Yep it's hot, its Florida and its August. Not much discussion on the forum. Maybe I'm the only fool out there?! Up before dawn, trying to beat the rain. But I gotta hike!
The pups and I love shadded hiking this time of year. We live in St. Pete but don't mind a drive of an hour or so. We recently walked the Withlacoochee River Trail. Nice. The Hillsbourgh River area is nice if you slather on the OFF.
Can anyone share other shadded hiking areas in Central Florida?

Nope, you're not the only fool =) We went backpacking a few weeks ago at Simmons State Forest. The afternoon showers relieved us from the heat.
I live right on the coast and have been doing allot of beach hiking. Another month I'll be out there in full force again.
I don't live in your area. Hopefully someone here can give you some ideas as to where to go.

The trouble is, shade = bugs! Mosquitoes, chiggers, or ticks, take your pick. Smart to be walking the beaches, Melissa, where there is a breeze.

Pauline, some shady spots near you - but they are bound to have bugs - include Little Manatee River State Park (3 and 6 mile loop) south of Sun City Center, Rye Wilderness Park near Parrish, and Gator Creek Preserve along US 98 north of Lakeland. I stopped at Colt Creek State Park this morning but did not have time to check out the new trails, they seem to be mostly in the sun with one headed to the woods. A gorgeous short shady hike is at Silver Lake, Croom Tract, Withlacoochee State Forest (off SR 50 off I-75) where you can hike a loop using the high water and low water routes that connect the Silver Lake parking area with the Florida Trail loops at Croom. Again, I'd expect bugs! I'm doing short urban hikes with weather like this, like the boardwalk trails in downtown Inverness that connect the parks (I was there today). Have fun out there!