Hiking at Lake Dan Nature Preserve in Tampa

Lake Dan Nature Preserve in Odessa is a 1,100 acre preserve managed by Hillsborough County. The preserve sits among Odessa’s tranquil horse farms and borders the Keystone Pinellas Trail. It encompasses several lakes, former cow pastures, and oak hammocks. With 9 miles of multi-use trails, hiking at Lake Dan Nature Preserve presents the opportunity to explore this beautiful part of the Tampa Bay area.

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• Distance: 9 miles
• Type: several loops
• Elevation: flat
• Difficulty: easy
• Duration: 1- 5 hours
• Trailhead Address: 19116 Huckavalle Rd, Odessa, FL 33556
• Parking: Free

On a warm July morning, I arrived at a nearly empty parking lot at the preserve’s main entrance. The crushed shell lot has space for six or seven cars, which tells you how busy the preserve gets – not very. Though there are no restroom facilities at the preserve, the main entrance has a small playground and a covered picnic table. The trail starts through a small gate to a crushed shell path beneath oaks. Just a hundred feet or so in, I heard a rustling in the underbrush beneath the trees and stopped. It was a much bigger rustling than a squirrel or lizard would make. After a moment, an armadillo rushed into a small opening and back into the brush.

Trails at Lake Dan Preserve

A short walk from the entrance, a long boardwalk crosses the largest of the lakes at Lake Dan Nature Preserve. This is not, however, the preserve’s namesake. Alligator croaks and duck calls punctuate the serenity on the lake. Deep blue skies reflect in the glass-like water. Another gate on the far side of the boardwalk provides entrance to the trail again. The pedestrian-only portions of the trail are gated with these narrow gates to prevent horses and bikes from going through. The trail continues beneath more oaks. Wild muscadine grapes grow among the underbrush, their green fruit ripening to black in the summer heat. The trail ends at a T where hikers can choose the half-mile red loop to the left of the longer yellow trail to the right.

The red trail passes through sandhill with oaks occasionally shading the trail. Yellow goldenrod and partridge pea, the unique American beautyberry, and dog fennel crowd each other along the edges of the trail. It’s just under a half mile and, combined with the beginning spur from the parking lot, makes an easy hike less than a mile in length.

Hiking to Lake Dan

The hike to Lake Dan is about 1.25 miles each way. Follow the yellow trail to the blue spur, which veers off to the left from the yellow trail. This trail crosses a fence into an open, unshaded former cow pasture. At the end of the trail, enjoy a fishing pier and views of the lake.

The yellow trail loops around a cypress stand and from it a white loop connects with equestrian parking at 11009 Tarpon Springs Road. From the white loop, an orange spur leads out to Lake Frances. The equestrian trails cover 5.6 miles of the various trails in Lake Dan Preserve. When all the trails and spurs are combined, they add to approximately nine miles of trails to explore. On my outing, I only hiked the red and blue trails as well as the portion of the yellow trail which connects the main spur to the blue trail.

Lake Dan Nature Preserve is one of the newer places for hiking in Tampa. It’s a lightly-used park; I saw one person fishing at Lake Dan and two couples on the red loop. With such little use, wildlife sightings are abundant. Besides the birds, armadillos, and butterflies, I crossed paths with a pair of sandhill cranes. On my return route from Lake Dan, I found the pair drinking from a puddle in the middle of the gravel access road which forms part of the trail. As I approached, however, they ambled away into the knee-high grass.

More Information for Visiting Lake Dan Nature Preserve

If you plan to go hiking at Lake Dan Preserve, 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. Many of the trails at Lake Dan Nature Preserve are unshaded as they pass through former cow pastures, and Florida’s sun can be relentless so plan your hike accordingly. Additional general tips:

• Wear weatherproof shoes, especially in the summer when you might encounter water on the trails.
• Bring water with you. There are no drink stations or water fountains at this nature preserve. Bring more water than you think you will need.
• Wear a hat.
• Bring sunscreen and bug spray.
• Bring your camera or phone for pictures.
• Bring your phone for emergencies.

Learn more about Lake Dan Preserve at the Hillsborough County website.

How to Get to Lake Dan Nature Preserve

Lake Dan is located in north Hillsborough County in Odessa. From US 19, take Keystone Road to Tyler Road. Turn left on Tyler Road to a right on Tyler Run and a left on Huckavalle Rd. The preserve’s main entrance is at the end of Huckavalle Rd. Please drive slowly and carefully on these roads as they pass horse farms and riders are often out using these small roads as well.

Ready to see more of Florida’s natural beauty? You might enjoy spending an afternoon at Hillsborough River State Park. Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park provides hiking and kayaking trails as well as unique historical artifacts. Or take a longer hike at Brooker Creek Preserve.

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