Hiking at Little Manatee River State Park

Are you thinking about going hiking at Little Manatee River State Park? If so, you’re in the right place! One of many state parks in the Tampa Bay area, it’s a beautiful hike, and one of my favorite places for hiking in Tampa.

When I visited on Thanksgiving weekend, I thought the park would be packed. I stopped at Gizella Kopsick Arboretum in St. Petersburg first at 8 AM and was at Little Manatee River State Park before 10 AM. Despite the midmorning hour, the park was empty of day users.

In fact, there wasn’t even a ranger at the main entrance gate. I stopped first at the main parking area where there were no cars at all and only a woman walking across the parking lot who was likely a camper.

From there I backtracked to another side road I had passed and came to the restrooms and kayak launch. Here I found the beginning of the Oxbow Nature Trail. After hiking this short trail and exploring the other parts of the park – campground, equestrian parking, etc – I left the main entrance and went to the trailhead on the north side of the river.

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Distance: 25 miles (combined)
Elevation: 45 feet
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Duration: 30 minutes to several hours
Trailhead Address: 215 Lightfoot Rd, Wimauma, FL 33598
Parking: $5 per vehicle

Trails for Hiking at Little Manatee River State Park

With more than 20 miles of trails, Little Manatee River State Park is a fantastic place to get outdoors and experience many of Florida’s unique ecosystems. The majority of the trails can be accessed from the main entrance of the park on the south side of the river. A separate trailhead on the north side of the river provides access to an additional 6.5 mile looped trail.

Oxbow Nature Trail

This is the shortest trail for hiking at Little Manatee River State Park. It’s officially 0.8 miles. It’s relatively flat unless you climb down to the river’s edge on some of the side spurs. The first part of the trail is typical Florida sugar sand where the trail is open. It quickly becomes more shady and hard-packed.

This trail explores an oxbow in the river where a number of ecosystems, including the sand pine scrub at the beginning of the trail and the wetlands found close to the river. The bluffs provide beautiful views of the Little Manatee as it meanders to the coast.

Sand Pine Trail

The Sand Pine Trail is a 2 mile loop which connects the main parking area with the campground and various picnic shelters overlooking the river. True to its name, this trail features sand and oak scrub. Several snags offer great opportunities to view birds that use these dead trees, such as woodpeckers and screech owls.

North Loops

The 6.5 mile hiking trail accessible from the north trailhead is perhaps the most popular trail for hiking at Little Manatee River State Park. When I visited on Thanksgiving weekend, the main park was relatively quiet and empty except for the campground. This hiking trail, however, was quite busy and became busier as the day went on.

The north trail is a stacked loop trail of 3 miles or 6.5 miles. The first loop turns back at Cypress Creek, a major tributary of the Little Manatee River. A bridge crossing the creek offers picturesque views of the shallow creek.

Part of these loops run alongside the river with a relatively shady trail and access points to the river or bluffs overlooking it. They pass through a number of ecosystems, even on the 3 mile loop. For me, this was the more beautiful trail, and I can see why it’s the most popular in the park. Arrive early if you’d like to avoid other hikers.

TIP: If you visit when it’s warmer out, take the fork to the right first as this side of the loop is more open, sunnier, and hotter. The return leg will provide a shadier trail with scenic views of the river.

Multi Use Trails at Little Manatee River State Park

The bulk of the trails for hiking at Little Manatee River State Park are found at the southern part of the park. These consist of the Dude Lake Trail (2.2 miles), Mustang Trail (2.8 miles), and the Blue and Yellow Trails (4.3 miles) with various firebreaks and spurs which add up to over 15 miles of trails.

Open to horseback riders, hikers, and cyclist, these trails are a great way to get in lots of miles or explore more remote parts of the park. A grassy day-use equestrian parking lot and equestrian campground makes Little Manatee River State Park an ideal place to bring the horses for a day or weekend adventure.

Other Things to Do at Little Manatee River State Park

Like many of Florida’s award-winning state parks, Little Manatee River State Park offers a ton of things to do besides hiking. And like many of the other state parks, these activities revolve around being outdoors and in nature.

