I have been visiting this park for years! This is on my "Host Suggestions" list when we have guests in town and is a hit every time! We visited the park recently and were on the hunt for as many bird species we could identify. Found some birds we had never seen before and it was so much fun trying to hunt them down by their calls. I've never not seen a gator when visiting but you had to take your time and look closely. I can't say enough about this park. Just $2 to enter the park. There are picnic areas you can reserve, volleyball courts, playgrounds, trails, restrooms and an onsite nature center. You really cannot ask for much more. Definitely worth the visit! read more

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One of the coolest parks in Tampa. You almost always get to see alligators. Beautiful boardwalk and walking trails. It costs $2 to park. The playground is also really nice and my son enjoys it. Dogs are allowed in this park as well. One star removed because the tower is now inaccessible. read more

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This is a gorgeous park. I loved having a quiet reflective morning here. There are so many beautiful plants and birds and the boardwalk is a beautiful way to enjoy them. You don't feel like something is lurking or like something will be crawling up your neck. Perfect for nature-lite people. I'll definitely return! read more

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If you're looking for the perfect place to hide in nature, this is the place. You can spot wildlife (we saw a gator, different birds, turtles, etc.) and clear your head on one of the many walking paths. They also seem to have a pavilion to rent for parties. read more

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A lovely refuge from the Florida heat. As soon as you turn in it's immediately a canopy of ancient trees. A canopy covered drive leads to several well kept small parking areas, trails, playgrounds and a boardwalk through the cypress trees and wildlife. It's just lovely here, chill and shady, plenty of spots to rest and view wildlife. Lots of birds and baby gators. The boardwalk is amazing. Everything is tidy and despite the drought still cool and lots to see. read more

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Such a nice little park and lots of wildlife. Would definitely stop there again and spend time.

Lettuce Lake Park was such a beautiful place to spend the morning with my family this past weekend. Parking was $2 and cash only upon entry. There was ample parking available. We walked the paved trail all around the park and got to check out the boardwalk too. We were able to see snakes, turtles, rabbits and alligators while we were here which was exciting. I didn't know there was a nature center building, but once we saw it we went ahead and checked it out. There was a lot of educational things about the park history, environment, animals, etc inside the building. On the outside of the nature center is a native plant garden. You can also rent canoes and kayaks, but we didn't do that on our visit. Overall: highly recommend! I will definitely be back especially with the weather cooling down later in the year! read more

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Everything was gorgeous. Plenty of trails to explore and the other amenities were just awesome! read more

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Took a walk here in December on the boardwalk. Did not see any alligators or crocodiles however saw different kinds of birds, turtles. I like watching the birds but I'm not the kind of person that memorizes all of the names. The weather was warm but not hot. You see other people walking some with families others with friends. Even the vegetation is neat. Water lilies, trees, plants. I'm from Illinois and lots of the flora etc I don't see back home. read more

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If you're in Tampa and you want a taste of some real Florida woods well...this is your place! (seriously though, if there are any other options, please let me know...) They have a lovely boardwalk system and your probability of seeing a gator is reasonably high! (we did, by the lookout...although, sadly, it looked like people had been feeding him :-/) They also have a bigass playground for the wildass kids. Admission is only $2, absolute STEAL. Only bummer is that they close PROMPTLY at 6pm. (with the boardwalk shutting down at 5:30pm) I get it though, gotta keep out all the drunkass Florida Man(s). read more

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Lettuce Lake Park is such a beautiful, peaceful escape from the city. This is truly a hidden gem! For just a $2 cash-only entrance fee, you get access to a little slice of Florida nature that feels like a secret getaway. The boardwalk is small but so charming, winding through the lush greenery with gorgeous views of the water. Perfect for a slow stroll, birdwatching, or just taking a moment to breathe and unwind. It's quiet, clean, and has this calming energy that makes it ideal for solo time or a sweet little nature date. If you're in Tampa and need a quick nature fix without driving too far, Lettuce Lake Park is 100% worth the visit. Bring some cash, wear comfy shoes, and don't forget your camera because you'll want to capture the beauty. read more

