Hiking Bear Creek Nature Trail

A patch of wild in a sea of Winter Springs suburbia, Bear Creek provides nearly a mile’s worth of exploration atop sandy bluffs in a deeply shaded creekside hammock.

Walking among the ancient cypress, oaks, and palms is a delightful escape from the backyard blues.

Resources

Resources for exploring the area

Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover

Five Star Trails Gainesville Ocala book cover

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Overview

Location: Winter Springs
Length: 0.9 mile loop and round-trip
Trailhead: 28.677795, -81.245833
Fees: none
Restroom: None
Land Manager: City of Winter Springs
Phone: 407-327-1800

Day use only. Several picnic tables are provided. The parking lot is very small. Low areas may flood or may be muddy.

Directions

From SR 426 in Oviedo, drive 1.5 miles south on Winter Springs Blvd. The park is on the right, at a small parking corral with a brown sign. Winter Springs Blvd can also be accessed from Tuskawilla Rd.

Hike

The loop is not well marked, but the small size of the wilderness area will keep you from getting lost.

From the parking area, walk into the woods and follow the creek as far as you can; the trail stays atop bluffs along the creek for the most part.

At the retention pond area beneath the powerlines, look for the trail to continue farther into the woods, where it finally shrinks down and ends among the dense saw palmetto.

On the return trip, there is a side trail through the uplands to a boardwalk that leads to Winter Springs Boulevard, but if you pass that and retrace your route, you can continue downstream.

Pass the parking lot for another few glimpses of the creek before you reach the park boundary.