BEHIND THE SCENES:

The Making of Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Park Off-Road Bicycle Trails Sponsored by Volunteers of the Wilderness Trails Association

Text-Leigh Brooks, Photos-ŠBobby Sanchez

Ever build a new trail? It takes a lot of work. First, a trail concept is presented to the land owner for approval. Then volunteers and park managers study maps, scout the area on foot, flag a proposed trail, and get approval from environmental scientists before clearing a trail. Then come signs and trail maps. And the maintenance never ends! In August of 1997 SWFWMD (the land owner) approves a trail expansion at Wilderness Park. The Wilderness Trails Association (WTA, the volunteers) works with Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation Department (the agency managing recreational activities) to establish a new trail system.

Wes Eubank and other volunteers study an aerial map of Flatwoods, evaluate existing roads for suitability as bicycle trails...and scout potential trail routes on foot. They are developing new trails and connectors to link the Flatwoods, Trout Creek, and Morris Bridge bicycle areas. The continuous loop trail is expected to be about 20 miles in length when complete.

This water control structure on the Hillsborough River at Trout Creek Park is the linchpin of the new Wilderness Trail Loop. Bicycle and pedestrian access across the River will give riders full access to the loop from parking areas at Morris Bridge, Flatwoods, Trout Creek, or Bruce B. Downs.

Oops! This rutted service road won't make a good bike trail. Volunteers work to relocate the trail behind the tree line.

Dan Schwartz flags a proposed singletrack trail at Flatwoods.

Environmental scientists from SWFWMD review the flagged trail to make sure it won't harm rare plants and animals, alter natural drainage patterns, impact water quality, or negatively impact any protected resources.The route has been approved!

Sonja and Sam Cadrecha cut brush and clear overhanging limbs from new singletrack in Flatwoods. People who enjoy riding the trails need to take care of them or trails will erode, get overgrown, become unsafe, and lose their appeal.

Steven Rikert and Sharon Noll rake a muddy, clogged drainage area in Morris Bridge... before relocating a culvert.

Now water flows through the culvert while the trail stays dry.