Upper Tampa Bay Conservation Park Highlights Coastal Habitats and Outdoor Recreation

Hillsborough County is highlighting Upper Tampa Bay Conservation Park as a destination for trails, paddling, and nature education. Established in 1982, the nearly 600-acre park protects a mix of coastal, wetland, and upland habitats.

Visitors have access to nature trails, boardwalks, picnic areas, a playground, and fishing docks. Canoe and kayak rentals at the Nature Center provide access to Double Branch Creek and Tampa Bay.

The park is at 8001 Double Branch Road in Tampa. Its current listing gives hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and a $2 vehicle admission fee for up to eight people. Rentals cost extra. The Nature Center includes living animals and exhibits about the park’s environment and history.

The county also explains how professionally planned prescribed burns reduce accumulated vegetation and support fire-dependent habitats. For Tampa residents interested in natural landscapes, the park offers a close look at habitat conservation in practice. Read the county’s park guide and follow its links for visitor information before heading out.