WELCOME TO
Hillsborough County
Nature Preserves
Welcome to Hillsborough County
Nature Preserves
Hillsborough County Conservation &
Environmental Lands Management oversees
63,000 acres of preserved land that protects
wildlife habitat and offers nature-based
recreation. Additionally, these lands provide flood
protection, improve air quality, and naturally
filter water.
Nature preserves are open daily from sunrise to
sunset, unless posted otherwise.
The Nature Preserve Experience
Be Prepared. Be Safe.
Hillsborough County Nature Preserves provide a
primitive wilderness experience. On a preserve,
development is kept to a minimum to protect
natural areas and wildlife. Most nature preserve
access points have small, unpaved parking lots for
a trailhead and no amenities other than a small
kiosk to provide trail information. In most cases
they do not have restrooms or running water
available. Trails are unpaved, may be underwater
and/or muddy, contain limited trail markers,
may consist of rough terrain, and may expose
trail users to extreme environmental conditions.
When visiting a nature preserve always bring:
1. The correct trail map for your destination
2. A compass or GPS
3. Plenty of drinking water
4. Appropriate shoes
5. Sun protection
Using Blazes to Guide Your Way
A trail blaze is colored paint--usually red, blue,
or yellow--marked on posts or trees that help
to guide you in the proper direction while hiking
or horseback riding. Whenever you come to an
intersection, look ahead in each direction for the
colored blaze of the trail you are on and continue
in that direction. Even though a trail may be
marked with blazes, you should still always
carry a map.
HCFLGov.net/Conservation
Administrative Office
10940 McMullen Road, Riverview, FL 33569
(813) 672-7876
Visit our webpage to download trail maps
HCFLGov.net/Conservation
Explore Hillsborough
County’s Wild Side
ELAPP Nature Preserves
The Jan K. Platt Environmental Lands
Acquisition and Protection Program
(ELAPP) is a voluntary program established
for the purpose of identifying, acquiring,
preserving and protecting environmentally-
sensitive lands within Hillsborough
County. It is a citizen-based program with
volunteer committees involved in every key
aspect of the process. Through 2019, the
program had acquired more than 63,000
acres of conservation land. Hillsborough
County residents and visitors can access
much of this protected land for passive
recreation, such as hiking, wildlife viewing,
birdwatching, fishing, paddling, and
horseback riding.

NATURE PRESERVES
1a. Alafia River Corridor Nature Preserve-North Entrance
9256 South County Road 39, Plant City
Acreage: 4,986, Miles of trail: 8
1b. Alafia River Corridor Nature Preserve-South Entrance
931 Old Welcome Road, Lithia
Miles of trail: 9
2. Alafia Scrub Nature Preserve
10243 Elbow Bend Road, Riverview
Acreage: 80, Miles of trail: 2
3. Alderman’s Ford Nature Preserve
8911 Turkey Creek Road, Plant City
Acreage: 983, Miles of trail: 2.5
4. Apollo Beach Nature Preserve
6767 Surfside Blvd., Apollo Beach
Acreage: 58, Miles of trail: .02
5. Bahia Beach Nature Preserve
2513 W. Shell Point Road, Ruskin
Acreage: 224, Miles of trail: 1
6. Balm Boyette Scrub Nature Preserve
15102 County Road 672, Wimauma
Acreage: 4,871, Miles of trail: 31
7. Bell Creek Nature Preserve
10940 McMullen Road, Riverview
Acreage: 477, Miles of trail: 5
8. Blackwater Creek Nature Preserve
2469 Patrinostro Road, Plant City
