The West Campus Nature Trails is one of the projects managed by the SCC Audubon Club Conservation Committee.  The SCC Audubon Club has partnered with the SCC Community Association to act as stewards of the Trails.  Club members have contributed hundreds of volunteer hours to the project.  The Conservation Committee has applied for and received two $20,000  restoration grants from the Hillsborough County Pollution Recovery Fund.  The first grant was used to complete restoration on the 16 acre trail side of the 37 acre property and the second grant was used to restore the remaining acreage.  In addition, the Club has committed several thousand dollars in support of the project.  Current plans include expansion of the trail on the opposite side of the stormwater conveyance that bisects  the project. 

Members of the committee oversee the management of the Nature Trails that wind through 16 acres that recall “Old Florida.” A surprising number of varied habitats include pine forest, pine flatwoods, hardwood hammocks, small wetland meadows and a cypress swamp. The Conservation Committee members remove exotic and invasive species  alongside the trail that threaten biodiversity  and native habitat.  Maintenance within the interior of the property is contracted out to specialists in ecological restoration. As part of the partnership agreement, the SCC CA maintenance crew periodically grooms the trails for hiking comfort. An informational kiosk, furnished and updated by the Audubon Club, displays a map and timely information about what one might see along the trails.  Since everything has its season, visiting at regular intervals reveals new perspectives and insights. The trails are open to residents of Sun City Center and Kings Point. 

In order to make the trail easier to navigate, color coded wayfinding posts were recently installed on the existing trails.

Click Here for a map to see where the trails and markers are located.

The trailhead is on W. Del Webb between Seton Hall Dr. and Vincennes Dr. Appropriate dress includes closed toe shoes or boots, long pants and long sleeved shirt, hat, sunblock and insect repellent.

Inside the gate, you will find an information marquee that displays photos of birds and plants found inside the preserve. Along the trail, you will find signs identifying the plants. Recent restoration efforts were funded by a Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission Pollution Recovery Fund grant. Funds were used to remove exotic invasive plant species, improve site access, and to replace the exotics with Florida native plants. Plant signs were purchased with a memorial fund established in memory of Haines Fenimore, a long time Audubon member.