Managed by The Nature Conservancy, the Disney Wilderness Preserve is a 11,500 acre showcase for habitat restoration and conservation.
This is important in a region where development continues at a startling pace, resulting in major loss of habitat and a disconnect of residents from the land.
What much of this region looked like before developmentPurchased with mitigation funds to replace habitats erased by the construction of Walt Disney World, this preserve was largely a cattle ranch when it first opened.
Using excellent land management practices, The Nature Conservancy has brought back healthy longleaf pine savannas in the uplands.
Longleaf pine savannaThey have also conserved Lake Russell, a cypress-lined lake, a increasingly rare find in this part of Florida.
As little as a half mile loop and up to a 5.3 mile loop is possible on the trail system, with an immersion into sometimes soggy longleaf pine habitat.
Our 2.5 mile route hits the highlights of the prime habitats at the preserve, including a visit to the breezy shoreline of Lake Russell.
Lake RussellResources
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Overview
Location: Poinciana
Length: 2.5 mile loop
Trailhead: 28.129015, -81.430470
Address: 2700 Scrub Jay Trail, Kissimmee
Fees: Free, donations appreciated
Restroom: At the trailhead
Land Manager: The Nature Conservancy
Phone: 407-935-0002
No pets or bicycles permitted. Open 9-4:30 Mon-Sat, closed on most major holidays. Please call to confirm current hours.
Directions
Follow SR 535 south from Interstate 4 at Lake Buena Vista. Turn right on Poinciana Blvd after 2.9 miles. Continue 13.1 miles south, crossing US 17/92, to reach Pleasant Hill Rd.Turn right and immediately get in the left lane. After a half mile, make the left onto Old Pleasant Hill Rd. Follow the entrance road for 1.6 slow miles – watch for wild turkeys, caracara, and sandhill cranes along the way – to reach the parking area.
Hike
From the education center, follow the sidewalk through the breezeway and past the restrooms and butterfly garden to reach the trailhead kiosk next to the pond.
A small sign declares this the Harden Trail. Surrounded by smooth cordgrass, its viewing platform provides a place for early morning birding.
Pond circled by the Harden TrailThe footpath may be soggy as you enter the vast open longleaf pine flatwoods. Reach the first junction along the outer loop.
The Harden Trail peels off to the right to make its half mile circle around a cypress dome and the pond. Continue past it, going straight ahead to meet a T intersection.
CandyrootTurn right to follow a two-track road. Candyroot peeps out along the footpath. In fall, the leaves of winged sumac mellow to crimson.
Climb a slight rise. A red trail marker confirms you’ve joined the red-blazed Wilderness Trail.
Wilderness TrailMeet a trail intersection. The trail on the right allows a mile loop back to the trailhead. Pass it by and walk straight ahead through the flatwoods.
The distant line of cypresses soon grows near, outlining the shore of Lake Russell. At the next trail intersection, turn left to visit this beauty spot.
Junction for Lake Russell spurThis short spur uses a causeway in the floodplain forest to reach the beautiful cypress-lined breezy shoreline of Lake Russell.
Beneath an ancient cypress, benches and a picnic table provide a place to rest and relax,a great spot to stop and enjoy a picnic lunch.
Shoreline of Lake RussellReturning up the causeway, reach the T intersection again. Turn left to continue around the Wilderness Trail loop.
Pass a small pond on the left surrounded by saw palmetto and tall grasses. The view is expansive, the saw palmetto short enough to see a mile or more in most directions.
Expanse of pine savannaLongleaf pine savanna surrounds you, and cypress domes and strands look like mountains in the distance. For the remainder of the hike, there are only minor variations on this theme.
Puddles gathering in the trail in the deep tire tracks left by the swamp buggy. It’s an alternative way of exploring the preserve. Check with the office about tours.
Deer’s-tongue among prairie grassesAt 1.3 miles is a sign “Trail Continues.” Turn right. The footpath narrows to an actual trail with tall grass all around and a small cypress dome to the left.
Head down a straightaway and make a sharp left at a bench. Work your way around the pond. The landscape is a little elevated here, as there are no wet spots in the trail.
Sharp leftReach a marker for the Yellow Trail. It used to follow a slightly different route but now starts on the west side of the cypress dome.
Since it was late in the day, we didn’t have time to tackle it, but we’ve followed it in the past. Circling a vast bayhead swamp, it adds 3.6 miles to the outer loop.
Yellow Trail junction and warningStay with the red blazes of the Wilderness Trail by keeping right at the trail junction. This is around the halfway point of the 2.5 mile loop.
Winding through the saw palmetto, come to a confusing junction with benches. Look for the next trail marker.
Junction with benchesPop out at a T intersection where the Yellow Trail rejoins this trail at 1.8 miles. Turn right to continue on the outer loop.
The next segment of the trail can get wet after heavy rains. It’s lower than the surrounding landscape, so water gathers in sheets across the footpath.
Follow the signageOn a dry day, it’s not a problem. On a wet day, you’ll have to wade. Watch leopard frogs bounce out of the way and keep alert for water snakes.
The savanna opens up. Catch a glimpse of the education center off in the distance. Meeting up with the junction with the Small Red Loop, jog left.
Small Red Loop junctionGo through a drainage area, where standing water is likely. Rise out of the swale and make a beeline towards the pond at the education center, where the Harden Trail joins back in.
Heading around the pond, meet the sidewalk at the trail kiosk marking the start of the interpretive trail. Turn left to exit, completing a 2.5 mile walk at the parking area.
Visitors on the other side of the pondTrail Map
Explore More!
Video
A walk through Disney Wilderness Preserve
Slideshow
See our photos from this hike
Nearby Adventures
Shingle Creek Steffee Homestead With boardwalks and trails through pine flatwoods and along the floodplain of Shingle Creek, the Historic Steffee Homestead at Shingle Creek Regional Park makes for an easy family ramble. 
Historic Babb Landing Home to Osceola Pioneer Village, this 160-acre segment of Shingle Creek Regional Park edges Shingle Creek with easy accessible trails looping a former homestead and citrus grove.
Lake Louisa State Park As longleaf pine reaches for the sky, the rolling hills of Lake Louisa State Park near Clermont return to their forested roots
Tibet-Butler Preserve A wildlife haven within earshot of Walt Disney World, Tibet-Butler Preserve provides 3.6 miles of well-kept and gentle hiking trails for family fun.
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