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Trail corridor amid saw palmetto

Florida Trail, Bronson State Forest

Threading together ancient riverfront hammocks with uplands, the Florida Trail traverse of Bronson State Forest provides an immersion in botanical beauty.

Florida Trail, Orlando  |  Christmas
( 28.5919, -81.0423 )      12.2 miles

406 shares

In an extensive natural corridor that the Florida Trail follows in its arc around the east side of the Orlando metro area, Bronson State Forest is a surprisingly wild destination.

Along the 12.2 mile route panning from the edge of Orlando Wetlands Park to Chuluota Wilderness, the trail hits a broad array of habitats along the St. Johns River basin.

These include floodplain-rim stands of ancient live oaks and towering cabbage palms, floodplain forests and bayhead swamps, pine savannas, sandhills, and scrub.

Blaze on a cedar in hammock Oak and palm hammock


Resources

Resources for exploring the area

Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover Florida Trail small coffee table book 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

Location: Christmas & Chuluota
Length: 12.2 miles linear
Central trailhead: 28.5919, -81.0423
Fees: $2 per person day use fee at Phillips Rd trailhead
Restrooms: None
Land manager: Florida Forestry Service
Phone: 407-971-3500

Leashed dogs welcome. Insect repellent a must. Primitive campsites must be reserved in advance.

Seasonal hunting occurs in some portions of the forest. Check ahead before you make plans for outdoor recreation.

The forest is laced with a network of rough forest roads. Active cattle leases mean the potential of encounters with cows and bulls along the trails.

Christmas Creek bridge

Always check on water levels in the St. Johns River in advance of hiking this section. Flood conditions make the northeast corner of this route dangerous to traverse. An alternate route through Orlando Wetlands Park bypasses this corner.


Directions

 
From Interstate 95 in Titusville, drive west on SR 50 for 10.3 miles through the town of Christmas to Fort Christmas Road. Turn right. Continue 2.3 miles, passing Fort Christmas. After the curve in the road, continue continue a half mile and turn right on Philips Rd. Follow it 1.5 miles, taking the jeep track at the sign for Bronson State Forest to the Joshua Creek trailhead. This is the only official trailhead providing direct access into Bronson State Forest.
 
Directions to the Wheeler Road and Chuluota Wilderness trailheads flanking this section are provided under those individual hike segments, below.

Hike

Of this 12.2 mile route connecting three trailheads, only seven miles are within the boundaries of Charles H. Bronson State Forest.

Those seven miles lie in the middle, so the start and end points are in adjoining public lands. For the full traverse, begin at Wheeler Rd and end at Chuluota Wilderness.

Trail between ancient palms and oaks

Florida Trail, Wheeler Road to Joshua Creek

Along this 8.6-mile route spanning the eastern side of Bronson State Forest, experience the majesty of ancient oak and palm hammocks near the St. Johns River.

Palms in uplands along the Florida Trail

Florida Trail, Chuluota Wilderness to Joshua Creek

3.9 miles. Enjoy the natural beauty of habitat diversity along a scenic segment of the Florida Trail connecting Chuluota Wilderness and Bronson State Forest

Using the primary trailhead for the forest at Joshua Creek, you can also make round-trip hikes to scenic destinations or tackle a 9.5-mile loop using the River Trail.

In addition to the River Trail Loop, the Northeast Loop shows off the wildest corner of the forest, with access to the Florida Trail via Orlando Wetlands Park.

Cabbage palm and oaks along trail Trail through a hardwood hammock near South Slough


NORTHBOUND: Curryville Road roadwalk to Mills Creek Woodlands
SOUTHBOUND: Seminole Ranch


Trail Map

Florida Trail Bronson State Forest Map
Florida Trail in orange, connectors in blue

Explore More!

Learn more about Bronson State Forest

Pine flatwoods in Bronson State Forest

Bronson State Forest

Despite more than 40 miles of hiking and multi-use trails, Charles H. Bronson State Forest is a lightly-visited destination hidden behind more popular public lands.


Slideshow

See our photos from the Florida Trail in Bronson State Forest


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Open marsh at Orlando Wetlands Park

Orlando Wetlands

For a hike filled with the flutter and squawk of birds about their daily routines, Orlando Wetlands is one of the best birding spots in the state. This 5-mile loop showcases our favorite route

Pine flatwoods panorama

Savage Christmas Creek Preserve

Protecting more than a thousand acres, Savage Christmas Creek Preserve east of Orlando has more than 8 miles of trails through panoramic prairie and pine flatwoods landscapes

Florida myrtle blooming next to a trail with a puddle

Pine Lily Preserve

In every season, wildflowers are the highlight along more than 4 miles of trails at Pine Lily Preserve, where its namesake lilies bloom in late summer.

Lilies on a pond

Hidden Pond Preserve

Putting together several loops providing perspectives on pine flatwoods, prairie, swamp, and a showy pond, Hidden Pond Preserve offers a very enjoyable 1.9 mile hike.


Trail Map (PDF) Hunt Dates Reserve Campsite Official Website

Category: Central Florida, Day Hikes, Florida Trail, Hikes, TrailsTag: Birding, Bronson State Forest, Christmas, Five Star Trails Orlando, Florida State Forests, Florida Trail, FT Orlando, Orlando, Oviedo, Primitive Camping, Scenic Hikes, St. Johns River, Wildflowers, Wildlife Viewing

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Farout GuidesFarout Guides Comprehensive logistics and offline maps for the Florida National Scenic Trail (1,500 miles), the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail (108 miles), and the ECT Florida Connector (92 miles).

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Get periodic recaps of changes to the Florida Trail, which we accumulate between editions of our guidebook. Find all official Trail Closures & Notices here.

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