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    Bell Creek Nature Preserve

    4.1 (21 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Bell Creek Nature Preserve Photos

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    Nice hike just off McMullen rd. Trails are easy to get to and easy to walk on. Some trails are mostly sand, so be ready if you're pushing a stroller. You can view many places where gopher tortoises go to nest.

    Bullfrog creek nature preserve on the Hillsborough county hiking spree
    Nicole M.

    This is a deceivingly long almost 5 mile primitive sandy trail. There are plenty of tracks of coyotes deer and boar to keep you occupied. I would bring water or a coffee as the walking trail is long. The trail is dog friendly! Tip: when driving up drive past the sign and down the long dirt road behind the houses and keep going until you see a sign not to hop the fence and this is where you will park and start.

    Resting in the shade
    Macy B.

    Very nice hiking spot for us and our large dogs. Saw lots of wildlife, especially turtles on the yellow path. Beware that the map at the front shows one way only in miles. We thought it was going to be a couple miles max and we ended up doing almost 4! No big deal, definitely user error. We will definitely be back to do the other paths. Hoping that the others are more into the woods as the yellow path was mostly an old paved road.

    New sign - Employees Only!
    Kathy T.

    This was a fun hike. It really isn't much, but there is some beauty to be seen. It's just nice to be able to leisurely stroll and take in all the greenery. I am sure during the Spring there are lots of wildflowers. We ran across very few when we went. It mostly was just very green. The trails are marked. The people who run the nature preserve are very nice when we met them inside the air conditioned structure. We were shown a map and various other amenities. I would just go during early Spring or Fall months. It is very hot and humid during the Summer, as Florida summers are sweltering. Make sure you bring lots of water and wear comfortable shoes.

    Jerome L.

    A little too crowded for my comfort level but a nice bike path trail with some great views of the river, peaceful, quiet and serene. Some sand and some root branches growing underneath path. Watch some path areas carefully.

    Cocoon   By Journeys photography 941  #Jp941

    These preserve has been my oasis away from everything. Everything I mean, COVID-19, this Preserve has been open most of the time and it's big enough for social distancing. I have been visiting this place for the last 6 moths, I had no idea it existed. Funny story, I got lost, haha, yes I did but it was well worth it. I can meditate, have a picnic, jog/running, and have lunch by the pond. It's peaceful and during the day, it has shade in some areas. I would recommend wearing a hat and good shoes, water will be a plus during mid day. I am a local photographer and I find this place a little peace of heaven. I will share some photos just to show the beauty in the preserve. Also, you will see different plants and animals throughout the year.

    The Beginning!
    Jessica T.

    There is a red building that is across from the parking lot that is The Conservation and Lands Management Department to the park. ~~~~~~~~~~~ There are trucks and other vehicles and buildings in storage in the back of the office building that's only used for staff. This is where we met Andy and he took us inside so he could tell us a little bit about the park. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ There is a parking lot but it's small and there isn't a fee to enter or to walk the trails. We signed up to receive monthly e-mails about activities that we maybe interested in. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The trails are more for walking than running or biking. You come up to a fork in the middle of the path and it's your decision to decide which path to take. I would like to explore both paths but not in the same day. It is best to hike in the mid morning in the hotter months and in the colder months anytime is good. There is a creek that runs along one of the trails that is more active during the cooler months especially when it rains because the creek rises up and there is more habitat and wildlife to see. There are some bugs in this park which changes according to season. SEE YOU SOON!

    Entrance
    Bo W.

    This park has a lot of potential, but is lacking the general maintenance and upkeep expected from a public park. The trails were so overgrown, it was unclear if we were on the right path. Even from the entrance, with signage and everything, it just didn't look like a park. Not very inviting. Hopefully in the near future this place will get the attention it deserves.

