50 Hikes in Central Florida
Page 1
Other books in the 50 Hikes series
50 Hikes in Michigan & Wisconsin’s North Country Trail
50 Hikes in the North Georgia Mountains
50 Hikes in Northern New Mexico
50 Hikes in Ohio
50 Hikes in Orange County
50 Hikes in the Ozarks
50 Hikes in South Carolina
50 Hikes in the Upper Hudson Valley
50 Hikes in Wisconsin
50 Hikes in the Berkshire Hills
50 Hikes in Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula
50 Hikes in Coastal and Inland Maine
50 Hikes in Kentucky
50 Hikes in the Catskills
For Jim and Ginny Owen,
for setting an example of a life made richer
with time in the woods.
“I go to Nature to be soothed and healed,
and to have my senses put in tune once more.”
—John Burroughs
AN INVITATION TO THE READER
Over time trails can be rerouted and signs and landmarks altered. If you find that changes have occurred on the routes described in this book, please let us know so that corrections may be made in future editions. The author and publisher also welcome other comments and suggestions. Address all correspondence to:
Editor, 50 Hikes Series
The Countryman Press
500 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10110
Contents
Hikes at a Glance
Acknowledgments
Introduction
I. CENTRAL HIGHLANDS
1. Rainbow Springs State Park
2. Holly Hammock Hiking Trail
3. Silver Springs State Park
4. Trout Lake Nature Center
5. Hidden Waters Preserve
6. Flat Island Preserve
7. Circle B Bar Reserve
8. Lakeland Highlands Scrub
II. NATURE COAST
9. Johnson Pond Trail
10. Citrus Trail
11. Fort Cooper State Park
12. Chinsegut Wildlife and Environmental Area
13. Croom River Trail Loop
14. Withlacoochee River Park
15. Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park
16. James E. Grey Preserve
III. ST. JOHNS RIVER
17. De Leon Springs State Park
18. St. Francis Trail
19. Black Bear Wilderness Area
20. Spring Hammock Preserve
21. Orlando Wetlands Park
IV. ORLANDO METRO
22. Lake Proctor Wilderness Area
23. Geneva Wilderness Area
24. Hal Scott Preserve
25. Prairie Lakes Loop
26. Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area
27. Tibet-Butler Preserve
28. Disney Wilderness Preserve
V. LAKE WALES RIDGE
29. Crooked River Preserve
30. Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park
31. Lake Kissimmee State Park
32. Tiger Creek Preserve
33. Crooked Lake Prairie
VI. TAMPA BAY
34. Hillsborough River State Park
35. Lettuce Lake Park
36. Brooker Creek Preserve
37. John Chesnut Sr. Park
38. Honeymoon Island State Park
39. Eagle Lake Park
40. Weedon Island Preserve
41. Alafia Scrub nature Preserve
42. Little Manatee River Trail
VII. ATLANTIC COAST
43. Tiger Bay State Forest
44. Ponce Preserve
45. Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve
46. Lyonia Preserve
47. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
48. Enchanted Forest Sanctuary
49. Maritime Hammock Sanctuary
50. Turkey Creek Sanctuary
Hikes at a Glance
Hike
Location
Distance
Entrance fee
Dog friendly
Best views
1. Rainbow Springs State Park
Dunnellon
2.7
$
✓
✓
2. Holly Hammock Hiking Trail
Ocala
2.4
✓
3. Silver Springs State Park
Silver Springs
8.7
$
✓
✓
4. Trout Lake Nature Center
Eustis
1.4
✓
5. Hidden Waters Preserve
Eustis
1
6. Flat Island Preserve
Leesburg
3.7
7. Circle B Bar Reserve
Lakeland
4.4
✓
8. Lakeland Highlands Scrub
Lakeland
2.8
✓
9. Johnson Pond Trail
Citrus Springs
2.7
✓
10. Citrus Trail
Inverness
39.1
✓
11. Fort Cooper State Park
Inverness
5
$
✓
12. Chinsegut Wildlife and Environmental Area
Brooksville
5.6
13. Croom River Trail Loop
Ridge Manor
3.9
✓
14. Withlacoochee River Park
Dade City
6.8
✓
15. Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park
Port Richey
1.9
$
✓
✓
16. James E. Grey Preserve
New Port Richey
1.3
✓
17. De Leon Springs State Park
De Leon Springs
5.1
$
✓
18. St. Francis Trail
Ocala National Forest
7.9
✓
✓
19. Black Bear Wilderness Area
Sanford
7.1
✓
✓
20. Spring Hammock Preserve
Winter Springs
3
✓
21. Orlando Wetlands Park
Christmas
6.2
✓
22. Lake Proctor Wilderness Area
Geneva
4
✓
23. Geneva Wilderness Area
Geneva
1.9
✓
24. Hal Scott Preserve
Bithlo
5.9
✓
✓
25. Prairie Lakes Loop
Kenansville
11.4
$
✓
✓
26. Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area
Orlando
6.4
27. Tibet-Butler Preserve
Windemere
3.5
28. Disney Wilderness Preserve
Poinciana
2.5
✓
29. Crooked River Preserve
Clermont
1.7
30. Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park
Haines City
3.5
