About us
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Purpose of the Group:
The purpose of this group is to bring people together for relaxed, enjoyable hikes — mostly on Saturday mornings — designed for those of us who work Monday through Friday. Hikes will be relatively easy and within about an hour’s drive of Tampa.
We’re excited to welcome Dominick and Tonya as event organizers. They may occasionally plan events during the week or further away, offering more flexibility and variety.
Who should attend:
Anyone who enjoys hiking or the outdoors.
Upcoming events
6
Circle B Bar Reserve - Lakeland
Circle B Bar Reserve, 4399 Winter Lake Road, Lakeland, FL, USSaturday Morning Hike: Circle B Bar Reserve – Lakeland
We’re heading out to Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland for a morning hike through one of Central Florida’s most wildlife-rich preserves.
Circle B offers a network of easy, mostly flat trails with beautiful views of Lake Hancock, marshes, and shaded sections. Depending on the route we take, expect around 4–5 miles with minimal elevation gain—perfect for a relaxed morning outdoors.
This area is especially known for wildlife, including birds, turtles, and yes… alligators4399 Winter Lake Road
Lakeland, FL 33803### 🚗 Carpool Option
Since this one is a bit of a drive let fellow attendees know if you want to carpool as a rider or driver.
Trail Info:
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/florida/circle-b-bar-preserve
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/florida/circle-b-bar-preserve-trail### What to expect:
- Easy, mostly flat trails
- Approx. 4–5 mile loop
- Excellent wildlife viewing
- Mix of sun and shade
### What to bring:
- Water
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sun protection
- Bug spray
### Good to know:
- No dogs allowed at this preserve
- Can be somewhat busy—especially on weekends
- Plenty of photo opportunities
We’ll meet at 9:00 AM and head out shortly after. Looking forward to this one—Circle B is always a favorite.
17 attendees
Blackwater Creek Nature Preserve
Blackwater Creek Nature Preserve, 2469 Patrinostro Rd, Plant City, FL, USLet's show Blackwater Creek Nature Preserve a little love and hike alongside peeps from Tampa Hiking Meetup Group. We'll be joining Patricia from Suncoat Outdoors and she'll be leading us that day,
Once we start getting regular rain, there will more than likely be some freshwater marshes and wet prairies so please be prepared for anything.
We will hike for about 6.5 miles, time permitting. This 2,200 acre preserve includes some of the finest remaining examples of long leaf pine dominated mesic pine flatwoods and blackwater streams, interspersed with hardwood hammocks, and cypress domes. More than half of the preserve is wide open, which provides spectacular views of gentle fields trimmed by forest and endless sky. A side trail leads to a bubbling creek that is perfectly shaded. We might see wildlife that includes butterflies, red shouldered hawks, and Terrance the Tortoise. Blackwater Creek Preserve is part of a major wildlife and water corridor tied to the Hillsborough River and Green Swamp—important for regional drinking water. Trails often follow old logging tram roads from early timber operations (cypress & pine).
To learn more about the park, visit: https://hcfl.gov/locations/blackwater-creek-preserve There is no day use fee.
There are no bathrooms. There is a Circle K Gas station at 1449 Paul S Buchman Hwy, Zephyrhills, FL 33540.
On the day of the hike, please meet me in the parking lot at 5 pm. We will start hiking at 5:10. You will need at least 2 liters of water, snacks, bug spray, sunscreen, a hat, hikers, and anything else you deem necessary for your comfort. A solar umbrella brings the heat down by at least 10 degrees. There are only a few benches so you may want to bring a ground cloth to sit on during the snack break. We must be out of the park by 8 pm (closing time).
hcfl.gov14 attendees
Past events
92
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