Little Manatee River Corridor Nature Preserve - Leonard Lee Rd Trailhead

We enjoyed hiking the Blue Trail which is about 3 miles long. We weren't prepared for the creek crossing, but since we're having a drought (March 2026) the creek was shallow. The trail is a nice mix of shade and sun, and although considered primitive, it's easy with a little u and down, and almost no roots. Since this is a preserve, you need to know there are no bathrooms. No picnic tables or benches either. The weather was perfect, but we didn't see any wildlife on an afternoon hike. Maybe if you go in the early morning. The important thing - go outside and play. :-)

Five stars for Little Manatee River Corridor Nature Preserve - Leonard Lee Rd Trailhead. I chose a beautiful spring day to hike here as part of the Florida Hiking Spree, one of Hillsborough County’s recommended trails. I’m so glad I fit this one in before the hotter weather arrives. The trail feels like true Old Florida — pines, ranch scrub, palmetto, and sandy loamy paths stretching quietly through the landscape. The heat was already beginning to rise, and the horseshoe flies were starting to buzz, so what was about 8,000 steps felt more like 15,000. Still, it was completely worth it. There are small openings along the way where the Little Manatee River reveals itself, and those moments are stunning. Sawgrass, palmetto, and pine move in the wind. The creek trickles softly. Dragonflies, butterflies, grasshoppers, and crickets fill the air, and hawks call from above. I even spotted a gator resting in a pond. Spring is clearly arriving — yellow butterflies and wildflowers bursting into view, the whole preserve shifting with the season. What makes this place especially powerful is its location — a beautiful, living preserved landscape set right between growing development the Hillsborough–Manatee line. Spaces like this feel priceless. They hold the spirit of Old Florida and remind us why protecting these natural corridors matters so deeply.

My husband and I are doing the Hillsborough walking trails again this year and this is one of them on the list provided. When we were looking at the addresses posted, there were two listed for little manatee with the addresses not far from each other. We did explore the other entrance last year So we decided to try this entrance. So glad we did! This entrance has no parking fee like the other entrance which is a five dollar parking fee. For this entrance, you park and enter on a gravel road with a house not far in the distance. You will then start to see the signs marked for the hiking trail. This trail is marked blue and very well marked to stay easily on the trail.From the car back to the car was exactly 3 miles. About 1 mile in you come to a running stream that doesn’t have deep water( picture attached) but there isn’t anything to walk across without getting feet wet. With these trails recently marked with all of the new walking trail signage, you would think they would’ve put a log or some type of object to help walk across this small little stream. This is what we have seen on other walking trails that have this kind of stream to walk across. We were able to use some of the higher Rocky areas to step on and leap to the dry side but just be aware of this spot on this trail. We just had Sneakers on, so I’m sure some people with walking boots walk right through it. There has been no rain and we saw a creek when we walked in the entrance so we are guessing this will be there tear roughy and just have more water flowing in rainy season. Once you get past it, you walk through a very well, Trail blazed path around in a circle. It’s very pretty and we had great weather today 11/2025. Overall we really enjoyed this trail. We will be back and just mindful of the stream. We saw a lot of butterflies, birds, and as we were leaving the area, a deer jumped across the road, so be careful and pay attention when driving in this area because he jumped right in front of my car.

Good trails. Oaky scrub to a stream crossing to open scrub and some areas of cogongrass. One stream crossing and two flooded areas in early september about a foot deep. Water was cool though 🤝

Sometimes you just want to keep a hidden gem to yourself. Alas, that just wouldn't be the right thing to do here. While this is 100% a no frills, no facilities, off the beaten path location, it is well worth the time to talk the walk. We walked the blue trail this morning and it was perfect. Well marked, well maintained (look like the trails had been attended to within the past couple weeks. Blazes are plentiful, although not really necessary, except for keeping you on the actual path and not deviating down a couple service lanes. Lots of wildlife this morning. Scared up two white tail deer early on. Saw pig rootings, but did not spot any. Black snake warming in the sun. Lots of birds. Hawks, kites, woodpeckers, etc. Think we racked up just under 3 miles. The trails is used by local horse riders. We actually came across them towards the end of our trek. Yes, the trailhead is not at the parking lot. Cross the closed bridge and trail head is clearly marked on the left for the blue trail. The red trail is farther down the lane on the right. This is fairly close by for us and can see walking it more often.