Easy spot to get to! Definitely worth a stop. Only $2 to enter and walk around. Boardwalk is well maintained and clean. They are doing an extension of the boardwalk but I didn't see that posted anywhere, was bummed to not do the full boardwalk loop but would definitely come again. The weather was fabulous. This area is very well shaded which helps in any weather. Wildlife vibe was on point. Though I don't have kiddos, this appears to be a family friendly area with a play ground. Road safety was great. read more

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From reading my first review, I see it's been 12 years since I last visited Lettuce Lake Park. Admission to the park is still $2. That's great considering that price remained the same. At the entrance you can also pay for kayak or canoe. Since we hadn't remembered what this park was like, we started at the boardwalk. This is a great walk in the trees, so super shaded with a sprinkle of sunshine here and there. We followed it around and enjoyed some views of random alligators either wading in the water or swimming. Found some perfect spots to sit in the shade and enjoy nature. Once we walked a little bit further, we found the observation tower. We climbed up a few sets of stairs to get the view from above. Afterwards we kept walking and saw where the kayak and canoe launch was. There is a map in that area too if you want to check it out. We decided to go back the way we came so we would know exactly where we were. We didn't want to be too late. We found the nature center which was closed, and a nice children's park. There you can also find a restroom beside it in the back. It was a great day for our walk at Lettuce Lake and I'm sure we will be back sooner than later. P.S. Yes it's dog friendly, but it does say by the boardwalk no dogs. read more

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I have been to this park many times and it's always clean and fun. We decided to go for an evening walk on the boardwalk and it was very enjoyable. Lots of wildlife and just nice being outside. read more

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Great state park! The cost is $2 per car/day. They have a boardwalk where you can see all different wildlife including gators, birds, fish , turtles, snakes and more! They have a newly renovated playground with climbing structures and areas for big and small kids. It's a great place to spend the day with the family! read more

Lettice Lake Park as a hidden gem off of Fletcher Avenue. It cost two dollars per carload to enter. There's plenty of parking, shade, kayaking & canoeing. The tower is great for site seeing. We saw gators, turtles and lots of birds. read more

Luckily I was able to salvage $2 in change from random places in my car lol. Didn't realize it's CASH ONLY. There's plenty of parking and we even came across a couple decent play areas. We went on a breezy spring day mid 70's so it was perfect weather. Lots to explore and love there's the option of going between rocky/dirt trails, pavement walkways and crossing over some wooden bridges all in the same jog/walk. Plenty of restrooms and entire park is maintained with minimal debris laying around. There's also plenty of dog bag stations so folks can bring their fur babies for some extra steps. Good place for people with disabilities, kids, the elderly, overall EVERYONE! Definitely recommend and will return soon. read more

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Amazing park. So much wildlife to see. Nice walking trails. $2 entrance fee. Best to pack a lunch and have a picnic. read more

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Always my very favorite park. Had a small family reunion here several years ago and it was a great place to celebrate. The park is always clean. My dog is always happy there. Wish I could get there every day. read more

The best! We go for birding! The trails are clean and cleared for the most part. The boardwalk is nice and we see plenty of animals. The entrance fee is cheap $2? read more

Lettuce Lake Park - Parks Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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An amazing and beautiful park to visit in Tampa Area. It has paved paths as well as include nature trails where you can see birds as well as alligators. It has a broad-walk through which one can walk and enjoy the beauty of the park. It also has public restrooms and water fountain available which are clean. Lettuce Lake park also has a playground where you can take your kids to play and enjoy. Pets are allowed in the park with lots of dog stands available. Lettuce lake park also has a lot of shelter areas which gives an ample of opportunity to do picnics in the park and enjoy as well as relish in the nature. One can canoe as well as kayak in the park which is an amazing opportunity. The entry fees to enter the park is 2$ in cash. In lettuce lake park you can definitely enjoy your weekend with the family with ample of opportunities for everyone to enjoy. read more

