Lisa Browder

Upper Tampa Bay Conservation Park was originally inhabited by the Tocobaga Indians (500-1500). In 1982, the entire area was established for nature study. It encompasses mangrove forests, salt and freshwater marshes, coastal hammocks and pine flatwoods. Hillsboroughcounty.org says the park was minimally developed due to its “fragile and sensitive environment.” They weren’t kidding.

There is much about that statement I wish I’d known before I checked out the park. However, it wasn’t until I got home and looked up the website that I discovered the lack of directional signage (which resulted in me losing my car at one point), moss covered benches, and sections of trails that could host mud wrestling events were the result of trying to maintain an untouched ecosystem with minimal intervention.

I started at the Nature Center. They have some interesting information on the environment and examples of the wildlife in the area.

The website says that “visitors can take a hike on nature trails and boardwalks and see gopher tortoises, zebra swallowtail butterflies, and even bobcats.” I could be wrong, but I think bobcats are primarily nocturnal. If you happen upon a bobcat while you’re hiking, you might be in trouble.

In any case, I wasn’t so much concerned about bobcats as alligators. I was walking around at ground level, sometimes with marshy areas on either side of the trail. I imagined a congregation of those yellow eyes peering at my ankles.

Side note: Couldn’t they just call them a “group” of alligators? “Congregation” sounds like supplicants praying for dinner, doesn’t it?

The park has 3 main hiking trails, and I walked each one. The first, Bobcat, starts behind the Nature Center. It begins with a long boardwalk and spectacular water views. However, once it tapers to ground level, things get a bit dicey. The trail looks like a cross between a path and a maintenance road, complete with deep tire track ruts. It branched off in 3 directions with no signage to indicate where they led. I chose to check out the path to the left even though I knew the Nature Center was to my right. I ended up at a soupy, marshy area. Nearby was a cheery marker instructing me to watch for coral snakes and water moccasins (no mention of alligators). I backtracked to the ruts and turned right.

Once at my car, I ventured down the road to the next trail – Otter. This was the longest of the three and the one that scared me the most. I’m a fairly new Floridian and this is where my fear of alligators kicked in. Every rustle to my left or right got my attention. Now you may think that’s amusing but come on now – haven’t we all heard the stories about the little boy at Disney World or the woman walking her dog by the lake? This was a secluded trail with no other human in sight and close to the water.

I eventually made my way out to a playground area. The problem here, I discovered, was that the nearby parked cars were facing in the opposite direction, mine was nowhere to be seen and there were no signs to direct me. I headed back toward the main road. I ended up trudging past the Nature Center (never did figure that out) but I found my car.

Tired, I almost drove past the last trail, Eagle, but decided I’d stop since it was the shortest. It was also the best maintained and had a gorgeous view when I reached the end. It was worth it.

Of the two parks I’ve hiked thus far, I much preferred Lettuce Lake. I liked having a boardwalk that was elevated well above the water and it seemed to have more visible wildlife.

I know I’ve bitched about the condition of the trails and the lack of signage at Upper Tampa Bay. Even so, it was a gorgeous day, I saw tons of beautiful birds, and enjoyed some breathtaking water views. It was a peaceful, quiet morning and, overall, it was worth the time.

Lucky me, I didn’t see a single coral snake, water moccasin or bobcat.

By the way, did you know alligators can run 35 miles per hour on land? Just sayin’.