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Scrub habitat in Florida

Florida Trail, Cassia

14.2 miles. Traversing miles of endangered desert-like scrub habitat through Seminole State Forest, the Cassia section of the Florida Trail offers unique natural observations amongst sparse shade.

Florida Trail, Orlando  |  Paisley
( 28.890800, -81.461641 )      14.2 miles

106 shares

Although the Florida Trail in Seminole State Forest is a popular destination for hiking near Orlando, the northern section is little traveled.

It’s easy for hikers to access the segment between the Bear Pond and Cassia trailheads, but takes more planning to continue north.

Trail through scrub Scrub near Maggie Jones Rd


In 2019, the Florida Trail Association officially opened a major reroute through the Cassia section, eliminating roadwalk and adding many miles of trail.

The diversity of species in this natural space is evident in the numerous animal tracks across the sandy landscape, including the unmistakable footprints of the Florida black bear.

Tunnel of scrub White sand underfoot in the scrub


Resources

Resources for exploring the area

Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover 50 Hikes in Central Florida 5 Star Trails Orlando

Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.


Overview

Length: 14.2 miles linear (15.9 miles between trailheads)
Trailhead: 28.880879, -81.443386
Address: Brantley Branch Rd
Fees: $2 per person
Restrooms: Vault toilet at Cassia trailhead.
Land manager: Florida Forest Service
Phone: 352-360-6675

Leashed dogs permitted. Some portions of the trail are shared with equestrians.

One designated backpacker campsite is available, Sawgrass Fill Camp, 10.4 miles north of Cassia trailhead.

This section of trail spans both Seminole State Forest and two pieces of private land, the Orianne Center and Camp La-No-Che. Please stay within the trail corridor on private land.

Scrub corridor Cassia


Directions

 
From Interstate 4 in Sanford, take exit 101C and head west on SR 46 for 8 miles before turning right onto 46A. Continue straight for 5 miles, then turn right onto SR 44. In 5.1 miles, turn right onto Brantley Branch Rd. The main trailhead parking is a tenth of a mile down the road, on the right. If you have obtained a permit prior to the hike, pass through the locked gate and continue on the forest road for 0.8 mile. Turn left at the first intersection, and the trailhead will be one mile ahead at the intersection of Hana Dr. and Palatka Rd.

Hike

To reach the kiosk at Palatka Rd that marks the start of this Florida Trail segment, it’s a 1.7 mile walk along the connector trail from the Cassia trailhead if you do not have a permit to drive to the Palatka Rd trailhead.

That hike is described under the segment just south of this one. People who obtain permits and backpackers on long distance hikes need not worry about those extra miles.

Palatka Road Trailhead kiosk Palatka Road trailhead


Starting at the Palatka Road Trailhead, follow the orange blazes east down a sandy maintenance road.

The first half mile travels along this sandy pathway through scrub habitat before crossing another road and delving into the woods.

Footpath with blazed pines Leaving the shared use trail


Sand pines give way to scrub oaks as the trail narrows through dense vegetation.

Vanillaleaf plants sprout from the forest floor in large clusters, filling the air with sweet aromas at certain times of year.

Vanillaleaf  leaf cluster Vanillaleaf


The oaks grow in size as a canopy forms overhead, and the terrain becomes soggy near a seasonal creek crossing.

An understory of lightly charred cabbage palms rises from a lush green cover of grass.

Cabbage palms hammock Cabbage palms


Approaching the stream, the trail crosses an impressive boardwalk through the swamp complete with a bridge over the tannic waters.

Across the walkway, the trail climbs up through a sea of ferns and back into the scrub.

Boardwalk  in palm hammock Boardwalk and bridge in palm hammock


For the next quarter mile, follow an orange blazed shared use trail to a sign indicating a split with the hiking and equestrian routes.

The trail carves through grapevine-covered shrubs lined with bracken fern for another quarter mile before reaching an elevated forest road.

Shared use trail Shared use trail


Passing through a gap at a property line fence, the forest road becomes Brantley Branch Rd at the end of a neighborhood. Follow it for 0.2 mile, turning right at a Florida Trail shield sign.

The next quarter mile skirts the edge of property owned by the Orianne Center; an organization involved in the conservation of endangered eastern indigo snakes.

FNST shield and blazes at gate Entrance to Orianne Center


Scrub and sandhill habitats comprise most of the landscape as gently rolling hills alternate between open and densely vegetated forest.

The trail winds around large shrubs of Florida rosemary, and reindeer lichen carpeted stands of sand pine saplings.

Young pines amid lichen bed Reindeer lichen


After crossing Botany Woods Drive and passing a small scenic prairie pond, the trail meanders between two larger bodies of water before crossing a sturdy boardwalk.

In another tenth of a mile, the path opens to a fairly busy highway at SR 44.

Boardwalk Long boardwalk


Until 2019, the Florida Trail exited Seminole State Forest at the Cassia Trailhead, requiring over two miles of road walk along SR 44 to get to the next part northbound.

