Hillsborough River State Park - Florida State Park - Brandon, Carrollwood, Dover, Lakeland, Land O Lakes

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Hillsborough River State Park

State Park Information

State Park Overview

Camping
Full Facility Camping

RV and Tent camping is available with electric on most of the campsites in our 108 site campground. Each site is equipped with water - fire ring and picnic table. The Campground offers a dump station for your convenience since sewer hookups are not available on each campsite at this time. Pets are allowed with restrictions. Shopping is available at the park?s Outpost concession with basic food items and merchandise. Exhibits are located throughout the park. Swimming is available in ? acre man-made swimming area. The park offers many planned activities year-round. For more information on camping in our park simply click on the Reserve America link. Clicking on the park map or selecting one of the camping area links just below the park map will allow you to see a map of the individual campsite locations. Select any campsite icon to see a detailed description of the individual campsite and what it has to offer.

Primitive Camping

A primitive camp, located across the river is available via foot trail and reservations are recommended.

Youth Camping

The youth camping area can handle groups up to 60 people at one time and costs $4.00 per person.

Trails
Bicycling

Bicyclists are invited to ride on the 1.6 mile Wetlands Restoration Nature Trail as well as the 2.2 mile Park Loop and through the campgrounds. All visitors are encouraged to wear helmets for their safety and by law all children under 16 are required to wear helmets when riding bicycles on the road.

Nature Trails

Visitors have 4 trails to choose from and 7. 3 total miles to hike. Biking is available on the Wetlands Restoration Trail exclusively. A trail map is available at the Ranger?s Station.

Picnicking
Visitors can picnic under one of the pavilions built by the CCC in the 1930s or at one of the other open picnic benches available throughout the park. Six pavilions are available to rent for $30 or $60 plus electricity fee where available. Call the Ranger?s Station for more information and availability at 813-987-6771. A fact sheet is provided for your information. For larger groups the Recreation Hall is available to rent.

- Recreation Hall base $125

- Rec. Hall w/ Kitchen $175 + tax

- After hours (until 10pm) add $50 + tax

- After hours security personnel at $22.50 per hour + tax with a minimum of 3 hours$25 cleaning deposit (To be paid on day of rental and returned once facility is reviewed by park staff.

Boating
Canoeing & Kayaking

Canoeing is a popular activity in the park. Visitors may bring their own canoe or rent one at the park. Florida Sports Paddling Club a local paddling club, enjoys the park?s river access and makes regular use of it, contact them for more information about club activities at Hillsborough River State Park.

Swimming

Fishing and Hunting

History of the Area
Hillsborough River State Park is significant in the twentieth century history of Florida as one of 9 elements of the New Deal-inspired Florida state park system and as one of the physical expressions of early-twentieth century recreation planning. In 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was the first New Deal agency to begin operations in Florida. From 1933 to 1942 the CCC and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) programs constructed an impressive collection of facilities throughout Florida.

A considerable portion of the public recreation facilities created by these programs is preserved in the state park system?s New Deal era parks Florida Caverns State Park, Torreya State Park, Fort Clinch State Park, O?Leno State Park, Gold Head Branch State Park, Ravine State Gardens, Hillsborough River State Park, Highlands Hammock State Park and Myakka River State Park.

Land acquisition for Hillsborough River State Park began in 1934 and the park officially became part of the Florida state park system in 1935. The CCC began work at Hillsborough River State Park in 1934, when Company 1418 was transferred from Sebring to the small community of Sulphur Springs, northeast of Tampa. CCC Camp SP-71 served primarily as a forestry unit, erecting fire towers, planting seedlings and constructing fire lanes throughout Hillsborough County.

In 1934 - detachment of 60 CCC enrollees were sent from the camp to develop Hillsborough River State Park, under the supervision of the National Park Service. The state park was largely complete by July, 1938, when Camp SP-71 at Sulphur Springs was evacuated. The caretaker?s cottage, support buildings and the fire tower at Hillsborough River State Park were constructed between 1934 and 1936. Most of the park?s recreational facilities (including 5 overnight cabins that were subsequently removed) were constructed between 1935 and 1938. Additional wood frame and native stone residences were constructed by park personnel and several picnic shelters and a boat house were constructed between 1939 and 1941 from NPS plans, probably by the Florida Park Service or its contractors.

The park consists of 1,040 upland acres and 2,343 wetland/submerged acres for a total of 3,383 acres. Acquisition began in June, 1934.

More Info

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Nature Programs
Guided Tours

Fort Foster is the only standing replica of a Second Seminole War Fort in the United States. Guided Tours of Fort Foster are offered weather permitting, every weekend, Saturdays at 2 pm and Sundays at 11 am. The fees are $2.00 per person 13 years and older and $1.00 for children ages 6 to 12, children 5 years and younger are free. Meet at the Interpretive Center for the tour. If you have any questions please call the Ranger Station for more information.
Hillsborough River State Park is located 9 miles north of Tampa and 6 miles south of Zephyrhills on US Highway 301.

From I-75, Southbound from Ocala take the SR 54. Exit #279 east to Hwy 301, travel South for 6 miles and the park will be on your right-hand side.

From I-75, Northbound from Tampa take the Fowler Ave. Exit #265 east to Hwy 301, travel North for 9 miles and the park will be on your left-hand side.

From I-4, West bound take Exit 10 go north on CR 579 to US 301, follow the signs and go North 7 miles the park will be on your left-hand side.

From I-4, East bound take Exit 7 (be careful of the merges) and go North on US 301 for 14 miles, the park will be on your left-hand side.