✓
31. Lake Kissimmee State Park
Lake Wales
15.6
$
✓
32. Tig
er Creek Preserve
Babson Park
11.8
✓
33. Crooked Lake Prairie
Frostproof
2.3
✓
✓
34. Hillsborough River State Park
Tampa
6.7
$
✓
35. Lettuce Lake Park
Temple Terrace
1.8
$
✓
36. Brooker Creek Preserve
Tarpon Springs
2
37. John Chesnut Sr. Park
Palm Harbor
3.3
✓
38. Honeymoon Island State Park
Dunedin
2.5
$
✓
✓
39. Eagle Lake Park
Largo
3
✓
40. Weedon Island Preserve
St. Petersburg
4.6
✓
41. Alafia Scrub Nature Preserve
Riverview
1.4
✓
42. Little Manatee River Trail
Wimauma
6.5
$
✓
✓
43. Tiger Bay State Forest
Daytona Beach
4.1
✓
44. Ponce Preserve
Ponce Inlet
1.6
✓
✓
45. Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve
New Smyrna Beach
8.2
✓
✓
46. Lyonia Preserve
Deltona
2.1
47. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Titusville
12.2
$
✓
48. Enchanted Forest Sanctuary
Titusville
3
49. Maritime Hammock Sanctuary
Melbourne Beach
2.8
50. Turkey Creek Sanctuary
Palm Bay
3.1
✓
Hike
Best for kids
Campground
Primitive camping
Special Features
Note
1. Rainbow Springs State Park
✓
✓
FGH
Spectacular springs and historic gardens en route to trails
2. Holly Hammock Hiking Trail
✓
✓
✓
F
Habitat diversity along the rim of Ross Prairie
3. Silver Springs State Park
✓
✓
FGHW
Two parks in one: wild and tamed, seeing the spring a must
4. Trout Lake Nature Center
✓
W
Delightful narrow boardwalks through swamps along lake
5. Hidden Waters Preserve
G
Splashing cascades accompany elevation changes
6. Flat Island Preserve
✓
F
Botanically-rich forest surrounded by swamps
7. Circle B Bar Reserve
✓
W
One of Florida’s don’t-miss wildlife watching sites
8. Lakeland Highlands Scrub
FGW
Ancient sands cradle an oasis of wetlands at their center
9. Johnson Pond Trail
FW
Birding on a flatwoods pond in scrubby flatwoods
10. Citrus Trail
✓
✓
FGHW
Florida’s longest backpacking loop in a single forest
11. Fort Cooper State Park
✓
✓
H
Second Seminole War historic site with good wildlife watching
12. Chinsegut Wildlife and Environmental Area
✓
FHW
Outstanding forest of ancient longleaf pine
13. Croom River Trail Loop
FW
Giant trees and cypress knees along a scenic river basin
14. Withlacoochee River Park
✓
✓
✓
FW
Mild and wild options for loop hikes in the Green Swamp
15. Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park
✓
GW
Unusual collection of salt springs along a Gulf Coast estuary
16. James E. Grey Preserve
✓
FW
Accessible boardwalk showcases the Pithlachascotee River
17. De Leon Springs State Park
FGHW
Make your own pancakes after this wild walk in the woods
18. St. Francis Trail
✓
FHW
Riverfront ghost town west of Deland
19. Black Bear Wilderness Area
✓
FW
One of our favorite loop hikes for scenery and wildlife
20. Spring Hammock Preserve
✓
FGW
Ancient cypress tower over other tall trees along Lake Jesup
21. Orlando Wetlands Park
W
Superb birding along extensive man-made marshes
22. Lake Proctor Wilderness Area
W
Scenic walk along Lake Proctor and upland habitats nearby
23. Geneva Wilderness Area
✓
FHW
Turpentine and railroad history in a former Boy Scout camp
24. Hal Scott Preserve
✓
FW
Sweeping views of pine flatwoods near historic Curry Ford
25. Prairie Lakes Loop
✓
✓
FW
Backpacking loop on an isthmus in the Kissimmee basin
26. Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area
✓
FW
Sandhill crane habitat that’s home to unusual oak trees
27. Tibet-Butler Preserve
✓
FW
Popular nature center near Walt Disney World
28. Disney Wilderness Preserve
✓
FW
Carefully restored pine flatwoods along scenic Lake Russell
29. Crooked River Preserve
✓
FGW
A compact beauty spot along the Palatlakaha River
30. Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park
✓
FGW
Strenuous climbs and serious elevation changes on the ridge
31. Lake Kissimmee State Park
✓
✓
HW
Well-established loop trails showcase lakeside habitats
32. Tiger Creek Preserve
FW
Extensive footpaths across hills and valleys on the ridge
33. Crooked Lake Prairie
FW
An outstanding example of Lake Wales Ridge scrub
34. Hillsborough River State Park
✓
✓
✓
FGHW
Central Florida’s most showy
set of rapids
35. Lettuce Lake Park
✓
FW
Boardwalks along the Hillsborough River and its swamps
36. Brooker Creek Preserve
✓
FW
Excellent intepretive stations along the Education Center Trail
37. John Chesnut Sr. Park
✓
FW
Boardwalks along Lake Tarpon showcase the shoreline
38. Honeymoon Island State Park
✓
FW
39. Eagle Lake Park
✓