Bell Creek Nature preserve
Bell Creek Nature Preserve puts acres of breathtaking scenery and Tampa hiking trails right in our back yard! I discovered these preserves when I moved back to the Tampa Bay area. I wasn’t happy about it at the time, but little did I know that there would be so much to do in this wonderful area!
Bell Creek is tucked between several amazing neighborhoods. Boyette Springs is located to the North and East, Shadow Run to the south, and Rogers Middle School caps it off to the west. As you might imagine, this little slice of paradise is easy to miss.
This place is home to many of the best Tampa hiking trails, adding another exiting activity to the area. These trails are full of breathtaking flowers and other flora that you’d expect in Florida. You might even encounter a rare and endangered Florida Golden Aster.
If you watch the video above, you’ll notice that we took the North trail and then spurred onto the Yellow trail, but these are just two possible paths you can take. There are nearly five miles of hiking trails to explore. In fact, you can buy audio tours and learn about all of the natural habitats at this preserve. If you want to learn more, visit the Bell Creek Nature Preserve section of the county website.
Bell Creek Started Out as a Development
Bell Creek Nature Preserve started out as a development project in the 1980s but then a recession forced the company to halt its development. As a result, there are a lot of half-built roads that many of the hiking trails are laid upon. As you traverse these paths, you’re given a unique perspective of man-made paths being once again taken over by nature.
Bell Creek is a Great Place to Take your Fur Babies
If you’re looking for a great place to spend some quality time with your fur babies, then Bell Creek Nature Preserve is a wonderful option. Your pets will have over 477 acres to explore. Of course, you’ll want to keep them on a leash so they don’t get lost!
Bell Creek Nature Preserve Events
The county runs an event called the Hiking Spree where they choose a handful of parks within their network. They entice people to visit these locations. This list can be viewed during November every year. Furthermore, the website also shows the difficulty of each hiking trail so you can make sure you choose one that matches your skill level.
Bell Creek contains some of the best Tampa hiking trails so if you get a chance to explore it, then I highly recommend you do so. It’s simple and free so there’s no reason not to experience everything that it has to offer.
Some other favorite activities are fishing and bird watching. Locals are always taking advantage of these relaxing activities.
If you’re looking to move to the Tampa Bay Florida or surrounding areas, then lets chat. Let me help you find the perfect home!