Named for a marshy lake near the center of the property, Lake May Reserve protects nearly 136 acres on what was once agricultural land used for orange production.
The county has undergone extensive restoration efforts to return the ecosystems to a more natural state, which would have been a mix of mesic and xeric pine forests.
When the property originally opened to the public, a small parking lot with five spaces was provided for access. A larger parking area has since been added.
A connector trail leads to the old trailhead. Popular for hiking and bird watching, the reserve also offers a floating dock for fishing and launching kayaks onto the lake.
Pathway through the scrubResources
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Overview
Location: Eustis
Length: 2.4 miles
Trailhead: 28.873111, -81.627417
Address: 36300 CR 44A, Eustis
Fees: Free
Restrooms: At the trailhead
Land Manager: Lake County
Phone: 352-253-4950
Open dawn to dusk. No pets allowed.
Directions
From the intersection of SR 19 and CR 44 north of Eustis, head east on CR 44 for 3.8 miles and look for the highly visible parking area on the left side of the road.
Hike
Starting at a brick walkway bordered by native plant gardens, head towards a metal pavilion, stopping at sign for the reserve to pick up a trail map.
A crushed shell path leads away from the pavilion, snaking across mixed forest for 0.3 mile before reaching a small parking area for the old trailhead.
Trailhead walkwayFollow a narrow pathway past an information kiosk and through the pines, turning right at the first junction to begin a counterclockwise route along the larger loop.
Crossing gently contoured terrain, the trail weaves past a sinkhole pond as clusters of live oaks stretch gnarled branches overhead.
Trailside oaksTall sand pines dot the landscape near an ascending gradual slope, indicating a transition to scrub habitat.
Sage tinted reindeer moss carpets the forest floor, flanking a corridor of stark white sugar sand.
Along the way, small interpretive signs display pictures of plants found here next to common and scientific names.
Scrub forestAs the trail opens to a large field at the one mile mark, Lake May comes into view in the distance.
Stay to the right at the next intersection, where a grassy path leads towards the western shore of the lake.
The pathway dives into a small successional hammock that quickly opens to a scrubby clearing.
Hardwood hammockTufts of wiregrass and Florida rosemary sprout from xeric soils where the trail traces a sandy ridge.
It then curves back eastward on a thin strip of land between the lake and a road.
Shortly after passing a shed from the former grove, a side spur leads down a fishing dock with fantastic views of the water.
View from the fishing dockNear the side spur, a large sign describes the shoreline ecosystem in detail, with pictures and information about flowering plants that can be found in this wetland community.
At the next fork in the trail, stay to the right again, paralleling an edge of the old grove before finishing the loop at 2.1 miles.
From this point, follow the crushed shell path back to the trailhead for 0.3 mile to complete this 2.4 mile hike.
Shoreline habitat signTrail Map
Explore More!
Video
Hiking Lake May Reserve
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