After exploring the trails at Hillsborough River State Park last week I decided to follow the river on my way home. I stopped off at four river access points, all sections of the Hillsborough River Wilderness Park.

With the exception of the rapids at the state park, the rest of the river is a wide, slow-moving expanse. It’s considered a blackwater river since it wanders through swamps and wetlands.

I think the thing that surprised me the most was that I didn’t see a single alligator (but I’m sure they were there). Thank goodness these areas were set aside early on, since the Tampa urban area has claimed every square inch.