Acreage: 2,161, Miles of trail: 6
9a. Brooker Creek Headwaters Nature Preserve*
18102 Ramblewood Road, Odessa
Acreage: 1,120, Miles of trail: 5
9b. Brooker Creek Headwaters Nature Preserve*
7020 Lutz Lake Fern Road, Odessa
Miles of trail: 5
10. Camp Bayou Nature Preserve
4140 24th St. S.E., Ruskin
Acreage: 160, Miles of trail: 2
11. Cockroach Bay Nature Preserve
3839 Gulf City Road, Ruskin
Acreage: 995, Miles of trail: 7
12. Cockroach Creek Nature Preserve
4110 Valroy Road, Ruskin
Acreage: 550, Miles of trail: 3
13. Cypress Creek Nature Preserve
18000 Lizard’s Tail Road, Tampa
Acreage: 2,685, Miles of trail: 3
14. Diamondback Nature Preserve
5602 W. Gray St., Tampa
Acreage: 9, Miles of trail: 0.12
15. Ekker Nature Preserve
11002 Ekker Road, Gibsonton
Acreage: 87, Miles of trail: 1
16a. Fish Hawk Creek Nature Preserve- North Entrance**
3931 Lithia Springs Road, Lithia
Acreage: 2,549, Miles of trail: 2
16b. Fish Hawk Creek Nature Preserve- South Entrance
16640 Boyette Road, Riverview
Miles of trail: 2
17. Fred & Idah Schultz Nature Preserve
5906 Kracker Ave., Gibsonton
Acreage: 134, Miles of trail: 2
18. Golden Aster Scrub Nature Preserve
12181 East Bay Road, Gibsonton
Acreage: 1,181, Miles of trail: 5
19. Lake Dan Nature Preserve***
19116 Huckavalle Road, Odessa
Acreage: 1,170, Miles of trail: 6
20. Lake Frances Nature Preserve***
11009 Tarpon Springs Road, Odessa
Acreage: 1,664, Miles of trail: 6
21a. Little Manatee River Corridor Nature Preserve-
West Entrance
2510 Leonard Lee Road, Wimauma
Acreage: 8,164, Miles of trail: 4
21b. Little Manatee River Corridor Nature Preserve-
East Entrance
2608 S. County Road 579, Wimauma
Miles of trail: 3
22. Lower Green Swamp Nature Preserve
3540 East Knights Griffin Road, Plant City
Acreage: 12,837, Miles of trail: 20
23. Rhodine Scrub Nature Preserve*****
12108 Rhodine Road, Riverview
Acreage: 500, Miles of trail: 3
24. Rocky Creek Trails Nature Preserve****
7415 Manhattan Drive, Tampa
Acreage: 16, Miles of trail: 0.45
25. Town ‘N Country Nature Preserve******
8304 Montague St., Tampa
Acreage: 126, Miles of trail: 1
26. Triple Creek Nature Preserve
13305 Balm Boyette Road , Riverview
Acreage: 904, Miles of trail: 5
27. Violet Cury Nature Preserve
1802 Sinclair Hills Road, Lutz
Acreage: 161, Miles of trail: 2
28. Wolf Branch Nature Preserve
481 Villemaire Road, Apollo Beach
Acreage: 1,417, Miles of trail: 2
* The Brooker Creek Headwaters Nature Preserve Lutz Lake Fern access point
shares a parking lot with the Upper Tampa Bay Trail. There is a $2 per vehicle
parking fee.
** The parking lot for the FishHawk Creek Nature Preserve North is located inside
Lithia Springs Conservation Park. There is a $2 per vehicle entry fee.
*** Horse trailer parking to access the Lake Dan and Lake Frances trail system
is located at the Lake Frances entrance, 11009 Tarpon Springs Road. Hours for
Lake Dan and Lake Frances vary by season. Please check the website for current
preserve hours.
**** A $2 per vehicle parking fee applies.
***** Parking lot is located in Steven J. Wortham Park.
****** Parking lot is located along the Upper Tampa Bay Trail at
7499 Montague Street.
Trail distances are estimates. Please review the trail map to determine the
distance of your planned trip.
LEGEND
Wildlife Viewing
Hiking
Picnicking
Playground
Fishing
Paved Trail
Basketball
Mountain Biking
Canoe/Kayak Launch
Equestrian Trail
Birdwatching
Boardwalk
Restroom
Nature Center