Among the Trees and Trails
đź“Ť 215 Lightfoot Road, Wimauma, FL 33598
Chris and I love spending time in our local parks, but this weekend we were in the mood for something a little different. So we packed up the dogs, made some sandwiches, and drove about an hour southeast of Tampa to Little Manatee River State Park in Wimauma.
The park is huge, and boasts over 2,400 acres of mostly untouched Florida wilderness. It also has all sorts of trails. Some for hiking, others for biking, and even a few for horse riding. Canoeing enthusiasts can also explore scenic stretches of the river, where they might be lucky enough to spot a manatee or two along the way!
One of the first things I noticed was how rugged and natural the landscape felt here. It actually reminded me a bit of South Africa. There's something about the dryness and the bird calls echoing through the trees that transported me back to long drives through Kruger National Park with my family.
We decided to hike the Sandpine Trail, a peaceful loop through scrubby flatwoods. The dogs enjoyed every minute of it, with their ears perked and noses to the ground throughout the whole walk. After a while, we found a shaded picnic area near the river and took a break to chow down on our peanut butter sandwiches. The dogs got some treats and water too.
Even though it’s mid-October, the heat felt more like summer than autumn. We didn’t stay on the trails as long as we’d hoped, but it was still such a refreshing change of scenery.
We also drove through the rest of the park to scout out other trails for next time. Unfortunately, the North Trail (which is over 6 miles long) and the Oxbow Nature Trail were temporarily closed, but we stopped at the entrances anyway. Just from the look of them, I know they’ll be worth the trip back, especially once the weather cools down a bit.
Just when I thought the day couldn’t get any better, we spotted deer on our way out. A mother and two fawns, quietly crossing a clearing near the road. It was such a beautiful moment and was my first time seeing baby deer in the wild. The perfect ending to a lovely day.
The park is huge, and boasts over 2,400 acres of mostly untouched Florida wilderness. It also has all sorts of trails. Some for hiking, others for biking, and even a few for horse riding. Canoeing enthusiasts can also explore scenic stretches of the river, where they might be lucky enough to spot a manatee or two along the way!
One of the first things I noticed was how rugged and natural the landscape felt here. It actually reminded me a bit of South Africa. There's something about the dryness and the bird calls echoing through the trees that transported me back to long drives through Kruger National Park with my family.
We decided to hike the Sandpine Trail, a peaceful loop through scrubby flatwoods. The dogs enjoyed every minute of it, with their ears perked and noses to the ground throughout the whole walk. After a while, we found a shaded picnic area near the river and took a break to chow down on our peanut butter sandwiches. The dogs got some treats and water too.
Even though it’s mid-October, the heat felt more like summer than autumn. We didn’t stay on the trails as long as we’d hoped, but it was still such a refreshing change of scenery.
We also drove through the rest of the park to scout out other trails for next time. Unfortunately, the North Trail (which is over 6 miles long) and the Oxbow Nature Trail were temporarily closed, but we stopped at the entrances anyway. Just from the look of them, I know they’ll be worth the trip back, especially once the weather cools down a bit.
Just when I thought the day couldn’t get any better, we spotted deer on our way out. A mother and two fawns, quietly crossing a clearing near the road. It was such a beautiful moment and was my first time seeing baby deer in the wild. The perfect ending to a lovely day.