Hillsborough River State Park will always have a special place in my heart as it was the first Florida State Park that I went camping in. Camping is happy good here. This is a must-visit park if you live in Tampa.
Hillsborough River State Park is one of the eight original Florida State Parks, established in 1935. It is big, being composed of 3,383 acres. There are a lot of CCC buildings and lots to do.
Things To Do At Hillsborough River State Park
👉 Hiking – There are four trails, which stretch to 7 miles total at the park. My favorite is The Florida Trail (not to be confused with the National Scenic Florida Trail); it’s a 3 mile loop trail that follows the Hillsborough River for at least a mile.
👉 Pool – There is an enormous pool at the park. Unfortunately, the pool is closed for maintenance and is anticipated to be open again in 2023.
👉 Camping – There are 112 Tent/RV campsites available. $24/night + $6.70 reservation fee. Reserve at the official Florida State Park reservation website. I have been a happy camper here several times.
👉 Geocaching – Always a fun activity.
👉 Fort Foster – A replica on the same grounds of the original fort. The forst was active during the Second Seminole War. The fort is currently closed, unfortunately.
👉 Suspension Bridge – The most noticeable man-made feature in the park is the super fun suspension bridge which crosses the Hillsborough River. Most people cross it during their visit to the park in order to get to the hiking trails. Very fun!
👉 Hillsborough River – The Hilsborough River is the main attraction. The entire park is based around the river and you should definately spend a lot of time along the river bank. You can fish in the river, look for alligators, and get some birding in. (I recommend getting the paperback version of Birds of Florida Field Guide by Stan Tekiela.) The Hillsborough River is one of the few places in Florida that has Class II rapids, which can easily be viewed in the state park.
Our Family Hike At Hillsborough River State Park
Our family hike led us down the state park’s The Florida Trail, a 3-mile loop and the best hiking trail in the park. Start by hiking the suspension bridge which spans the Hillsborough River.
And then take a break to hang out at the river bank…
I spotted this White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) on the south shore hunting for crayfish. It’s a bird commonly seen in Southern Florida and prefers the fresh water of lakes and rivers over the salty water of the ocean. They stand about 25” tall and have a wingspan of up to three feet. It’s all-white and has a long curving bill, changing from orange to red. Males and females appear the same, except that females have a smaller downward curve of the bill. Juveniles are brown in color. I strained the zoom on my IPhone for this shot.
Later, along the bank we found several remains of the Florida Shiny Spike (Elliptio buckleyi), a common and abundant Florida mussel. They filter Florida’s freshwater ecosystems by removing bacteria, algae, and other organic material and are an important indicator as to the overall health of the ecosystem since they are sensitive to poor water conditions. They serve as a food source for fish, birds, and mammals too, which was most likely the fate of this Florida Shiny Spike that we found.
The little ones had to be carried after awhile…
Afterwards, it was time to celebrate, eat lunch, and hang out at the Hillsborough River steps…
And another stamp in the book on our quest to visit all 175 Florida State Parks…
