The Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Park (LHWP) is the largest regional park in Hillsborough County. Within the LHWP are park sites managed by the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department: Dead River Park, Flatwoods Park, Off-Road Loop Trail, Morris Bridge Park, Sargeant Park and Trout Creek Park. The District manages the following recreation sites in the LHWP that have minimal recreational facilities: Oakridge Equestrian Area, and Jefferson Equestrian Area. (See other tract profiles on these parks and recreation sites.)
Size
16,000 acres
Location
Northeast of Tampa, east of I-75 and north of US 301.
About the Property
The multiple purposes of the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Park (LHWP) are easily overlooked while enjoying the natural beauty of this suburban woodland. Here one can paddle enchanting waters of the Hillsborough River amongst wading birds, turtles, alligators, lilies and cypress swamps; explore over 60 miles of forest trails; fish from riverside boardwalks; or enjoy a relaxing picnic or cookout.
As important as this site has become to the Tampa Bay area in providing healthful recreation, its primary purpose is water storage. Following severe floods from Hurricane Donna in 1960, the Four River Basins, Florida Project was initiated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prevent flooding in Tampa and Temple Terrace. The LHWP was designed for temporary impoundment of floodwaters by constructing a levee on its western boundary, a dam on the Hillsborough River and the Tampa Bypass Canal to reroute floodwaters. A structural reservoir was part of the original plan but was later abandoned as the value of natural wetlands for flood storage came to be understood. In the 1970s, the Morris Bridge wellfield was developed as a source of drinking water for the city of Tampa. Tampa Bay Water manages 20 wells that pump water from the Floridan aquifer. A water treatment plant is located west of the wellfield and the levee.
Natural resource conservation is another important purpose of the LHWP. The area’s outstanding natural feature is 13 miles of the Hillsborough River, one-fourth the riverrsquo;s length. Land cover consists mostly of riverine forest and pine flatwoods, which are managed by the District to promote biodiversity. The forested wetlands are essential for filtering rainwater before it flows into the river and for storing floodwaters. Significant ecological features include a wood stork rookery, a sawgrass marsh, a sphagnum bog and two sinkholes. Hillsborough County school children learn about the environment at Naturersquo;s Classroom Environmental Education Center located within LHWP. The 320-acre site is managed by Hillsborough County School Board and was developed in conjunction with the District.
Adjoining the LHWP is the 3,000-acre Hillsborough River State Park, which contains an area of primeval beauty and tranquility known as the Seventeen Runs of the Hillsborough River. Access to this broad hardwood swamp is very difficult whether by foot or boat. A primitive canoe trail has been marked, but obstacles may be frequent.
Human occupation of the area has had a long history. Past generations of native peoples took advantage of flint along area rivers to make tools. American industrialists began harvesting pine, cypress and hardwood trees on the property in the 1840s. Elevated tram roads, built to haul timber through forested wetlands, now serve as recreational trails. The Old Fort King Trail was a supply route from Tampa to Ocala used to support U.S. troops during the Seminole wars and was later used during the Civil War. A portion of this historic route is being reincarnated as a recreational trail. Prior to District acquisition, upland sites were used for growing citrus and raising cattle.
Access and Parking
See following individual profile pages for access information.
Nearby Recreation Lands
- Hillsborough River State Park
- Hillsborough River State Canoe Trail
- Hillsborough Countyrsquo;s Lettuce Lake Park
- Old Fort King Trail
