favorite.
After your visit to Lettuce Lake, head north on 301 to Hillsborough State Park or follow Fletcher north to Flatwoods.
If you drive nine miles north on 301 towards Zephyrhills, you will find the Hillsborough River State Park on the West side of the road. Make sure you pick up a park map from the park rangers as you enter. Trails are marked, but it is possible to get lost in this large park. Two bridges allow passage to the far side of the river and access to some of the excellent trails that follow the river and then circle into the oak hammock. One bridge is stationary and the second is a suspension bridge. The bridges offer a frame of reference to find out where you are on the river. There are over seven miles of trails, all of which are easy.
During my hikes I have seen alligators, turtles tortoises, hawks, owls, herons, egrets, lizards, armadillos, raccoons and opossums. Not to mention small critters like spiders and marvelous insects. I have seen some amazing plants including lilies, bromeliads and wild flowers along the trails, in the trees and in the water.
I love Hillsborough River State Park, because there’s so much to do, so many trails to explore and the park isn’t terribly crowded. This park also offers canoeing and camping.
If you want to go in the woods to walk the trails, bring bug spray. During some parts of the year, the mosquitoes are intense. The woods can flood, but many of the trails are equipped with boardwalks over areas prone to flooding.
When I want to hike and feel alone in Tampa, I go to Flatwoods. I enter through the entrance off Morris Bridge Road. There’s a Visitor Center and two parking lots. One parking lot is right off the paved trail. If I want to hike, I take one of the many trails inside or outside the paved loop. Mountain bikers also use these trails, so stay alert. Even though you are never far from the people on the loop, it feels as though you are alone. I have seen alligators, deer, opossums, owls and hawks while I roam in the woods. I came quite literally toe to nose with an armadillo. They focus so intently on the snuffling for grub, they sometimes fail to notice people walking right up on them.
If you go in the morning, you may be rewarded by seeing animals with their young feeding at the side of the trails. Mostly I have seen pigs and deer. In the evening right before sundown, I race around on the 7-mile paved loop road on my roller blades. Because it is warm, snakes often bask the road. I have found pygmy rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, garter snakes, black racers, red and yellow rat snakes. I admire them, and then shoo the snakes off the paved area for their safety. If you are not a fan of snakes, leave about an hour before sundown. The paved road is heavily used by bicyclers, walkers and skaters. Park Rangers keep coolers stocked with ice water and paper cups.
Flatwoods is such a big park, you can easy hike for several hours. Much of the park is forested or wetlands, so there’s a good range of habitats for a variety of wildlife. Some trails connect to other nearby parts of the wilderness park.
Even though Tampa is a large city, many parks offer short, easy hikes with a variety of wildlife and habitats to keep things interesting. You don’t need to travel far to feel like you are in the wilds of Florida.
Lettuce Lake County Park
Where: Fletcher Avenue in Tampa, just west of I-75 (entrance north side of road)
Open times: Spring/Summer 8 AM – 7:30 PM and Fall/Winter 8 AM – 5:30 PM
Size: 240 acres
Entrance Fee: Free. Donations are appreciated.
Amenities: Dogs on leach welcome, restrooms throughout park, water fountains (including dog fountains), visitor center.
Animals I have seen: Alligator, turtle, tortoise, Eastern Diamond Back Rattlesnake, Cotton Mouth, Rat Snakes, Black racer, Broad-headed Skink, Cuban and Florida Anole, Osprey, Red Shouldered Hawk, Bald Eagle, Barred Owl, Roseate Spoonbill, Anhinga, Wood Stork, Great Blue Heron, Louisiana Tri Color Heron, Little Blue Heron, Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Limpkin, Pileated Woodpecker, armadillo, cottontail rabbit, raccoon, opossum and a family of otters.
http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/parks/parkservices/regionalsites.cfm?facilitydetailid=524&&large;=true
Hillsborough River State Park
Where: 9 miles north of Tampa on US Highway 301 (entrance west side of road)
Open times: 8 AM to Sundown
Size: 3400 acres
Entrance Fee: $2-$6 (See website for details)
Amenities: Restrooms throughout the park, water fountains, camping, camp store, swimming pool (currently closed for repairs), canoe launch, canoe and bike rental, Visitor Center for Fort Foster, picnic areas and pavilions.
Animals I have seen: Alligator, turtle, tortoise, Cotton Mouth, Rat Snakes, Black racer, Cuban and Florida Anole, Osprey, Red Shouldered Hawk, Bald Eagle, Anhinga, Ibis, Great Egret, Pileated Woodpecker, armadillo, cottontail rabbit, raccoon and opossum.
http://www.floridastateparks.org/hillsboroughriver/
Flatwoods (Part of the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Park (LHWP)
Where: First entrance is off Morris Bridge Road (CR 579) and the second entrance is off Bruce B. Downs (CR 581) in Tampa
Open times: Sunrise to sunset
Size: 5400 acres
Entrance Fee: Free. Donations are appreciated.
Amenities: Restrooms at parking lots, water fountains and ice-cold water coolers with cups along the trail,
Animals I have seen: Alligator, turtle, tortoise, Pygmy Rattlesnake, Cotton Mouth, Rat Snakes, Black racer, Garter Snakes, Barred Owl, Cuban and Florida Anole, Osprey, Red Shouldered Hawk, Barred Owl, Ibis, Pileated Woodpecker, armadillo, cottontail rabbit, raccoon, opossum, deer and pigs. http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/lh-flatwoods.html
References:
Ohr, Tim. Florida’s Fabulous Natural Places. Tampa: World Publications, 1999.
Ohr, Tim. Florida’s Fabulous Trail Guide. Tampa: World Publications, 2001.
