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18 Balm-Boyette Scrub Preserve Loop

This must-do hike loops through one of Tampa Bay’s most important preserved parcels. Centered by upper Bell Creek, Balm-Boyette contains not-so-sexy sounding—yet significant—scrub habitat that contains rare species such as the Florida golden astor. Follow a single-track path across Bell Creek, then enter scrub lands, traveling sandy tracks before crossing Bell Creek a second time and returning to the trailhead.

Distance: 3.5-mile loop

Approximate hiking time: 2–2.5 hours

Difficulty: Moderate (due to sandy trail in spots)

Trail surface: Natural surfaces

Best season: Nov–Apr

Other trail users: None

Canine compatibility: Leashed dogs permitted

Fees and permits: None required

Schedule: Open year-round sunrise to sunset

Maps: Balm-Boyette Scrub & Triple Creek Nature Preserves; USGS maps: Lithia, Riverview

Trail contacts: Hillsborough County Parks, 15502 Morris Bridge Road, Thonotosassa 33592; (813) 987-6230; www.hillsboroughcounty.org/parks

The Hike

Balm-Boyette may not be the biggest parcel of protected land in the greater Tampa Bay area, but it may be the most significant. The undisturbed upland scrub habitat, rare to begin with, is even rarer in the ever-expanding greater Tampa Bay area. Covering over 5,700 acres, including the adjacent Triple Creek Preserve, the area protects 800 acres of scrub habitat—broken into several parcels—within its boundaries. It is also known for high numbers of gopher tortoises. Their burrows are important for other critters that inhabit this area, which also includes freshwater wetlands and swamps along Bell Creek.

This hiking trail travels the part of the preserve on the northwest side of Balm-Boyette Road. The southeast-side section is known for its numerous mountain biking trails that travel old phosphate mines. The hiking trail is marked with posts, hiker symbols, and arrows. Along the way, especially in the scrub habitat, it intersects many old sand roads. Fear not; the correct way is well marked. Another trail leaves the upper part of this loop and heads into Triple Creek Preserve. Add a couple of miles to your loop if you are feeling frisky.

Your first surprise will be the lushness of the forest, especially if you’re expecting scrub habitat. Instead it heads southwesterly into a deep woodland of bay trees, swamp hardwoods, and ferns of Bell Creek. Soon you will climb away from the stream and enter pine flatwoods before reaching the anticipated scrub. This habitat includes sand pine scrub and the more rare xeric oak scrub. Fire is an important component of the habitat, and the numerous sand roads you cross are effectively divisions used to manage different tracts within the preserve. The scrub lends a real sense of remoteness, rarely found elsewhere in the Tampa Bay area. The forest changes again, regaining its lushness, upon meeting Bell Creek a second time. The final part of the loop is more shaded and cruises over a tributary of Bell Creek before reaching the trailhead.

Miles and Directions

0.0Standing at the parking area with Balm-Boyette Road behind you, a road gate and gravel road stand in front of you. Mountain bikers take off for the gravel road. The hiking trail, however, leads right, through a narrow break in the fence beside a kiosk. Immediately join a single-track path in thick woods, and soon you will reach Bell Creek.

0.3Cross Balm-Boyette Road, step over a fence, and then reach a gate to reenter preserve property. Continue straight on a grassy roadbed.

0.4The grassy roadbed splits. Stay right, entering pine flatwoods, still on a double-track path.

0.6The double-track path continues straight while the hiking trail leads left as a single track and winds through a mix of woods and open areas. This area can be confusing, so make sure to follow the posts, hiker symbols, and arrows.

0.8Open onto scrub and a sand road. Turn sharply left here, heading south, before curving back north. The road separates scrub from oak-dominated woods after turning north.

1.0Reach a junction of sand roads. Keep right here. You are now in pure scrub environment.

1.3Reach a junction of sand roads. Keep forward.

1.4Reach a four-way sand-road junction. Keep forward, aiming for the tall pines in the distance.

1.5Reach a sand-trail junction. Turn right here, cruising north-northeast along the margin between scrub to your right and high pines to your left.

2.0Reach a marked trail junction. The path leading left, northwest, heads into Triple Creek Preserve and rejoins this trail later. Head right just a few feet and join a marked shaded path heading left as a sand road continues straight.

2.3Step over Bell Creek in deep woods. Keep east.

2.5Reach a three-way sand-trail junction. The path from Triple Creek comes in on the left. Turn right, southbound, amid laurel oak trees.

3.2Step over a tributary of Bell Creek in thick woods.

3.5Reach the trailhead after crossing Balm-Boyette Road.