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I visited this park to participate in a guided Audubon bird walk at 9am on Saturday morning. This was arranged through the Tampa Audubon Society and is totally free, fun and informative! I arrived on time and met the friendly guide in the parking lot. There were about ten people that participated! Guided bird walks are amazing because all these experts find every possible bird which normal fast walkers like me miss! They stroll along, take their time and spot everything! We walked around the area and then on a boardwalk over waterways. It was truly serene and beautiful! We saw a water moccasin snake, 7 baby alligators and the mama gator plus tons of birds. We were lucky there was no rain for the first 1.5 hours of a planned 3 hour walk. Luckily, we were back near the parking lot when it started raining so I bowed out to avoid getting soaked. Here is the list of birds we spotted which included two new ones for my slowly growing life list! Swallow-tailed kite Tufted titmouse Carolina wren Little blue heron Snowy egret Great white heron Anhinga Chimney swift Northern parula Eastern bluebird (first time!) Prothonotary warbler (first time!) The prothonotary warbler was really spectacular and very brightly colored! Life is great with an amazing walk in nature! read more

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Had a day off, so went on a birding walk at Lettuce Lake Park. Did not take a long lens... so did not get any good shots... but still had a good time! Beautiful park, and I used to kayak through it often. Boardwalks are great, and there is a large variety of Florida critters and birds! read more

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Today is earth day and what better time to review Lettuce Lake Park! First of all it's $2 for admission into the park. Luckily my brother -law had cash. I think they said the entire path was 1.25 miles long. There was plenty of parking and it wasn't very crowded. We were there on a Tuesday around 2-3 pm. The boardwalk reminded me a lot of Australia's Daintree Forrest . I loved looking at all the wildlife. We saw alligators, frogs and snakes. We did see some people on kayaks and that looked fun too. It was breezy and shaded which made it extra relaxing. Loved this place ! read more

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My friend loves this park, and since I have never been, we met here one Friday morning to go for a brisk walk. You have the options to walk on a 1.25 mile paved walking path, a wood boardwalk, and/or the hiking trail. We did 2 loops around the paved path, with a detour to explore the whole boardwalk also. The boardwalk has a tower right next to the water that you can go up in and get a really good view of the scenery. I loved that there was wildlife to photograph close to the boardwalk, including some cool alligators and turtles sunbathing. I really liked this park and would definitely come here again. Like all Hillsborough County Parks, there is a fee to get in, or you can buy a yearly pass for $50. There was plenty of shade, so even in the summer it would be bearable to walk here. read more

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This place was amazing, the trails, the views and if you are crazy you can rent a kayak and get in lake with the gators. Yea I know haha I'm not crazy enough but some are. read more

I have wanted to visit this park for years. $2 per a car entry fee. I had heard so many great things about this park. It did not disappoint. They have lovely and extensive boardwalks to explore the park, along with paved pathways for walking & biking. There is a great view of the Hillsbrough River from the viewing tower. This is a great spot for bird watching. Sooo many birds resting in trees just across the River from the viewing tower. So cool! You can rent canoes/kayaks or launch your own there. Lots of nice picnic shelters to enjoy. There is playgrounds and it is a dog friendly park. The walking paths are easy and short. Just a few miles. It's easy to cut it up into a .5 mile hike or 3 mile hike if you wander around the paved paths, nature paths, and boardwalks. Check out the map of the park for hikes via the AllTrails app. read more

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My last visit was many years ago with my kids. It looks very different now in three respects. The boardwalk is much older and more delapidated, a huge amount of plant overgrowth now obscures much of the scenic view and lastly, the picnic areas were cordoned off with yellow tape and were not accessible. Hopefully temporary. Signs were posted regarding inspection. Time has taken a toll. The main attractions now seem to be the trails where I saw many dog walkers, joggers, walkers exercising and kayakers. The lake or maybe river had many canoes and kayakers. There were rental areas within the park but many seemed to come from outside the park. It is likely the best way to enjoy the views. The 3 story tower offers the best landside view of the water in both directions. There are clean facilities for those in need and everyone was polite and absorbed in their activities. Entry fees are very reasonable and there are signs everywhere to lead you. In the past wildlife was much more prevelant. On this occasion just a few birds and a turtle. I could see gator bubbles and hear some gator grunts but no sightings. It was a pleasant way to take an after lunch stroll. Do not lean on the railings above the water, some were not very stable. read more

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This is absolutely one of my favorite parks, it has a very nice trail and the birds and squirrels are very friendly. Keep your eyes open though because we have seen gators, deer, woodpeckers, and many other beautiful creatures. read more

