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    Flatwoods Park

    4.5 (59 reviews)

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    Reta B.

    I absolutely lovedddd this park!!! It is so beautiful. You can walk and not get tired because you're surrounded by beauty. I came here with a group of people who hiked, some ran and others just walked. I think it's so beautiful, and a must see place. I am planning to come Here again and bring my friends and family. Highly recommend

    Panther mountain biking trail
    Ariana L.

    I really like this park! Entrance is $2 and well worth it. The main path is a paved road that is very wide and smooth. The scenery is beautiful. We went in the evening which was perfect; it may be too hot during midday with the sun beaming down on the asphalt. We decided to be adventurous and turn into a woodsy path called "Panther." Besides a sign that read the name of the path, and arrows pointing to the entrance and exit, there isn't much additional info about it (how long it is, that it is actually a mountain biking trail, etc.) and there aren't any markers on the path itself either. The path is clear, so you won't get lost, but still I think it is important to have markers especially on a longer and windy trail. We had to Google it midway through our walk to see if we would ever get out! (FYI - it's about two miles long). We ended up walking about 4.5 miles easily and there is plenty more to explore as well. This park would be great for runners, walkers, skateboarders, rollerbladers, bikers etc. We will be exploring again!

    Nice abs clean paved path.
    Brian R.

    This is a great green area to walk or ride one's bike. There is a small fee to park. Greenway is plenty long and was great for an afternoon walk. I would caution that during the summer it could be extremely hot.

    Neek B.

    I can't believe a park like this is just sitting in Tampa and I've never heard of it. This place is beautiful(extremely hot) but beautiful. If you like to bike, run or just take a walk this is the place for you. I only got about 2 miles in but I think it goes in a loop for about 8-10 miles so Ifs perfect for anyone that likes to bike or do distance running. It wasn't crowded with people and I went in the middle of the day on a Saturday so that was great you don't have to worry about getting ran over by somebody on a bike if you're running and you don't have to worry about cracking into someone if you're on a bike it's great. It costs $2 to park all day. The parking lot is kind of small but there weren't many cars I think a lot of the people that live in the surrounding area use the trail so parking is never really full.

    Barbara C.

    What I love about Flatwoods park is there is ample parking and restrooms. The beauty of the trail is that it is asphalt and this makes it easier on my knees and hips when I run. They also have dirt trails to run on as well. The park is scenic and you can see a variety of plants and flowers when they are in season. The path is large enough for runners, bikers, skaters, walkers, joggers and woggers. I love that there are ample water stations and rangers and workers that check on the trail throughout the park. I have walked out here with friends on many occasions and I also run out here with my running group BGR. We were out last Saturday, February 7, 2015 and it was a nice and chilly morning for a run, so we enjoyed ourselves. It is nice to see other runners out and all types of people getting their exercise on. I also love that there is 11 miles of asphalt to run. You run out 2 miles to a 7 mile loop and then run back 2 miles to the parking lot. They also have bathrooms in the parking lot. The only drawback for me is that in the summer there isn't a lot of shade, so you have to ensure that you have a lot of sunscreen on and that you wear a cap. Also this past Saturday the bathrooms were not working and they had port a potty's. For me it is a long hike to get to the trail I have to come from Riverview. I wish Hillsborough County had more parks in the Southern part of the County.

    Megan B.

    I just had an amazing experience at this park for the very first time! I was trying to find somewhere new for my dog and I to go on a walk especially with such nice weather recently. As I pulled up I saw that there was a parking fee station but it was only two dollars to park which isn't horrible. They are very clean restrooms at the Bruce B Downs entrance and the whole trail seemed very clean and trash free! They have a paved section of trail as well as an off-road section which was a little more shaded. My dog loved it and we had a great time!

    Huge Florida Cooter
    Brittany L.

