I love camping here! It is magical. We just don't love that the trails are closed off. So far we've…read morecamped here twice using the electric and water. In the summer we were in loop 1 and recently we grabbed a last minute spot in loop 2. Even though there were so many folks we still had a great experience. The dogs love that park. There is a 13 mile trail that is in and out and that would take us way too long especially with the heat. We adore this spot and will be back!!!

I love going to Hillsborough River State Park in Thonotosassa. We regurlarly enjoy its hiking…read moretrails, (we usually combined them all for a good for a 7 miles haul). The trails are tranquil and vary in difficulty from easy to somewhat hard. Along the way there are plenty of opportunities to watch the animal life of the area and capture them in photographs. There a plenty of benches and little nooks where to rest along the way, some good enough to enjoy a picnic! Besides hiking this park offers all kinds of amenities such as camping- (all, including glamping), biciclying, horseback riding, fishing, and canoe/kayak launching. There is a historical fort and grounds within but currently close for renovations, (I believe it is scheduled to open in November). At Hillsborough River State Park there is plenty to do to enjoy a great day outdoors!

Amazing and beautiful park to take a stroll around the lake. The restrooms are clean and parking is…read morevery easy. The hiking is very easy around the lake with the broad-walk around the lake. It is a great place for canoeing or kayaking where there are different boats. Lots of wildlife and gators to see around. There are different campgrounds too camp. Beautiful park to visit.

The was amazing I wish I could go there every day it is go for kayaking and fishing there byeread more

You'd never guess this beautiful park is tucked between Tampa and Brandon, right near the highway…read more For just $2, it's an incredible little oasis and a perfect Sunday evening stop. Parking is limited, but it wasn't busy when we visited about an hour before closing. The park features easy walking trails, a 0.3-mile boardwalk, a beautiful botanical garden, and my favorite, the greenhouse. It's amazing how much history and so many rare tropical plants are packed into just 31 acres. You can comfortably see everything in 1 to 2 hours. We spent the last part of our visit chatting with one of the groundskeepers, who was incredibly knowledgeable and clearly passionate about preserving the park's history and keeping everything so well maintained. This hidden gem is absolutely worth a visit.

Such a beautiful place. I would have never thought all that beauty was back there. A really nice…read moreplace to take some photos. And that is what we did. We used this place to take some graduations photos of me. We got some great shots in the different areas they have inside the park. The pergolas. The gazebos. The bridges. They all add a nice background for photos. So many beautiful plants and flowers also. I'm going to take my granddaughter for a walk in there. She will love it too.

Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve is a network of conservation areas that includes: Dead…read moreRiver Park, Flatwoods Park, John B. Sargeant Park, Morris Bridge Park, Trout Creek Park , Wilderness Park Off Road Loop Trail System, Jefferson Equestrian Area and Oak Ridge Equestrian Area. The area connects with Hillsborough River State Park. Here's the Southwest Florida Water Management District website: https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/lowerhillsborough.html

Absolutely so beautiful. Perfect spot to catch a sunset. Grab fresh air and just enjoy life!read more

Completed a 4.9 mile morning run at Blackwater Creek Preserve. Great nature trail for a good walk…read moreor run. Midway point through the trail you can enjoy the creek and sit for a good rest and possible deer sighting before finishing up.

I have been visiting this park for years!…read more 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!

One of the coolest parks in Tampa. You almost always get to see alligators. Beautiful boardwalk and…read morewalking 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.

Pleasant walk. Lots of birds. Quiet and peaceful. A hidden gem. What I like most is that I don't…read moreget bothered by mosquitos.

Mixed shade trail with stretches in the open sun so make sure you grab water and SPF up or grab a…read morehat prior to heading out. There are no loos at this park. The parking lot has about 8ish spaces and a covered pavilion. The trail entrances require a trek back on the road to which you came and a jaunt down the roadway. We are geocachers and were able to find one prior to getting to the trail head which was nice for the littles with us. We found 2 of 3 we set out for so I consider that a success. An armadillo was spotted as were birds and groups of nice folk using the preserve. I saw a number of good picnic spots if one were so inclined. Will be back to this quiet space tucked away in New Tampa area.

Went kayaking with my Ph.D-studying son. Perfect, mellow afternoon making our way upriver, checking…read moreout egrets, herons, ibises, lots of turtles and startled alligators. There is a decent amount of duckweed but it is easy to navigate through or around. The Spanish moss is languidly beautiful, as are the overhanging trees and the price of $5/kayak can't be beat. Great, hidden gem!

Love the park, easy to put our kayak in the water, and it is gorgeous.read more

If you like wildlife this is the place to be in Tampa. This is a great destination for outdoor…read moreenthusiasts. With numerous hiking trails, fishing spots, and picnic areas, this park offers something for everyone. clear waters of the Hillsborough River that runs through the park. The park is well-maintained and clean, with friendly and informative staff. There are also several campsites available for those who want to extend their stay. Overall, Hillsborough state park is an excellent place to relax, enjoy nature and engage in outdoor activities such as kayaking launch. There is a gift shop for light snacks. You will see wild life such as gators, tons of different fish and many different kind of birds. Admission is 6$, they take cash or card

We went glamping and it was a fun Experience. My family found it to be a ton a fun. The AC made a…read moreworld of difference during the angry Florida summer. I would recommend if you want to go camping with training wheels.

This is a nice park for walking near the Hillsborough River. It has clean bath rooms and plenty of…read moreparking. There is also a very small butterfly garden with the native plants identified via signs. Some of the trails have boardwalks to avoid the extremely swampy bits but other trails were flooded due to the recent tropical storm. If it's rained recently, I'd recommend being prepared to get quite wet. The address doesn't actually take you exactly here so I'm not sure if this park has an accurate address. Nevertheless, life is good with a nice hike via trails through peaceful woods with the birds singing!