Rocky Creek Trails Nature Preserve
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Rocky Creek Trails Nature Preserve offers a beautiful, short, and well-maintained natural trail, ideal for a quick nature fix, particularly for families with young children. Its unique value proposition lies in its direct connection to the much longer, paved Upper Tampa Bay Bike Trail, allowing visitors to combine a brief scenic nature walk with a more extended biking or walking experience. The preserve features a beautiful new bridge over a creek and ample shade.
Key Highlights
- ✓Lots of shade from large native trees on the nature trail.
- ✓Features a beautiful, newly finished bridge over the creek, which is a key scenic point.
- ✓The main nature trail is very clearly marked, making navigation easy.
- ✓The preserve is lovely and well-maintained, offering a peaceful atmosphere.
Standout Features
- ⭐A cute and beautiful new bridge over Rocky Creek provides a scenic focal point.
- ⭐Direct access and connection to the much longer, paved Upper Tampa Bay Bike Trail, expanding activity options significantly.
- ⭐The main parking lot is nicely paved and well-maintained.
- ⭐Portions of the trail, especially the hiking area and bridge, offer great shade, making it comfortable during warmer weather.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →For a longer experience, plan to utilize the adjacent paved Upper Tampa Bay Bike Trail, which can be accessed directly from the preserve's main trail.
- →Bring bikes if you wish to extend your visit significantly, as the paved trail is suitable for cycling.
- →The main trail is very clearly marked, so navigation is straightforward, even with young children.
- →Consider this location for a quick, peaceful walk or jog, especially if looking for a short getaway close to home.
Things to Consider
- ⚠The main nature trail is extremely short, described as a 'tiny little loop' that can be finished in 10-15 minutes, which some visitors found surprisingly brief.
- ⚠The $2 parking fee was a surprise to some given the very small size and short length of the main preserve trail.
Price & Value
There is a mandatory $2 parking fee. While some visitors find this surprising or high for the very short duration of the natural preserve trail, it provides access to a well-maintained parking lot and the entry point to both the preserve and the significantly longer Upper Tampa Bay Bike Trail, offering good value if you plan to utilize the paved trail as well.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •The parking lot is nicely paved and maintained, suggesting easy access to the start point.
- •The adjacent Upper Tampa Bay Bike Trail is paved, making it suitable for strollers and potentially wheelchairs, though specific accessibility for the natural Rocky Creek trail itself is not detailed beyond being 'clearly marked'.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No information regarding outside food or drink policy was mentioned in the reviews.
🚗Parking Info
- •A $2 parking fee is required.
- •The parking lot is nicely paved and well-maintained.
- •It serves as a convenient parking spot for those wishing to access the Upper Tampa Bay Bike Trail with their bikes.
👥Crowd Levels
- •The main natural trail appears to be quiet, with one reviewer noting 'didn't see anyone else on the trail'.
- •The adjacent paved Upper Tampa Bay Trail sees some activity, with a few bicyclists mentioned.
🛡️Safety Features
- •The main trail is described as 'very clearly marked', which contributes to ease of navigation and safety.
- •No other specific safety features like staff supervision or first aid were mentioned.
⏰When to Avoid
- • If you are seeking a long, strenuous, or challenging natural hiking experience without combining it with the paved trail, as the main preserve trail is very short.
- • If you prefer free parking for even short visits, as there is a $2 fee.
Pricing/Package/Events
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Bring plenty of water
- • Download the map
- • Tell someone your plan
- • Wear proper shoes and sun protection
- • Stay on marked trails
- • If you think you are lost, call (813) 672-7876
- • In case of an emergency, call 911
🚗Parking Information
- • Fee to park at this location (amount not specified)
Photos
What People Say
What's Great
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 6 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Michael Macris
2 months agoCool trail, it’s just pretty small compared to others. Can finish it in about 10-15 minutes, and there’s 2$ parking.
Donald Stoner
2 years agoNice but very short trail, with lots of shade from the large native trees and lots of wild potato vine wrapped around them. About half way there is a cute little bridge over the creek, when you get to the end you can backtrack or use the upper Tampa Bay trail to return to the parking lot. I didn't see anyone else on the trail but there was a few bicyclests on the paved trail. There's a $2.00 parking fee
hawktthewah
a month agoshort trail, has a bridge, and a river. another trail on the side that’s way longer but it’s paved
Angie Filakovsky
5 years agoBeautiful place. They're building a bridge over rocky creek too that's gonna be awesome. **Edit** I just went about a week ago- the middle of January 2020- and the bridge is finished, it's absolutely beautiful. Parking is two dollars, which kind of suprised me since it's such a small preserve and an extremely short trail. The shortest I've ever seen in my life actually, it's just a tiny little loop that goes from the parking lot to the upper Tampa Bay bike trail. So you can get to the preserve trail from the bike trail so that's really cool. The trail is very clearly marked too so that's always a good thing. If you are someone who drives there with your bike to use the upper Tampa Bay bike trail it's a great place to park and the parking lot is very nicely paved and maintained.
Janelle R.
2 years agoThis trail is awesome for a walk or bike ride. Its long enough to give you a good, long peaceful walk, jog or run to clear the mind. It also offers great shade in certain parts of the trail, especially the hiking area and bridge. It is lovely, well maintained and great getaway close to home.