Hillsborough River State Park, FL

Trail Description

Hillsborough River State Park is very beautiful and wild. It is very jungle like once you get onto the trails on the north side of the river. Visibility is quite limited because of the vegetation, which is very diverse including palmetto, pine, oak, sable palms and a variety of shrubbery and vines. The park does not allow swimming in the river because of alligators,but a public swimming pool is provided (an additional admission fee is charged for not campers). The park also rents canoes for getting out on the river. A word of warning: In July, the mosquitoes are FEROCIOUS and will SWARM you even with insect repellent (I used a biorganic repellent, I think it worked well for the concentration of mosquitoes. Pure DEET may be better). We also had a few biting flies. Again, the mosquitoes are so thick you run into them while walking, several will light on you hand while taking pictures, and you feel like you cannot stop walking or you will be devoured. - kurtisk

The second trail in this trip is the longest in the park. It is called the Florida Trail because it was created and maintained with the help of the Suncoast Chapter of the Florida Trail Association. This trail is accessed from Parking Lot #4, near the Spirit of the Woods Poolside Cafe. To access the trail, make your way through the picnic area to the south end of the stationary bridge. Across the bridge and up the path less than 100 yards is a trailhead map for the Florida and Maynard trails. Follow the spur to the left to start the Florida trail. I have included waypoints for all 14 marker posts along the trail, although I am not confident of my waypoint for #13. The trail begins along the river for approximately 1.25 miles. In July there are many very wet areas of the trail that have a few inches of standing water and cannot be navigated around without wet shoes. Waterproof boots are recommended, possibly hip waders, be warned. 2.2 miles along the trail, next to trail marker post #10 is the spur for the primitive campsite. I didn't go down it as it was flooded, but the map indicates it is only 0.1 miles off the loop trail. One more mile of trail brings you back to the 'Y' to finish the loop. The elapsed time from the stationary bridge around the Florida Trail loop and back to the bridge was almost exactly 2 hours, even with the slow navigating through the swamps. - kurtisk

This hike included two separate trails in the park, both of which are on the north side of the river. The first trail was the Maynard trail ( listed as 1.1mi). The trail is broken up into 4 sections by 4 numbered posts with emergency information on them. I hiked the trail backwards starting from Parking Lot #3. This trail really begins at the south end to the suspension bridge, but you walk through the extensive picnicking area before reaching the bridge. The trail then runs briefly along the river. The trail soon turns and heads back along the northern border of the park. In July there are very wet areas of the trail that have a few inches of standing water and cannot be navigated around without wet shoes. Waterproof boots are recommended. The trail ends at the stationary bridge, which is about 0.2 river miles west of the suspension bridge. To close the loop for the Maynard Trail you can make your way along well worn paths on either side of the river back to the suspension bridge. The elapsed time from the trailhead to the south end of the stationary bridge was 41 min with no significant elevation changes. - kurtisk

Trail Statistics

Map Length: 4.64 miles / 7.46 km

Real Length: 4.64 miles / 7.46 km

Elevation Range: 0 - 0 feet / 0 - 0 meters

Elevation Traveled: 0 feet (0 up, 0 down)

0 meters (0 up, 0 down)

Elevation per Mile: 0 feet / 0 meters

Activities: Hiking

Elevation Profile