Camping at Little Manatee River State Park

Little Manatee River State Park has 30 sites available for tent or RV campers at the main campground. The sites are spacious and have a vegetation buffer between them. Hot showers and a coin laundry are available in the middle of the campground loop, and there are 3 accessible sites with paved walkways to the bathhouse.

There is also equestrian camping available at the park. The equestrian campground has four sites and a stable with eight stalls, two stalls available for each site.

If primitive camping is your thing, there are two primitive campgrounds with no electricity and no potable water. One is located 2.5 miles along the north loop hiking trail. The other is for group or youth camping and is located along the river in the southern portion of the park.

Fishing at Little Manatee River State Park

With more than 4 miles of river meandering through the park, the fishing opportunities abound. According to the park and frequent anglers, however, the best fishing is at a place called The Point which is only accessible by kayak or canoe.

Paddling at Little Manatee River State Park

This state park has a large kayak launch for accessing the river. There are several pullouts along the river and a smaller launch towards the western boundary of the park. Despite these amenities, there is currently kayak rentals in the park though there is an outfitter with river access just outside of the park boundaries.

Picnics and Group Outings

Have a group outing, family reunion, or other large gathering? There are several picnic shelters at Little Manatee River State Park. Combined with the many activities in the park, this is a great choice for a fun outdoorsy day with friends and family.

Fun Facts About Little Manatee River State Park

• 2,433 acres
• 4.5 to 6 miles of Little Manatee River meander through the park.
• Little Manatee River is 40 miles long and empties into Tampa Bay.
• The river is one of the most pristine blackwater rivers in Florida and is designated an outstanding waterway.
• Little Manatee River State Park was established in 1999.

More Information for Little Manatee River State Park

If you plan to go hiking at Little Manatee River State Park, plan your day according to the season. From October/November to March, the weather will generally be cooler and the humidity less stifling.

In April and May, the heat ramps up but the ground remains drier. These are typically our drought months.

From July to October, rains pour down nearly daily in the afternoon. The heat and humidity make hiking potentially dangerous, especially for anyone who is not accustomed to Florida’s heat and humidity.

Additional general tips:

• Wear weatherproof shoes, especially in the summer when you might encounter water on the trails.
• Bring water on the trails with you. There are no drink stations on the trails. Bring more water than you think you’ll need, especially if it’s hot out.
• Wear a hat.
• Bring sunscreen and bug spray.
• Bring your camera or phone for pictures.
• Bring your phone for emergencies though cell signal might be spotty on the more remote trails.

Closing: Hiking at Little Manatee River State Park

Hiking at Little Manatee River State Park is a great way to get outdoors, see different ecosystems common in this part of Florida, and find stunning views of the Little Manatee River, a Florida outstanding waterway. With more than 20 miles of trails to explore, there’s no shortage of opportunities for adventure, whether you favor hiking, horseback riding, or cycling.

If you love finding new hiking trails in Florida, or visiting spectacular parks, you might also enjoy learning more about the photography opportunities at Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland or hiking to the river rapids at Hillsborough River State Park.

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Hiking Resources:

Hiking Boots: My go-to hiking boot is Merrell’s Waterproof Hiking Boot. It’s extremely comfortable, lightweight, and water-resistant – perfect for Florida!

Hiking Day Pack: This daypack from Waterfly has been the best addition to my outdoor gear this year. I often take my camera and phone as well as the water we have to have in Florida’s heat. This pack is lightweight and has tons of pockets for storing everything I need to take with me.

Swell Water Bottle: I most often take my Swell bottles with me because they keep water cold, a must for me when hiking in Florida’s heat.

Collapsible Water Bottle: This is a great water bottle to keep in a hiking pack and fill at home or keep in the car in case you forget your Swell bottle at home.

Walking Poles: Though Florida’s mostly flat, there are places and times when walking poles are useful. I love these for their durability and because they’re collapsible so are easy to carry and store.

Hotels: We use Booking.com for lodging when we’re ready to compare and book hotels.