Named after a pure stream flowing by its northeastern nook, Bullfrog Creek Wildlife and Environmental Space is a haven for endangered species.
Acquired by Hillsborough County underneath the FWC Mitigation Park Program, the property protects over 800 acres of pure land actively managed by FWC.
Bullfrog CreekPublic entry is restricted to foot visitors solely, and guests are inspired to discover a number of miles of unmarked trails, largely alongside a set of entry roads.
Of those routes, a pair of loops on the japanese facet tie collectively properly for a 5 mile determine eight showcasing lots of the pure communities discovered right here.
Shallows within the creekAssets
Overview
Location: TampaLength: 5.0 milesTrailhead: 27.763139, -82.351667Address: US 301, WimaumaFees: FreeRestrooms: NoneLand supervisor: Florida Fish & WildlifePhone: 863-648-3200
Open dawn to sundown. Leashed canine welcome.
Instructions
Hike
Passing by a series hyperlink gate on the parking space, stroll over to massive info panel displaying details about the property, and decide up a paper map.
Start the hike on a gravel-topped entry street heading westward into the woods.
Laurel oaks line the elevated pathway, rising from a forest ground carpeted with leaf litter and diverse ferns.
Forest streetThe path descends ever so barely whereas approaching the floodplain, reaching Bullfrog Creek at 0.7 miles.
Flip left at a junction instantly after crossing the creek to start the loops.
Stay oaks draped with Spanish moss forged copious quantities of shade on a large, grassy path tracing alongside the creeks edge.
Creek viewBecause the path begins to maneuver away from the water close to the one mile mark, mesic hammock habitat offers technique to pine flatwoods.
It’s a pointy distinction by way of tree cowl and shade. The terrain additionally transitions to tender, brilliant white sugar sand.
Mesic hammockReaching a crossroads in the midst of the savanna at 1.4 miles, flip left to start out a loop within the southeastern portion of the protect.
Pines grow to be more and more prevalent whereas coming into a patch of mesic flatwoods the place the path takes a pointy flip southward.
Hint alongside cleared areas on the fringe of the property.
Open pine flatwoodsTurning again north, the trail traverses a tiny ridge lined in diminutive oaks earlier than returning to the crossroads at 3.2 miles.
Comply with the street westward because it cuts throughout a curious xeric hammock of gnarled oaks and sand pines.
Xeric hammockIn 1 / 4 mile, the path dips right into a slender bottomland forest which may be moist sure instances of the yr.
On the opposite facet, a definite contour of the land will be seen throughout the pine prairie.
Flip proper at 3.8 miles, meandering northward to the sound of heavy visitors on I-75 for one more quarter mile to the north street.
Flip east. Proceed straight for one more mile again to the trailhead.
Seasonally moist crossingPath Map
Discover Extra!
Video
Climbing Bullfrog Creek WEA
Close by Adventures
Path Map (PDF) Official Web site