    I am definitely a fan. Took my bike out here for a 30-mile ride on Saturday morning, and it was WONDERFUL not to have to stop at traffic lights and dodge glass and nails (Tampa city riding) or dodge babies, grandmas, and clueless people on the wrong side of the path (Campbell Causeway). It costs $2 to use this park. The money pays for trail maintenance, restrooms, and water stations. I think it's a bargain. BRING CASH to pay the fee!!! There are 2 park entrances; you cannot get from one entrance/lot to the other by car. If you are a runner who would prefer to run on gravel in the the shade, I suggest using the Bruce B. Downs entrance and lot. If you're a cyclist either one should be fine as both the Bruce B. Downs entrance and the Morris Bridge Rd. entrance will provide access to the loop trail. This park has a gravel trail, multiple dirt trails through the woods for hikers and some for mountain bikers to use, and paved trails (2 miles and 1 mile) that lead from the parking areas to the 7-mile paved loop trail. If you leave from MBR and do one loop, then head back to your car, you'll be in for 9 miles. If you leave from BBD and do one loop before heading out you'll do 11 miles. I combined multiple loops with trips along the extensions to achieve 30 miles. Some people head out early and get in 50-70 miles! While you're on the loop there are regular stops with water AND trash cans, so there is no need to throw your trash on the ground (hint, hint). Bring a water bottle with you for in-between water stations, but you'll be able to refill while you're out so you don't need to bring a LOT of water. The only restrooms are at the parking areas so plan accordingly. I very much enjoyed the scenery and wildlife while I was riding. I saw a Florida Box Turtle and a HUGE Florida Cooter while I was riding (be careful of them on the trail!) as well as many bluebirds, blue jays, cardinals, and other small birds. Tons of dragonflies and other insects, there are snakes, squirrels, red-tailed hawks, vultures. I would imagine in the early morning and evening and on the hiking trails you'd see even more wildlife. It gets very hot during the middle of the day and there isn't a lot of shade on much of the paved trails. You should be fine on a bike due to the breeze you'll create but as a walker or runner I think high noon would not be the best time to be out. Although there are signs requesting faster users to call out "on your left" when passing slower users, I found that many cyclists did not so always clear yourself to be safe. Pro-Tip: Although there are great restroom facilities with flush toilets, there are no paper towels. So, if you are going to be gunked up with dust-sweat-sunscreen after your ride and want to rinse off, bring a towel with you. I washed my face and arms and had to dry off with my jersey. Here's a link to a map: https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/lh-flatwoods.html

    road to nowhere...
    Cece C.

    I love parks.... not grassy areas where you barbecue some ribs and listen to music but actual state parks with wildlife and hiking... Flatwoods Park is a hidden gem and one of the best ones I have been to in Tampa so far. There are two entrances: one off Bruce B. Downs and one off Morris Bridge. I would recommend the BB Downs entrance because if you enter off Morris Bridge, there is a main parking area but the road that is supposed to cut through the park is blocked so there aren't a whole lot of options of where to go, especially if you are on foot. There is a fee of $2 and it is on the honor system. I wanted to check out the welcome center/ranger station and ask some questions but it was closed... in the middle of the afternoon on a Thursday. Go figure. The people in the parking lot were nice though and loved my dog. I saw rollerbladers.... say what? People still do that? Okay. After seeing the road block, the pup and I ventured down this old deserted service road until we hit a dead end and the beginning of the "interpretive walking trail." The moment she jumped out of the car she went CRAZY! Something about this park triggered her happiest emotions. We walked through the forest and then through what seemed to be a burned down or cleared out part with no trees, weird (Flatwoods = flat woods? Who knows). We didn't see a single soul. Perhaps that was because we were on the unpaved "deserted" side of the park, or maybe it was the timing. I loved it though because I didn't have to worry about cyclists or hobos (or cycling hobos). Whether the absence of human presence was good or bad I don't really know but I felt safe enough. And anyways, anyone who attacks someone with a pitbull is really stupid anyway so I usually don't worry about it. I recommend Flatwoods Park for anyone who loves nature, hiking/walking, peace and quiet, and exploring new places. Bring your dog! After all, pets make every experience better everytime! Enjoy.

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    Flatwoods is amazing! Wonderful hydration stations , always ice cold. great for long run days .

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    Ask the Community - Flatwoods Park

    Are these trails dog friendly?

    The trail is more of a greenway or paved road. On a cool day probably good for dogs. Hot day, asphalt could burn their paws.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Flatwoods Park

    Accessible from 2 exits off I75, this 8 mile loop is great for long runs or multiple loops on a bicycle.

    Mentioned in 8 reviews

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    Flatwoods Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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