Whether you enjoy running on paved trails or amazing single track, you’ll be happy with this location. Flatwoods is comprised of a 7-mile paved asphalt loop with entrances on each end.

Two Entrances

The main entrance on the east end is on Morris Bridge Rd in Thonotosassa, and the other entrance is on the west end on Bruce B. Downs Blvd in New Tampa. It’s important to realize that cars cannot drive into the park beyond the trail heads. To get from one to the other, if you’re not on foot or a bike, you must exit the park and drive it.

There is an entrance road from each entrance. From the main entrance on Morris Bridge, the entrance road is about 3/4 mile, and the entrance road from BBD is 2 miles. Whichever direction you enter from, when you get to the loop, there will be a water kiosk.

7-mile asphalt paved loop:

This is not shaded. There are water kiosks every couple of miles. When biking, the direction is always counter clockwise. Runners should run two-abreast, this same direction when on the trail. When you go in the opposite direction, run on the shoulder. Here is a link to a video of the paved trail.

Off Road Single-Track Trails:

About 4 miles of single track trails squiggle through the center of the paved loop. This trail is known as the Main trail. Here is what you need to know about the Main:

1. The different sections are marked by numbered white posts. You can get turned around, easily, because these often double-back.
2. When you get to a fire road, if the trail doesn’t pick up directly on the opposite side of the road, look at the arrow above the number on the white post, telling you what direction to go. This is there because in some cases, you need to run a ways down the double-track before picking up the Main again. In a couple cases there is no arrow. At those times, just look at how the path is worn, this will indicate which way to go.
3. If you get disoriented and run too long on a fire road, you’ll always eventually run into the paved loop, but you’ll need to know which way to go because it’s a big loop, and if you go the wrong way, you’ll go miles too far and end up at the wrong parking lot. To figure out which way to go, watch the cyclists; they’re going counter clockwise. Do not ask “Which way to the parking lot?” because the person you’re asking may have parking at the other entrance.
4. Many cyclists are on these trails, and please keep in mind that the off road cyclists built and maintain the trails. If they come up on you, they’ll call out “Biker up.” For this reason, it’s dangerous to wear headphones on these trails.
5. If you get lost, just keep in mind that you’re in the center of a paved loop. If you keep going on any trail, you’ll come to the paved loop, eventually.
6. The Main continues outside the paved loop and winds through several other parks, mainly, Trout Creek and Hole in the Fence (HIF). Altogether the Main is about 14 miles.
7. Link to video.

There are several other trails. The 1800 and Eubanks Parkway trails each starting between the loop and Morris Bridge on the east side and Squiggy and Panther off the entrance road from BBD. Panther connects the leg of the Main that connects Trout Creek with Flatwoods.

The berm:

This is a had-packed dirt road atop a flood-control berm that runs north to south along the west side of the park and just east of I-75.

Wildlife: You may see deer, armadillos, wild turkeys, wild boar, and snakes.