One of Seminole County’s nicest natural lands, Black Bear Wilderness Area offers some of the best birding and wildlife watching in the region. True to its name, it was a place to find bear scratches on trees, bear prints, bear scat … and Florida black bears themselves. We saw a mother and two large cubs on our first visit as we were leaving, and another bear in the woods on our most recent visit. Hunting is not allowed in this preserve.
There are several options for hiking at Black Bear Wilderness:
1) The original round-trip to an overlook on the St. Johns River (2 miles).
2) The 7.1-mile Black Bear Wilderness Loop Trail. It follows a series of levees out to the St. Johns River and back around to the original route. The trail is mostly in the shade and perched atop the levees, often high above the marshes, canals, and forests but sometimes right down at their level. It is not an easy hike by any means: we’d rate it moderate to difficult, given the slippery steep grades in many places. A hiking stick is must. This route requires a commitment to complete the entire loop. There are no shortcuts, although there is a primitive campsite halfway along the loop. This is certainly one of the region’s most beautiful hikes. We strongly suggest you follow the loop clockwise to enjoy the river breezes on your return trip.
3) A round-trip of whatever length you like to enjoy the views along the St. Johns River, best done by following the loop counterclockwise. The terrain gets rough once you get past the overlook on the St. Johns, turning into a narrow footpath with steep dropoffs, very rooty and muddy in places. Bring a hiking stick for balance. A good turn-around point is the new primitive campsite near the 3 mile mark, but you can turn around anywhere before that.
Explore the park
Bear encounter at Black Bear Wilderness- Visiting this Seminole County preserve for the first time, a string of excellent wildlife sightings culminates in seeing three bears at the trailhead. 
Black Bear Wilderness Loop Trail- Trot out your sense of adventure for an immersion into one of the wildest trails you'll find near Orlando, the new 7.1-mile loop in the Black Bear Wilderness Area in Sanford
Black Bear Wilderness Walk- A wildlife-rich hike through the floodplain of the St. Johns River, this 2-mile walk introduces you to the beauty of Black Bear Wilderness Area in Sanford.
Looping through Black Bear Wilderness- In our first two miles, we saw a boar ... and a bear. Be ready for adventure at Black Bear Wilderness Area, especially along the new 7.1 mile loop.
Are you allowed to bring your pet?
Because of the wildlife here it would be best not to. Seminole County generally does allow pets in natural areas but rules vary.
I was there today. Pets are allowed on a leash. Sign says keep them away from water. We ran into a snake. Our dog almost walked on it, harmless king snake.
Apparently we need a permit to camp here. How would one acquire a permit?
Contact Seminole County Natural Lands at 407-665-2211 to arrange your free permit. Be sure to call on a weekday during business hours.
Hi. My wife and I plan on visiting the park on 28th May. Is there a cover charge to get in to the area? Where can we park our car? Also is the black beat encounter still on? Can we see bears? 🙂
There is no charge for this park. Parking is at the trailhead found at the coordinates provided. Will you see bears? Never guaranteed, but maybe. Enjoy your hike.
Beautifully put! This place was amazing and we saw a huge, fluffy, black bear right in front of us on the trail!