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Hillsborough River - Sargeant Park to Morris Bridge

Southwest Florida · Hillsborough County · Hillsborough River

RiverNot yet rated

A popular, well-maintained 4-mile stretch of the Hillsborough River from John B. Sargeant Park to Morris Bridge Park, with easy concrete-ramp access near Tampa.

High confidenceReviewed and approved

Last checked . What this means

Launch location

A close map of the verified put-in, and a link to open it in your maps app for directions.

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Why paddle here

  • One of the Tampa area's most popular river paddles: an easy, well-kept 4 miles of the cypress-lined Hillsborough from Sargeant Park to Morris Bridge, with concrete ramps and parking at both ends.

Launches, parking and access

Where you actually put the boat in, how far you carry it and over what. This is the part official sources are worst at, so it is the part we say most plainly — including where we do not know yet.

John B. Sargeant Sr. Memorial Park launch

Main launch
High confidence
Launch type
Concrete ramp
Access
Public access
Put-in
28.08310, -82.28540· open in Maps
Fees

None

High confidence
Parking
High confidence
Carry to the water
Carry not yet measured

Nobody has checked this yet.Report the carry — How far did you carry your boat from the parking area to the water?

How hard that carry is
Not yet assessed

Nobody has checked this yet.Rate the carry — How hard was that carry with a loaded boat?

Ground you cross
Not yet recorded

Nobody has checked this yet.Describe the ground — What did you cross on the way — pavement, sand, stairs, loose trail?

Boat cart
Not yet assessed

Nobody has checked this yet.Report cart use — Could you use a boat cart the whole way, or did you have to carry?

Unloading
Not yet assessed

Nobody has checked this yet.Report unloading — Could you unload beside the water before parking, or carry the whole way?

Restrooms and rinse
Not yet measured from the launch

Nobody has checked this yet.Report facilities — How close are the restrooms and showers to this launch?

The put-in at John B. Sargeant Sr. Memorial Park, with a concrete ramp and parking.

Morris Bridge Park launch

High confidence
Launch type
Concrete ramp
Access
Public access
Put-in
28.09870, -82.31130· open in Maps
Fees

None

High confidence
Parking
High confidence
Carry to the water
Carry not yet measured

Nobody has checked this yet.Report the carry — How far did you carry your boat from the parking area to the water?

How hard that carry is
Not yet assessed

Nobody has checked this yet.Rate the carry — How hard was that carry with a loaded boat?

Ground you cross
Not yet recorded

Nobody has checked this yet.Describe the ground — What did you cross on the way — pavement, sand, stairs, loose trail?

Boat cart
Not yet assessed

Nobody has checked this yet.Report cart use — Could you use a boat cart the whole way, or did you have to carry?

Unloading
Not yet assessed

Nobody has checked this yet.Report unloading — Could you unload beside the water before parking, or carry the whole way?

Restrooms and rinse
Not yet measured from the launch

Nobody has checked this yet.Report facilities — How close are the restrooms and showers to this launch?

The take-out at Morris Bridge Park, with a concrete ramp and parking; the harder run toward Trout Creek continues below here.

Routes

Difficulty belongs to the route, not the location. One place can offer a beginner loop and an advanced crossing.

  • Sargeant Park to Morris Bridge

    Not yet rated
    One way (shuttle)· 4 mi· Shuttle required

    Put in at John B. Sargeant Sr. Memorial Park launch, take out at Morris Bridge Park launch.

    A popular, well-maintained 4-mile one-way run from Sargeant Park to Morris Bridge Park with concrete ramps at both ends. The segment below Morris Bridge toward Trout Creek is a separate, more difficult trip.

    Help verify this route

    Have you paddled Sargeant Park to Morris Bridge (4 mi)?

What conditions do here

How much each factor typically governs a trip at this location.

These are not live conditions. This describes how much each factor typically governs a trip here. Always check the current forecast, tide table and river level before you launch.

Wind
Minor factor
Current
Not yet assessed
Tide
Minor factor
Boat traffic
Minor factor

Planning

Exposure
Sheltered cypress-lined river
Seasonal
Paddleable year-round; higher summer water speeds the current. Heat, sun and afternoon storms.
Best time of day
Morning
Reservations & permits
None; shuttle required

Hazards

  • Heat and sun exposure

    Summer heat and storms

  • Alligators

    alligators

  • Other

    do not confuse this with the harder downstream Morris-to-Trout segment.

This segment is easy and well-traveled, but summer heat, sun and afternoon storms still apply, and alligators live in the river. The section continuing below Morris Bridge toward Trout Creek is more difficult and should be treated as a separate trip.

Amenities and craft

Craft suited to this water

KayakCanoePaddleboard

Bringing your own boat: Yes

Amenities

  • Restrooms — not recorded
  • Showers — not recorded
  • Picnic area — not recorded
  • Food nearby — not recorded
  • Drinking water — not recorded

What you will see

hillsborough riversargeant parkmorris bridgetampa baypopular

Rentals and outfitters

No outfitter recorded here. Bring your own boat, or check nearby locations.

PaddlePin tips

  • Put in at John B. Sargeant Park and take out at Morris Bridge Park, about 4 miles down, with concrete ramps at both ends. This is the easy, popular segment; the stretch below Morris Bridge toward Trout Creek is a separate, more difficult run - do not continue past Morris Bridge unless you mean to.

    High confidence

  • Best Time of Day: Morning

    High confidence

  • Safety Notes: This segment is easy and well-traveled, but summer heat, sun and afternoon storms still apply, and alligators live in the river. The section continuing below Morris Bridge toward Trout Creek is more difficult and should be treated as a separate trip.

    High confidence

Been here? Help keep it accurate

PaddlePin is researched from official sources. Paddlers who have actually been are how it stays true.

I paddled hereShare what it was actually like and help the next paddler.Help verify this PaddlePinConfirm or correct launch, parking, conditions, difficulty, rentals, or other details.

Contributions are reviewed before anything on this page changes. PaddlePin stays the researched directory — your report is evidence we check, not an edit to it.

Sources

Where this information came from, and when we last read it.

  1. Primary source — floridadep.gov, read

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