Upper Hillsborough WMA 8 mile Wilderness Hike for 10 Weekend Warriors

Let's show the Upper Hillsborough WMA a little love! This is the trailhead we sometimes avoided because of the broken asphalt into the parking lot that wasn't good for cars. Good news--the asphalt is fine--I checked it today (Nov 1). However, I have not done a prehike so the number of hikers is limited and all should come prepared for a little water and mud on the trail. If you are available to do a prehike before November 27, please reach out.

Note: Pasco County remains under a state of emergency due to ongoing mosquito-borne transmission of dengue and West Nile virus.

This almost 8-mile trail is a little wild, a little rugged, with lots of open skies and shaded forests. There might be shallow moving water at the headsprings that we will have to hike through.

On this hike, in addition to the sweet spots mentioned above, you will see some old-Florida never logged forest that offer views of tall straight pines, rounded oak canopies, and scattered palms punching up through it all plus we will do a a walkthrough of the primitive camp.

A helpful map of the park can be downloaded from https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/sites/default/files/Upper%20Hillsborough%20Preserve%2007-11-2022.pdf.

On the day of the hike, meet me in our parking lot by 8am and be ready to hike by 8:10. Please bring at least 2.5 liters of hydration plus snacks, personal sanitation, insect repellent, sunscreen, a hat, etc. Hiking boots are really important on this trail. There are no benches so you may want to bring ground cloth to sit on during the lunch break.

There are also no facilities/bathrooms or water anywhere on this hike.

A few other things to be mindful of:

HUNTING SEASON is underway in the areas we hike. I have checked Upper Hillsborough for the day of this hike and we should be ok. Even so, I encourage all my \hikers to wear orange during hunting season.\
There are 2 trailheads on County Road 54. They are not ours. Use the coordinates provided on this page and see the trailhead photo posted to arrive at 40540 Chancey Road.
Use caution when pulling into or out of the parking lot as the speed on Chancey Road is 55 MPH.
In case you are wondering, there are no train tracks to cross! And no cost for parking or entering the park.
The parking area is small (maybe 10 cars), and we may have to share it with others. Some of us may have to park on the wide bank on either side of the parking lot.
This is a rain or shine event unless there's a threat of lightning.
This hike is for advanced hikers because of the terrain, the pace, and the distance combined. If you have not done an 8-mile in about 4 hours recently, this hike is not for you. Thank you for understanding!

My number on the day of the hike is 813-713-2492.
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I am asking that everyone signs up (no guests) so everyone can agree to the waiver and agree to the following conditions:

ASSUMPTION OF RISK:
YOUR ATTENDANCE AT A "SUNCOAST OUTDOORS " SPONSORED EVENT IS YOUR EXPRESS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING AND UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF FULL PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND LIABILITY FOR ALL ASSOCIATED RISKS.
Possible risks from participation include but are not limited to: injury from a trip and fall, venomous snakes, stinging insects, venomous spiders, wildlife encounters, heat stroke, dehydration, hypothermia, noxious vegetation, weather related injury, insect or airborne transmissible virus and disease, smoke inhalation, wildfire, and falling trees.

I am not a professional guide, just a volunteer for the group.
Any questions or concerns, please comment below. Thanks.