The three largest parks are Morris Bridge at 106 acres, Trout Creek at 42 acres, and Flatwoods at 5,400 acres. The northern-most park, Flatwoods, is best known for its seven-mile paved loop for bikers, walkers, and roller-bladers. They even provide cold water in coolers in several locations around the loop. The access trails from Flatwoods and Downs Blvd. are also paved and can be biked to add five more miles to your ride.
The paved sections are in excellent repair and are very scenic. The one creek crossing has an alternate bridge as seen here for when the water is high as it was today...
"Flatwoods" or "Flatwoods Loop Trail" is generally used in reference to the most prominent feature of this park, its paved 7 mile multi-use loop trail seen above. However, "Wilderness Park" or "Morris Bridge" refer to the large number of off-road trails in the lower Morris Bridge area across from Trout Creek Park's entrance. We ventured off the pavement on sections of the 15 mile mountain bike loop which also delivers magnificent scenery and a more interesting ride. Next time we will bike the entire off-pavement loop and also explore some of the many side trails branching from it.
In summary, this venue is outstanding, and the mountain bike trails seem to be suitable for all levels of bikers.
Government website info
- Main entrance about 5 miles northeast of I-75 on Morris Bridge Road (CR 579) at Flatwoods Park Trail. Flatwoods Visitor Center located 0.5 miles inside entrance. Additional parking available 0.5 miles further west where the loop trail begins.
- Bruce B. Downs Boulevard (CR 581) entrance 1 mile northeast of I-75.
- Admission fee.
- Tampa area
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I drove from Sarasota to ride Flatwoods Park on 8-26-11. 12.5 miles round trip includes Bruce B Downs entrance. A really nice place. Not much shade but still I give it a 10. Take care Chuck.
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