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    Alderman's Ford Park

    Alderman's Ford Park

    4.7
    (38 reviews)
    9.6 mi

    I sweared i wrote an update review about my last visit. O_o im going crazy. Lol just wanted to add…read morea heads up. The last hurricane that beat our nuts off changed the landscape of the park a bit. Theres alot of trees and branches blocking the rivers but no problem. I did noticed that the asphalt is cracked and chunks are missing in some areas. I don't recommend a skateboard or roller blades without gear. It will be fine in some sections and then you'll see the damage show up in some sections. Totally safe for runners and bicycles. I went with my temporary wheel chair n i had a couple sections that i chose to walk it by. If you have like a pro chair with air wheels? You'll be ok. The wooded areas a bit slippery, although theres shade everywhere? This is the wrong season to ho there at the moment. It is freaking hot and humid even in the shade. Please bring a cooler with you. Local shops sell backpack coolers or even a small sling one is enough. There are fountains and bathroom every few miles though so no fear if you are fit or don't have disabilities. Bring a freaking camera theres tons of fish in the river that can be seen from the crystal clear water and you'll even see tortoises just walking around the property. Its totally ok to look at them. The only time i have intervened is when they walk into the parking lot or road and i just pray they don't pee on me. It is illegal to even do that but i rather risk a ticket over a dead turtle. Please me careful driving to either side of the parking lot cuz they even cross the main road and i have stop traffic to move em. I like dashing in this area cuz i can either stop here for nap on cooler days or if im lucky? Stop at ricks meat down the road. Its a local butcher, they also make these massive sandwiches at great price and they tend to have a bbq truck outside too. The parking? Is hella small n its always packed. Parking is self serve, they upgraded from the "hope" system to a booth. As in "i hope people are paying for parking" now its 100% you have to pay n put the ticket on the dashboard or else the tortoises will take your car away. Lol The lid park looked well kept, the first come first serve shelters look good too. They big enough to throw a party. They have their own water faucets and grill. The water access has like a tub, i am presuming its so your dog drinks water from it. I recommend you use a bowl though. Never know who uses those for other things. I also noticed theres more sitting areas. Theres a couple hidden spots that look safe to look closer i would be a bit cautious cuz i was stepping over a dirt bridge n then when i looked at it at another angle i was shocked that it was just roots. O_o like theres a ton of areas that got torn up by the last hurricane that hit us. Gators? Never seen them but its Florida i don't recommend going in the water unless using boat ramp. Boat ramp, when i was there, the water level was way too low and i didn't feel safe to go down the steep ramp. I was too exhausted for my walk i didn't trust i had the energy to climb out. Usually u can see the water from the top all i saw was grass. Sound, near the over pass is loud from cars but cool area for kickass pictures. The rest of the park is windy with nice river sound. Especially in the wooden loop. Its the closest it gets to the river. It is very beautiful how you can see bass and trout just swimming by. Space is tight it has a parking area for chairs and bikes. Plenty of places to sit and two shelters to nap. If you are an audiophile / AMSR sensitive like me? This is the area to just sit n record n let the beautiful sounds take you away. I think i recorded like a solid hour of just stereo ambience. I think i covered everything. Thanks for reading and please stay hydrated!

    Great park with paved pathways & a raised boardwalk. Map at location and different map online made…read morenavigating difficult as far as where the raised boardwalk side was. Would've been nice for a sign at entrance to paths. Scens and views were great. Need sign explaining the orange water. No sounds of birds in our 90 minutes there. No gators, no turtles. Guy on cart driving around but not saying hello or checking in. Never found bathrooms. Parking is a reasonable $2. Some beautiful play equipment and an exercise court of assistive equipment for working out. Boardwalk beginning to sound rickety! Hope they check it regularly. Would be nice if a few plants/trees were labeled/classified. Eg. are the purple berries edible?? Love this park.

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    Alderman's Ford Park
    New playground
    New playground
    Alderman's Ford Park

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    Timberline Glamping

    Timberline Glamping

    3.8
    (12 reviews)
    21.8 mi

    The last time I went camping was in the 20th century, and I was an Eagle Scout. Wanting to ensure…read moreour first "camping" experience since then would be one to remember and inspire more, I chose glamping to reduce the heavy lifting. And boy, am I glad I did. Not because of the: - Ice-cold AC that felt like a personal Arctic breeze - Mini fridge that perfectly held all our essentials (and a sneaky stash of chocolate for S'mores) - Keurig coffee maker that made mornings in the wild feel like a cozy café - Extremely comfy beds that cradled us like marshmallows - Strategically placed fan keeping the cool air flowing and the bugs away - All in a safe, clean, well-appointed tent and campsite that made us feel like nature royalty But also for the pure joy of being able to immerse ourselves in nature with none of the hassle. In just five minutes, you could be on the river or fishing. We saw everything from alligators and turtles to amazing birds. The water was crystal clear, and the campers were extremely friendly and respectful. Even the shower water was hot with great pressure - a true luxury in the wild. For novices and pros alike, this is the perfect way to introduce kids and adults to camping. You get the best of both worlds - the thrill of the great outdoors with the comforts of home. However, a quick tip for fellow glampers: make sure the Velcro seams on your tent are sealed. Otherwise, you might wake up at 3 am to a raccoon staring at you eye to eye, munching on a bag of Cheetos. Trust me, nothing says "good morning" quite like a critter with a penchant for junk food and personal space invasion! In the end, our glamping trip was the perfect blend of comfort and adventure. Whether you're a seasoned camper or a first-timer, this experience is bound to leave you with great memories and a newfound appreciation for the great outdoors - with the added bonus of a good night's sleep and no backaches. Plus, you get to tell the tale of your midnight raccoon rendezvous - a true badge of glamping honor!

    I made a reservation for August 7 and 8 and canceled it in writing on July 18. I received no…read moreresponse until July 22 from Sarah asking if I wanted to cancel "as the final balance is scheduled to be charged on Friday". I sent another email asking for cancellation and Sarah says "I have canceled your reservation". The reservation should already have been canceled, based on my July 18 written request.

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    Timberline Glamping
    Timberline Glamping
    Timberline Glamping

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    Bell Creek Nature Preserve - hiking - Updated August 2026

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