Thonotosassa: River, Trails and History

When planning a stay in Thonotosassa, you can distinguish between nature, outdoor activities and history by focusing on specific destinations. When looking for a hotel, it may help to first decide what you would like to do: follow a paved route, walk along the river, observe wildlife or focus on history.

Trails and River Activities

Flatwoods Conservation Park has a seven-mile paved loop that serves as a multi-use trail. A two-mile paved extension connects Bruce B. Downs Boulevard to the loop. Both sections are paved but serve different purposes: the seven-mile route forms a loop, while the extension connects the boulevard to the loop. This gives you two distinct types of routes: a loop and a connector.

At Dead River Conservation Park, a 2.8-mile hiking trail follows the Hillsborough River through shaded oak and palm groves. Admission is free for pedestrians and cyclists; access is limited to these two user groups. The Old Fort King Trail runs through Dead River Conservation Park and continues into Hillsborough River State Park.

Visitors can canoe and kayak on the Hillsborough River at Hillsborough River State Park. These activities put the river itself at the center and differ from the land trails described above. Alligators, turtles, water snakes, frogs and wading birds can often be spotted along the Hillsborough River in Morris Bridge Conservation Park. The park also gives off-road cyclists access to the expansive Wilderness Trail. Morris Bridge therefore offers both a focus on wildlife viewing and access for off-road cyclists.

Trout Creek Conservation Park is part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail and is near the point where Trout Creek flows into the Hillsborough River. Here, the focus is on the park’s inclusion in this trail and its specific setting at the confluence.

Fort Foster and History

Fort Foster State Historic Site is a reconstruction of a fort that Colonel William S. Foster and his 430 men built at the same location in December 1836. During the Second Seminole War, Fort Foster served to defend the bridge crossing over the Hillsborough River and as a supply point for soldiers in the area of operations. The fort’s construction history and military functions complement each other: its construction and its roles related to the river crossing and supplying troops offer two distinct perspectives on the historic site.

Recreational Facilities at Branchton Park

Branchton Park offers a different focus from the river and nature parks: it has a playground, a splash pad, covered picnic areas and basketball courts. Here, the focus is on individual recreational facilities rather than a trail, a river activity or a historic site. You can therefore organize the destinations described here according to the activities you would like to include in your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Brandon, Sun City Center, Apollo Beach, Ruskin, Seffner, Riverview, Lutz, Plant City

For the broader travel overview: Hillsborough.