Back at the beginning of November a friend of ours saw a newspaper article about the Hillsborough County Hiking Spree and messaged me the link thinking it might interest us. With all the hiking we are doing this year, it definitely looked like a fun adventure to add to our plans. So over the next few days, I printed up and started researching the qualifying trails. Since so many of them were relatively short and near to Church, Gary suggested that we try a few on a Sunday afternoon. So that's what we've been doing off and on since November.
The 2023-2024 Hiking Spree includes 22 different trails, with a goal to walk 8 of them between November 1st and March 31st. Registration is a simple online form, and when you have completed your trails you self report and then print up your confirmation email and visit one of the places to pick up your souviner of choice. This year they are offering a patch, a hiking stick medallion, or a dog bandana. We'd definitely recommend it for for the many options.
Edward Medard Conservation Park
Located at 6140 Turkey Creek Road, Plant City, Florida, entrance to the park is $2 a car load. They are open from 8 to 6 this time of year, and 8 to 7 during daylight savings time. We visited on Sunday afternoon November 5th and the weather was perfect. The Singing Bluffs Trail is only 1 mile, but with all of the twist and turns of the extra outlooks we walked almost 2 miles that afternoon. With all the elevation changes the trail makes for fairly strenuous hiking, and is ranked by the Hillsborough County Hiking Spree as one of the most difficult trails for this year.
We met up with our friends from Church and first set out on the trail. The kids loved running up and down, exploring, twisting and turning through all the paths. The number of scenic overlooks to view the 700 acre reservoir are simply overwhelming. Everywhere you look Medard Park just gorgeous greenery and water. We saw several gators, ducks, and other birds. Everytime I thought I had found the prettiest spot, there was another one. After our hike we drove over to the Observation Tower, where we found a geocache, before the kids spent time sprinting up and down the ramp to the top of the tower. Before heading back out for night services that evening, we trekked over to the playground to allow the kids some time to play and the older kids sometime to sword fight in the large open fields near the playground. All in all it was a great visit well worth the $2 entrance fee.
Triple Creek Nature Preserve
Located at 13305 Balm Boyette Road, Riverview, Florida, entrance to the park is free. We went on Sunday, November 26th while it was threatening rain. It was a little humid but a great day to hike here, as about half of the 2.6 mile Restoration Ramble Trail has no shade cover, but is open prairie. Open from sunrise to sunset the preserve covers 969 acres. We saw countless game trails and signs of wildlife but nothing was out and moving while we were there.
There are four geocaches here at the park along the trail, but I completely blanked out and forgot to pull them up for the kids to hunt. The day we went I was having a bit of a rough time and despite a fairly level and low key trail, I was completely wiped out by the time we made it back to the car. However, the kids had a ball at Triple Creek. The raced back and forth, up and down the trail. They took turns spinning and swinging the little boys while we were walking. They climbed down in a creek, found mushrooms, and took pictures of a dead armadillo. (I'll spare you, you're welcome.) We had a little bit of sprinkling rain on us but nothing heavy, and it sparked some conversations with Kate connecting back to science about the hydrosphere and the water cycle. It was a good day even if I was ready for bed when we got home at 6:30.
Alderman's Ford Conservation Park
Located at 100 Alderman's Ford Park Drive, Plant City, Florida, entrance to the park is $2 a car load. They are open from 8 to 6 this time of year, and 8 to 7 during daylight savings time. We visited on Sunday, December 10th just ahead of a rainstorm. It was an easy and picturesque hike, The Picnic Trail and River's Edge Extension Boardwalk is 2.3 miles, though we walked nearly 4 miles including geocaching and exploring the main picnic and playground area.
Alderman's Ford Conservation Park is a great place to visit. We've been countless times since Britt was the size that the twins are now. We were able to see a great number of fish with the water levels being so low, and we also spotted a couple of turtles sunbathing. There were a number of birds present as well. We first walked the boardwalk, before hiking the Picnic Trail which loops back to the parking lot. All along the path are various exercise stations most of which the kids had to try out. It made our hike longer, but provided so very much amusement. The boys rode in the wagon some and walked some. At the end of our hike, Britt and I went to find a geocache in the park while Gary took everyone else to the playground. We visited the park for around 2.5 hours before loading up just as it began raining. This is definitely another park we'd recommend.
Other Planned Trails
We've planned out the other five trails that we want to hike to complete the challenge.
Lake Conservation Park - Located at 17302 North Dale Mabry Highway, Lutz, Florida, entrance to the park is $2 a car load. They are open from 8 to 6 this time of year, and 8 to 7 during daylight savings time. The Lake Vista Trail is 1.5 miles and is reported to be a fairly easy hike.
Lake Dan Nature Preserve - Located at 19116 Huckavalle Road, Odessa, Florida, entrance to the park is free. They are open from sunrise to sunset. The 2 mile Pasture to Prairie Trail is on the preserve which covers 1100 acres.
Alafia River State Park - Located at 14326 South County Road 39, Lithia, Florida, entrance to the park is $5 a car load. They are open from 8 to sunset. The Old Agrico Hiking Trail is only .8 miles, but with all the elevation changes the trail makes for fairly strenuous hiking, and is ranked by the Hillsborough County Hiking Spree as one of the most difficult trails for this year.
Hillsborough River State Park - Located at 15402 US. 301 North, Thonotosassa, Florida, entrance to the park is $6 a car load. They are open from 8 to sunset. The Baynard Trail is 1.1 mile hike, complete with a suspension bridge.
Stephen J. Wortham Park - Located at 12108 Rhodine Road, Riverview, Florida, entrance to the park is free. The Bluestern Hiking Trail is 1.4 miles through the park, but there is an adjacent preserve with more trails for those who are interested in doing more hiking.
Comentarios