Home › Florida › Plant City › Lower Green Swamp Nature Preserve
Lower Green Swamp Nature Preserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 237 Google reviews · Running trail in Plant City, Florida · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Lower Green Swamp Nature Preserve's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
What runners say about Lower Green Swamp Nature Preserve
“Nice clean trails, moderately shaded, not crowded at all.”
“Things are extremely dry right now but I'm sure when the rain comes the green makes the place even more beautiful.”
“Don't wear jeans, ur not going through tall grass and it's hot with little shade depending on ur path.”
“You can bring your dog on a leash, and the trails are well marked, with maps available at the kiosk at the entrance.”
“12,800 acres , not another soul in 6 hours ,does not get anymore peaceful and serene ,such a majestic preserve .”
Love this Hillsborough County Park. I have been here to many times to count, once with our horses, many times with my dog an without. With 5 different sections to hike, 4 for horses, 1 just for hikers. The red section is on a cattle farm. Had a whole heard of cattle walk over to check me out.
This is definitely a hidden gem of central Florida. There are a few trails all have they're own unique features. Abundance of wildlife that can be seen at the right time of day.. I find the best time tends to be in the last 2 hours of daylight. I see deer pretty much every evening walk I do, hogs only occasionally.
This is a beautiful preserve with hiking trails. You can bring your dog on a leash, and the trails are well marked, with maps available at the kiosk at the entrance. There are a few benches and picnic tables at long intervals to take a rest.
This place has probably around 15-20 miles of hiking trails, decent plant diversity, and I saw a gopher tortoise and swallowtail kites on my visit. There are also a couple of the most gorgeous live oaks I think I’ve seen, but they are about 4 miles out and there’s no drinking fountains out there as far as I could…
Trail conditions & character
“Don't wear jeans, ur not going through tall grass and it's hot with little shade depending on ur path.”
“Things are extremely dry right now but I'm sure when the rain comes the green makes the place even more beautiful.”
“You can bring your dog on a leash, and the trails are well marked, with maps available at the kiosk at the entrance.”
“12,800 acres , not another soul in 6 hours ,does not get anymore peaceful and serene ,such a majestic preserve .”
“Never saw any restrooms, but they do show they have them on the map.”
Plan your run at Lower Green Swamp Nature Preserve
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadrestrooms, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitehcflgov.net
- Phone(813) 757-3713
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Friday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday | 7 AM–8 PM |
| Sunday | 7 AM–8 PM |
Running trails near Plant City
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
McIntosh Preserve
4.5 ★★★★★ 89 reviews
Family-friendly space offering marked walking paths and an observation tower for viewing alligators and wildlife.
Itchepackesassa Creek Wetland
4.5 ★★★★★ 59 reviews
Country park featuring a short walking trail that's good for kids and dogs, and fishing.
Ellis-Methvin Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 668 reviews
Public green space with a pond, playground, tennis center & fields for softball & soccer/football.
Plant City Dog Park
4.1 ★★★★☆ 259 reviews
Recreation spot for dogs featuring benches and picnic tables.
Samuel W Cooper Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 159 reviews
Clean city park for relaxing, featuring a lake and a pond, plus benches.