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Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

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Marsh Loop at Lake Lizzie

Lake Lizzie Conservation Area

Hugging the eastern shore of Lake Lizzie, Lake Lizzie Conservation Area encompasses more than a thousand acres along several lakes set among a vast mosaic of prairies, pine flatwoods, and scrub forest

St. Cloud      ( 28.227280,-81.178126 )      11.0 miles

As Lake Lizzie Conservation Area took shape over many years and many land acquisitions, we’ve revisited it several times.

In 2001, it didn’t make the cut for 50 Hikes in Central Florida over other public lands in the region, since the trails were primarily forest roads shared with equestrians, which made for tough hiking.

Lake Lizzie Conservation Area Along the Marsh Loop


Times have changed. While equestrian access to the trail system remains, there is a hiking-only trail at the south end of Lake Lizzie Conservation Area, the 1.7-mile Marsh Loop.

There is also a well-graded access from the same trailhead for off-road biking, and a very scenic loop touching on Lake Lizzie at the north end of the preserve.

Lake Lizzie Conservation Area Hiking at Lake Lizzie Conservation Area


Resources

Resources for exploring the area

50 Hikes in Central Florida Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover 5 Star Trails Orlando The Florida Trail Guide book cover Florida Trail Hikes book cover

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: St. Cloud
Length: Up to 11 miles (round-trip) in a trail network
Trailhead: 28.227280,-81.178126
Address: 6495 Old Melbourne Hwy, St. Cloud
Fees: Free. Camping fee $12-15 per night.
Restroom: Vault toilets at trailheads
Land manager: Osceola County
Phone: 407-742-8650

Open dawn to dusk. Leashed pets welcome. Do not remove artifacts or plants.

Primitive camping is permitted in designated areas but you must obtain a permit in advance. Call 407-742-0200 (weekdays during office hours) or reserve online. A limit of 6 in a group applies.

Lake Lizzie Conservation Area

This is a big preserve, so print a map and take it along if you plan to explore beyond the well-marked Marsh Loop. We found no maps available to take with us at the trailhead.


Directions

 
The primary trailhead, W.P. Tyson, is just off US 192 on Old Melbourne Hwy to the east of St. Cloud. The lesser-used northern trailhead is reached by driving north on Pine Grove Rd off US 192 to Bass Hwy and Midland Dr.

Hike

There are three distinct trails within Lake Lizzie Conservation Area: loops starting near the north and south trailheads, with a linear trail connecting the two.

The southern loop is the 1.7 mile Marsh Loop, accessed via the orange-blazed Florida Trail from the W.P. Tyson trailhead. It is posted as hiking-only.

Although a prominent kiosk displays information about the Florida National Scenic Trail, this multiuse 3 mile segment is not at all connected to the linear statewide trail.

Lake Lizzie Trail Start of the Lake Lizzie Trail


Intended as part of a future Florida Trail corridor along the edge of the Orlando metro, the orange-blazed trail, also signposted as the Lake Lizzie Trail, ends at the trailheads within this preserve.

The 2.6 mile North Loop, best accessed from the north trailhead, has a reservable group campsite along it.

While a portion of it is on forest roads, it is a scenic trails winding through scrub forest and flatwoods as well as right up to the edge of Lake Lizzie.

Lake Lizzie's marshes from the overlook

Lake Lizzie Marsh Loop

In the most accessible corner of the thousand acres that make up Lake Lizzie Conservation Area in St. Cloud, the Marsh Loop is an easy 1.7 mile hiking-only loop


Trail Map

Lake Lizzie Conservation Area Trail Map
Marsh Loop bottom left. North Loop top. Florida Trail linear between trailheads.

Explore More!

Slideshow

See our photos from Lake Lizzie Conservation Area


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Cypress strand

Triple N Ranch

Vast pine savannas and pitcher plant bogs await at one of the toughest loop trails in the Orlando area a 7.5-mile challenge at Triple N Ranch WMA.

Florida Trail under dark water in floodplain

Florida Trail, Bull Creek WMA

Following a significant tributary to the St. Johns River, the Florida Trail through Bull Creek WMA showcases history and botanical beauty.

Live oak canopy over hiking trail

Lake Runnymede Conservation Area

Ancient live oaks provide a tightly knit canopy over the 0.9-mile trail system at Lake Runnymede Conservation Area, a 43 acre urban preserve.

Split Oak Forest WEA

A live oak tree more than 200 years old is the centerpiece of Split Oak Forest, a 2,000-acre prairie and scrub preserve near Orlando, home to families of sandhill cranes


Trail Map (PDF) Reserve Campsite Official Website

Category: Biking, Central Florida, Day Hikes, Equestrian, Hikes, Natural Lands, Nature Trails, Off Road Biking, ParksTag: Holopaw, Kissimmee, Picnic, Primitive Camping, St. Cloud, Walt Disney World, Wildflowers

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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

Balm Boyette Nature Preserve

Balm Boyette Nature Preserve
Dock edged by mangroves

Maximo Park

Maximo Park

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