Trips For Kids Tampa
The trails!
Thanks greatly in part to the Hillsborough County Parks Department, The Florida State Park Service, The South West Florida Water Management District(SWFWMD), The Wilderness Trail Association(WTA) and the SWAMP mountain bike club, Hillsborough County is home to three of the best mountain biking sites in the State. The combination of the Wilderness Parks, Alafia River State Park, and The Balm Boyette Scrub Preserve draw mountain bikers and nature enthusiast from all over the State and Country.
To learn more about TFK Tampa's commitment to raising awareness to the importance of conserving and preserving our natural resources click on these links
ELAP Program Conserving Our Natural Resources
Balm-Boyette Scrub Preserve
photos courtesy www.outdoortravels.com If you are an avid mountain biker and nature lover than then there is no place in Florida you would rather be than The Balm Boyette Scrub Preserve. It is a part of Hillsborough County's ELAP program, home to one of the largest scrub habitats in Florida, and with the addition of several new trails recently built by the SWAMP mountain bike club, on its way to becoming the cross country mountain biking mecca of Florida. Balm-Boyette offers its riders a variety of trails ranging from easy to difficult.
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Wilderness Parks
photos courtesy www.outdoortravels.com The Wilderness Park System is actually 6 parks covering over 7,200 acres of land. Of the 6 parks, the off-road mountain bike trails meander through three of them---- Trout Creek, Morris Bridge, and Flatwoods. While the Wilderness Trail is not as difficult as its counterparts in the southeast portion of the county, it does provide its riders a chance to experience a wide variety of habitats ranging from pine flatwoods, to cypress swamps and almost guarantees a glimpse of a wild turkey or whit-tail deer. The Wilderness Parks are a great place for a beginner to try mountain biking or for a more skilled rider to build his or her endurance. It is also the trail system Trips For Kids Tampa uses for most of its rides. It is the perfect spot to introduce kids to mountain biking and nature!
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Alafia River State Park
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Alafia River State Park
photos courtesy www.outdoortravels.com
For the adrenaline junkie looking for his or her fix, Alafia River State Park is the place to be. Alafia River State Park does support a variety of habitats along the Alafia River's South prong as well as 3 plants listed on the states endangered list, but that is not what has made it one of the most popular off-road bicycling spots in the state. A former phosphate mine, Alafia offers extreme elevation changes seldom seen in Florida. Alafia's trails range from easy to very difficult.
To Learn More about these trails and download maps
visit the SWAMP Club Home Page
visit the SWAMP Club Home Page
