Another great place to hike is the is the Conner Preserve. It is 2980 acres in Central Pasco County. The preserve offers a stunning landscape of steep sandhill ridges, expansive marshes, dense cypress sloughs and lush pine flatwoods. Primary access is off SR 52 on south side of road about 3.5 miles east of US 41. It is open from sunrise to sunset. There is a Portable toilet available at main entrance. No water available. There is also Portable toilet and nonpotable water available at Bay City Flyers model airplane field.
It is just to your right as you come down the main road. There is a Primitive campsites, each equipped with picnic table and fire ring, off main trail in eastern portion of preserve. The Preserve is open for Hiking, Bicycling, Equestrian, Camping, Picnicing. There is 16 miles of Hiking only trails. I have seen Deer, Turkeys, Tortoises. Sand Hill Cranes are also seen there. There are some great old oak hammocks. A great place to cool off for a while. There are numerous cypress heads around. I found hundreds of cow bones around from when the area was used as a ranch. Some of the surrounding area is used for pasture so do not jump fences.
There are lots of sand hills around and elevation changes. You can sit up on a hill and watch the Deer cross a field. As you come in you can see grass fields on the right. I have seen Deer in there several times when I have been there.
