Little Manatee River State Park

My wife and I just returned from a 2-day camping at this park yesterday. These days were steamy hot, and so it was not really enjoyable. The lady who greeted us at the entrance was very welcoming when we arrived. She wore a Volunteer name tag, and her name started Dan.., if I am not mistaken. The campsite is not large. It has only one bathroom consisting of a family room, and male and female rooms with multiple cubicles. The bathrooms were very clean and well ventilated. We were disappointed to find no clothes hook installed on the wall, however. Might be due to the hot weather, we only spotted a few bunnies, and a fierce flight between two turtles during our stay. About a mile away from our campsite inside the park, there was a river with kayak-slide facilities. All in all, we found there wasn't much to see in this park.

I was here for hiking. This place is nice, but doesn't cater to hikers. Unless I missed something, there's only one trail. They definitely cater to the equine crowd. You can hike on those trails, but the going is tough.

Great little hiking trails for a short day trip. There is a river nearby with canoeing opportunities. The park was not busy at all when I was there midday on a Thursday. I enjoyed the quiet and walking on many different trails.

We explored the park as part of the 2025-26 Hillsborough County Hiking Spree. It was a Florida Spring day that began with a packed lunch at the Trailhead which was very convenient because there is parking and bathrooms, a couple of picnic tables that overlook the river and a very nice Kayak and Canoe launch. We hiked the Sandpine Trail which is about 2 miles out and back with a loop around campground. Along the way are a couple of small pavilions. We've been in a terrible drought lately so the sandy trail was soft sand- not my favorite hiking surface, but you get a good workout. ;-) We had been to the State Park briefly about a year ago when a group of friends and I kayaked from Canoe Oupost and took a lunch break at a very nice large screened pavilion located up a sandy trail a short distance from a small beach where we landed our boats. We enjoyed ourselves each time. So....now it's your turn go outside and check out Little Manatee River State Park. It's worth the drive.

Visited the Oxbow Trail and Dude Lake Trail on a beautiful Saturday and the park was alive with visitors, campers, and horseback riders all enjoying the great outdoors. These trails capture the essence of old Florida: pine flatwoods, winding river bends, and that timeless sense of community and connection to the land. The Oxbow Trail is still in quiet recovery after the last hurricane. It’s also known alligator habitat, so be mindful and respectful of our natural family who live along the water’s edge. The Dude Lake Trail offers an easy, peaceful walk through classic Florida ecosystems: sunny, open, and alive with birdsong. Together, these trails remind us of what Florida truly is: a place of resilience, beauty, and living ancestral memory. — Jana Shakti Travels