Just about right for after work
 Sydney Dover Trails (SDT) is one of the few natural, or dirt trails that I have ridden. While I ride a mountain bike, it usually is shod with wide (26 x 2.125) street tires, or hybrids. It's not that the dirt doesn't interest me, I'm just not that good at it. Yet. But I do ride this trail on a regular basis, as it is relatively close to my home. While the formal name is Trails, there is really only one trail that circuits the whole location. (See the picture from Google Earth to the right) There are short spurs that take you to different areas, but they generally link back to the main trail. These spurs are all located on the west side of SDT, and converge at the northern section of the trail.
The facility is shared with horse riders, hikers, fisher-folks, and bicycle riders. This can make for a crowded trail on the weekends, as the whole loop is only seven miles. There is at least one horse rental stable on the north end, accessible from Salem Church Road. I usually ride during the week, in the late afternoon, and it's pretty deserted.
The trail is located on a reclaimed phosphate mine, which makes it lousy for development, but fine for trails. There isn't much change in elevation, and the soil runs from sandy loam, to sand, to sand covered with leaves, to sugar sand. The lanes are mowed to ten feet wide, and there are three trailheads, but they really are just parking lots. There are two on Dover Road, both about 1/4 to 1/2 mile north from State Road 60. The third, which is the one I prefer, is on State Road 60. There are no facilities, such as water, or restrooms, but a scant ½ mile to the west in Valrico there are numerous grocery stores and fast food places. There is a cell tower just to the south of the trails, and a fire station just to the west, so if you get into trouble, help isn't far away. But you should still carry a snakebite kit, and plenty of water. Always. This is Florida.
How to get there: SDT is on State Road 60, east of Valrico, which is east of Brandon, which is east of Tampa. When you get to Dover Road, there will be an old Forestry Tower to the north of S.R. 60. Congratulations. You are at the highest spot in Hillsborough County. You can take a left (north) and go to the trailheads on Dover Road, or continue east for just a little ways. The S.R. 60 trailhead will be on your left.
Photos
Return to Hillsborough County Trails Page
Return to Trails Page
|
