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Hit the trails with this guide to Tampa Bay area hikes

Check out these 16 hiking trails catered to all skill levels in and around Tampa + St. Pete for outdoor adventures.

Tampa hike

Grab your hiking boots and discover TBAY’s most remote views.

Photo via Hillsborough County

Table of Contents

From quick and easy loops around town to drives that take you to fantastic beaches and forests, our region has so many options to hit the trail. So lace up your hiking boots, because we’ve compiled a hiking guide for the Tampa Bay area with 16 routes and trails to help you plan your next adventure and experience breathtaking views.

Note: While parks and trails may be listed as open, we recommend checking park websites before visiting for further info, current trail conditions, and the safest practices for the area.

Key: Easy = 🥾| Moderate = 🥾🥾 | Hard = 🥾🥾🥾
(Spoiler alert, we don’t have any hard trails because most of Florida is flat.)

Hillsborough

Eureka Springs Boardwalk, Tampa
Difficulty: 🥾
Length: 0.5-mile loop
Pet friendly: Yes, leash required

Looking for a quick way to get some nature into your lunch break? Hop on the conversation park’s paved path to explore a range of rare and unusual tropical plants. And if you have time, its worth checking out the park’s rose garden and orchid room.

Temple Terrace Riverfront Park Trail, Temple Terrace

  • Difficulty: 🥾🥾
  • Length: 1.6-mile
  • Pet friendly: Yes, leash required

Combine the Palmetto, Pavilion, and River Loop Trails for a leisurely — but slightly more difficult — weekend hike exploring this Old Florida paradise. Pro tip: This trail can sometimes flood, so make sure to pick a sunny day for your hike.
Baynard Trail and Seminole Trail, Hillsborough River State Park

  • Difficulty: 🥾
  • Length: 5.5-mile loop
  • Pet friendly: Yes, leash required

The lengthy trail winds through the beloved state park, which boasts its own Class II river rapids. But don’t worry about time, the hike should only take a little under two hours. Parking is $6 per vehicle.
Davis Island Trail, Tampa

  • Difficulty: 🥾
  • Length: 2.6-mile out-and-back
  • Pet friendly: Yes, leash required

The best part about Tampa Bay’s hikes? The views. This scenic trail winds past some of the exclusive area’s homes and offers top notch waterfront vistas.

Alafia River Corridor Nature Preserve Trail, Alafia River State Park

  • Difficulty: 🥾
  • Length: 9.9-mile loop
  • Pet friendly: Yes, leash required in some areas

While many of the park’s trails are best for mountain bikers, this path takes you through a heavily forested part. You’ll find fantastic birding spots and wildflowers aplenty. The park entrance fee is $5 per vehicle.

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You can ride a horse at the Cypress Creek Preserve.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Lizards Tail, Blue, Yellow, and Red Loop, Cypress Creek Preserve

  • Difficulty: 🥾 🥾
  • Length: 3.8-mile loop
  • Pet friendly: Yes, leash required

Trek through the swampland and cypress trees to observe TBAY’s vast wildlife. But be warned, locating the trailhead can be tricky; look for a bulletin board with a map that marks the entrance.

Flatwoods Loop Trail, Flatwoods Wilderness Park

  • Difficulty: 🥾
  • Length: 11-mile loop
  • Pet friendly: Yes, leash required

Take a break from the hectic city life with a lengthy hike down this tree-lined trail frequented by deer and wild turkey. Plus, the trail is paved + suitable for folks using wheelchairs or strollers.

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“Get out me swamp,” this bird.

Photo via Hillsborough County

Temple Terrace Riverfront Park Trail, Temple Terrace

  • Difficulty: 🥾 🥾
  • Length: 1.6-mile loop
  • Pet friendly: Yes, leash required

Frequent TBAY hikers recommend visiting this trail between May and June — the dry season — before the path becomes too muddy. It’s moderately difficult + can be a little overgrown at times, but at least it’s shaded.

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This windy path cuts through the heart of Thontonosassa.

Screenshot via Southwest Water Management

Morris Bridge Bike Trail, Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve

  • Difficulty: 🥾
  • Length: 8.1 miles out-and-back
  • Pet friendly: Yes, leash required

The trail is shared by mountain bikers + hikers, making it a great option for those looking to enjoy the best of the state’s rare elevated terrain.

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Don’t forget to bring a pair of binoculars.

Photo via Hillsborough County

Upper Tampa Bay Park Eagle Trail, Oldsmar

  • Difficulty: 🥾
  • Length: 0.7 miles out-and-back
  • Pet friendly: Yes, leash required

This short trail offers a beautiful Tampa Bay views and a variety of wildlife, especially for birdwatchers. It also has accessible parking spots, gravel pathways, benches for resting, and kayaking options.

Cockroach Park

Fly high at 40 ft in the sky at the Cockroach Bay Mound.

Photo by TBAYtoday

Red and Blue Trails, Cockroach Bay Nature Preserve

  • Difficulty: 🥾
  • Length: 2.3-mile loop
  • Pet friendly: Yes, leash required

Take in a sunset or sunrise with the Cigar City or the Burg’s skyline in the distance from the scenic lookout hill. Pro tip: Make sure to pack some bug repellent for the journey.

Pinellas

Pinellas Trail, Pinellas County

  • Difficulty: 🥾
  • Length: 45.1-mile path
  • Pet friendly: Yes

It’s the best way to explore the county — in our opinion — from St. Pete all the way to Tarpon Springs. Do as much or as little of the paved trail as you like. Then stop off to try new eateries or grab a drink at one of the many businesses located off the trail.
Weedon Island Preserve Trail, St. Pete

  • Difficulty: 🥾
  • Length: 4.3-mile loop
  • Pet friendly: No

Make your way through a pristine slice of Tampa Bay’s outdoors on the boardwalk or dirt trails, taking in all the wildlife and flora of the preserve. Don’t want to go it alone? The Weedon Island Cultural and Natural History Center offers a variety of tours, like the Guided Naturalist Tour + Photography Hike.

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A great way to get around is on wheels.

Photo via Visit St. Pete/Clearwater

Osprey and Pelican Trail, Honeymoon Island State Park

  • Difficulty: 🥾
  • Length: 2.5-mile loop
  • Pet friendly: Yes, leash required

Enjoy a slice of TBAY’s natural beauty with a jaunt along this beachfront path + stop for a moment to take in the brown pelicans, roseate spoonbills, and black skimmers. Note: the park charges an entrance fee, but it’s worth it for the virgin Slash Pine Forest.

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A more efficient way to get around, though, is on electric wheels.

Photo via Pinellas County

Fort De Soto Park Nature Trail, Fort De Soto County Park

  • Difficulty: 🥾
  • Length: 1.4-mile loop
  • Pet friendly: Yes, leash required

This scenic trail offers breathtaking views of nature with a diverse range of wildlife, such as crabs and woodpeckers. Enjoy informational panels throughout the trail about the local flora and fauna. Plus, pack the blankets and umbrellas for a little beach action after.

Bridging the Bay

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Break a sweat on your city-to-city commute.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Courtney Campbell Causeway West Trail, Stretches from Tampa to St. Pete alongside State Road 60

  • Difficulty: 🥾
  • Length: 16.1-miles out-and-back
  • Pet friendly: Yes, leash required

Enjoy bird watching, walking, running, and biking while taking in the picturesque views off one of Tampa Bay’s major bridges with the wind at your back.
There are so many spots to go on scenic walks or hikes around TBAY. Let us know if we missed your favorite spot.

Get the right gear

Get the most out of your trip with comfortable, handy, and helpful hiking gear:


City Guides are presented by Water Street Tampa.

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