Summary

This is a fairly easy hike on a 1.7 mile hike around the river bend to the overlook on the river.  Park at 2-243 Elbow Bend Road in the wood framed lot with rock covered lot. There is an entrance at the lot.  I recommend long pants as sometimes the trail route is not trimmed of recent growth.

General Description Size: 78 acres. This site was purchased by Hillsborough County (ELAPP) in 1998, with joint funding from the Florida Communities Trust. Although relatively small in size, the entire site is heavily wooded, and contains a wide variety of natural features, including xeric oak hammock, mixed upland forest, small freshwater marsh wetlands, a scenic creek corridor, and a tidal marsh along the shoreline of the Alafia River. The site is located in a residential neighborhood and along a major thoroughfare, making it highly accessible to area residents. Under the previous ownership, the property was zoned for high density (multi-family) residential development.
 
Location and Access The site is located on the Alafia River, just east of Interstate 75, on the north side of Gibsonton Drive. An access point is located at the northwest corner of Gibsonton Drive and Hagadorn Road. Park along the wide, grassy strip on the north side of the road, next to a sign marking the start of the hiking trail.
 
Environmental Significance This site’s significance comes from its high diversity of natural habitat, which is a result of the changes in elevation and the range of soil conditions that occur as one traverses the site from the southeast to the northwest. At the higher and drier southeast corner, a remnant of scrub habitat can be found. Although the area is dominated by large live oaks, enough open ground exists to enable a colony of the Endangered Florida golden aster to thrive. One or two other Threatened plant species, and numerous gopher tortoises, listed as a Species of Special Concern, are also present. As one travels toward the north and west along the hiking trail, the scenery changes as the elevation slopes gently down toward the river. A mixed forest of mature pine trees, oaks and other hardwoods provides shelter for more common plant and animal species, including songbirds, black racers, box turtles, raccoons and opossum. A small creek flows onto the site near the west boundary, forming a narrow gully before it levels out into the marsh along the river. Several hundred feet of natural shoreline wetlands provide high quality habitat that has been largely eliminated by waterfront development along the lower stretches of the Alafia

Learn about the Hillsborough Environmental Lands Aquisition program with 51 preserves in Hllsborough county.  Participate in Hiking Spree 2017 sponsored by Hillsborough County.

Directions To Trailhead Parking Lot

Turn onto Elbow Bend Road off Gibsonton Drive not far from the 75 exit,  Midway between 75 and 301.  Elbow Bend is a small street there is a very small sign and entrance for the preserve on the corner.