What a lovely conservation area/state park. This park is kept very well and clean. There's several paved and non paved trails to walk along with the boardwalk area. There's an observation deck several flights high overlooking the river. There are canoes and kayaks to rent and I think they cost $25 for 4 hours then$10 each hour after that. If you want to rent kayak/canoes show up before noon. I believe they rent in 4 hour increments and I believe they stop renting at 2 pm. It's $2 per car to enter. You'll also pay for your canoe/kayak rental at the gate. There's several shelters and a park area as well as clean restrooms and drinking fountains. Park staff are wearing masks but I don't believe patrons have to. Lots of cleaning going on including the kayaks and canoes. We will definitely be going back! read more

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Awesome park !! So awesome , I came back a second time to have my anniversary picnic. My husband and I wanted to get out the house one day so I got on Google & decided to search some spots ! This place is a gem ! Cool place to hike and just be one with nature . I've been wanting to find an alligator since I moved to Florida and that day was my lucky day !! As We were leaving out , I was scoping some areas to have an anniversary picnic for my husband and found the perfect spot ! It was very private and we weren't ambushed by a lot of squirrels and bugs either ! read more

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It's been about a year since I visited this amazing park. It's still one of my favorite parks in the Tampa Bay area. You can walk, enjoy spectacular nature, see wild life (alligators and many birds), have a picnic, rent a kayak (only between 8-1 for 4 hours and it's 25$). Or bring a blanket and take a nap read more

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Paved trails as well as a really nice boardwalk that leads to an observation tower. Some paths are dirt as well which we found to be quieter. They have bathrooms and lots of parking. There are pavilions and picnic areas as well as a playground. We observed lots of alligators and some birds. The placards along the boardwalk describing the different animals, birds and plants was terrific. Unfortunately the worst part is the loud people.. use library voices please! read more

Lettuce Lake Park - Parks Near Me - Tampa, Florida

We have been doing the Hillsborough County Hiking Spree trails and this was our choice today. What a great place!!!!!! We started with the Boardwalk hike, which is really nice. I can't believe a park service would build a boardwalk over water like they did. The trees are beautiful and we got to see a few birds. There are nice signs on many of the plants, so we learned quite a bit. There is an observation tower which is an easy climb and provides nice views. It was an overcast day and it was pretty, so I can only imagine how pretty it would be on a sunny day. This is a park I would bring out of town guests so they could view the trees and plants of Florida. The park was fairly busy, even though the weather wasn't great. People were mostly respectful of social distancing and many wore masks outside. The boardwalk path is easily walked, and the paved loop path is very easy to walk. read more

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A very rich park filled with wildlife and solitude. Plenty of boardwalk along with paths and it wasn't very busy. It cost two bucks to get in and it was the best two dollars. I've spent a long time. read more

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Beautiful park, with access to a play ground, outdoor fitness equipment, picnic shelters and paddle boat/canoe rentals. However make no mistake, this park is a good example of wild Florida and offers a lot of paved and unpaved hiking as well as a boardwalk over wetlands with stellar plants and wild life to admire. read more

Amazing and very underrated county park! It has a boardwalk that cuts through the park, where you can see alligators and birds. The public restrooms were clean, the water fountains could use a scrub. There is a small fee to enter the park, but it's dog friendly! There's also shelters for picnics, and there's also canoe rentals. Great park, can't wait to return. read more

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Great conservation park located in North Hillsborough county. They have hiking trails, bird watching, canoe rental, a boardwalk and paved trails for walking. Well shaded so it's even nice in the summer. There's a lot of wildlife as well, I've often seein alligators. $2 entrance fee per vehicle. You can also reserve some of the covered areas for get togethers. Dog friendly on the paved trails. read more

Lettuce Lake Park - Parks Near Me - Tampa, Florida

This is a beautiful park.. the trails were wonderful with lots of wildlife. Can't wait to come back and explore more.

This is one of the nicest parks that we have found in the Tampa area. A great experience for the whole family. The views of nature are excellent. There are trails that are paved and wheelchair accessible. Some may find the trails to be a bit too easy and not find it interesting. file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/30/00/ACECCA7D-D4F7-4189-9594-56F191AC9473/IMG_1446.HEIC read more

Lettuce Lake Park - View from the boardwalk trail - Parks Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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