The trail has since been relocated, now only requiring a little over 200 feet along the highway before you cross it to the north and return to the woods.

Highway crossing State Road 44


Orange blazed trees mark the trail as it heads down a forest road for a half mile while slowly shifting to a scrub habitat.

Blackened bone-white skeletons of large oaks stand in contrast to fresh, bright green sand pines. After crossing two more boardwalks, the trail intersects with paved Coconut Avenue.

scrub forest and hammock Old hammock transitioning to scrub


A local homeowner has constructed a sort of rest stop here, complete with chairs and a palm frond shelter.

The next two miles follow old roads in the pine flatwoods. They appear to have been planned at some point as part of the Royal Trails neighborhood before becoming state forest lands.

Palmetto shaded rest area Coconut Ave rest stop


As the trail winds northwestward, the terrain becomes more desert-like, with soft sugar sand underfoot.

Most of this trekking is done on roads, except for one short diversion into a spectacular example of rosemary scrub habitat.

Rosemary scrub Rosemary scrub


Leaving this habitat and continuing for 0.2 mile, a blue side trail leads to Sawgrass Fill Camp, an open spot for camping with access to a nearby pond for water.

After crossing Maggie Jones Rd in another 0.7 mile, the trail traces the edge of a prickly-pear cactus covered meadow, then returns to the road.

Designated campsite Sawgrass Fill Camp


A half-mile road walk on Maggie Jones Rd leads to a forest gate on the left, where the trail follows a forest road to the boundary of Camp La-No-Che.

The next two and a half miles of trail traverse private property, the largest Boy Scouts of America camp in the state.

Boy scout camp boundary Camp La-No-Che boundary


Depending on the time of year, tarflower may be in bloom and attracting pollinators, while pileated woodpeckers swoop from tree to tree overhead.

After passing the Rybolt pump house, which has a spigot that can be used as a water source, the trail meanders through an oak hammock, then crosses Boy Scout Road.

Swallowtail and tarflower Swallowtail and tarflower


For a half mile, the trail navigates through a grassy pasture noted as a gopher tortoise habitat.

A variety of interesting flowers dot this landscape including paw paws, pinewoods milkweed, thistles, and passion vines.

Passion vine with fruit Passion vine with fruit


Reaching the opposite end of the field, pass through a gate to meet and cross CR 42, which leads into the small town of Paisley to the east.

Continue into the Ocala National Forest on the north side of CR 42 for another quarter mile, walking through the sandhills to reach the Clearwater Lake trailhead to end this 14.2 mile hike.

State historic marker Florida Trail state historic marker at Clearwater Lake


NORTHBOUND: Florida Trail, Clearwater Lake to Alexander Springs
SOUTHBOUND: Florida Trail, Seminole State Forest

Trail Map

Florida Trail, Cassia Trail Map


Explore More!

Learn more about the Florida Trail, Orlando section

Florida Trail at Forever Florida

Florida Trail, Orlando

148.0 miles. Spanning from the Ocala National Forest south through the prairies of Osceola County, the Orlando section of the Florida Trail encompasses the eastern suburbs of the Orlando metro

Learn more about Seminole State Forest
Footpath through open scrub

Seminole State Forest

With nearly 50 miles of trails and roads for hiking, biking, and equestrian use, Seminole State Forest offers surprising panoramas and bubbling springs north of Orlando.

Slideshow

See our photos from the Cassia section


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Seminole State Forest

Florida Trail, Seminole State Forest

7.5 miles. Walk through vast, open spaces that you’d never imagine existed so close to Orlando.

Junction of blue and yellow trails

Sulphur Island Loop

A short distance from the bustling metropolis of Orlando, the Sulphur Island Loop Trail explores one of Florida’s endangered ecosystems, the scrub.

Lower Wekiva Loop

Lower Wekiva Loop

Explore the Wekiva River and Black Water Creek floodplains on this lengthy loop hike in Seminole State Forest

Florida Trail near Paisley

Florida Trail, Clearwater Lake to Alexander Springs

10.5 miles. Hike the original miles blazed by Florida Trail Association trailblazers in 1966 along one of the most beautiful sections of the Florida Trail in the Ocala National Forest


Trail Map (PDF) Hunt Dates Official Website

Category: Backpacking, Central Florida, Day Hikes, Florida Trail, Hikes, TrailsTag: Birding, Botanical, Deland, Dog-friendly, Florida Trail, FT Orlando, Paisley, Seminole State Forest, Wildlife Viewing

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Our recent park & trail updates in this region

Lengthy boardwalk heading towards mangrove flats

John R. Bonner Nature Park

John R. Bonner Nature Park
Boardwalk framed by live oaks and saw palmetto

George McGough Nature Park

George McGough Nature Park
Leaning sand pines in scrub

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Balm Boyette Nature Preserve
Dock edged by mangroves

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Maximo Park

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