It was heartbreaking to see the forest that the trail went through mowed down by DOT, especially knowing the rich diversity of wildlife and sandhills flora we’ve experienced here.
We’ve included this nature trail in many of our books over the years because the trailhead was prominently visible along SR 46.
Start of the former Nature TrailResources
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Overview
Location: Sanford
Trailhead: 28.82843, -81.41155
Address: 262 Wekiva Park Dr, Sanford
Fees: $3 per vehicle
Restroom: At Katie’s Landing trailhead
Land manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 407-553-4383
Open 8 AM to sunset. Leashed pets welcome. Accessible restrooms and parking but no accessible river access or trails.
Directions
From Interstate 4 exit 101, Sanford, follow SR 46 west 5.2 miles, passing the former entrance to the trail at the traffic light at Longwood-Markham Rd. To reach the current trailhead for the preserve, turn right on Wekiva Park Dr at the circle before the Wekiva River bridge. Continue 1.2 miles to the entrance to Katie’s Landing on the left.
Hike
Both the trailhead and the forest that this trail traverses was destroyed by DOT in 2018.
We no longer have an accurate account of the route in our books. While we hope the trailhead and some version of the trail will reopen, it has not as of March 2025.
An alternative 4.5 mile hike on the Red Loop can be accessed from the above trailhead.
Lower Wekiva River Preserve Red Loop A quiet path leads through sandhill, scrubby and mesic flatwoods, providing opportunities for bird watching among a vivid backdrop of seasonal flowers. Trail Map
Explore More!
Learn more about Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park
Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park Paddle, hike, or ride your horse within this massive riverine preserve on the edge of the Orlando metro, where the Wekiva River and St. Johns River mingle.Slideshow
See our photos of the Sandhill Nature Trail prior to its closure
Nearby Adventures
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.
Lower Wekiva Loop Venture across lush floodplain forests of Blackwater Creek and the Wekiva River, using a scrubby section of the Florida Trail to create the 10.5-mile Lower Wekiva Loop.
Black Bear Wilderness Area North of Orlando, Black Bear Wilderness Area in Sanford offers some of the best wildlife watching in the region on its loop along the St. Johns River.
Rock Springs Run Hiking Trail With more than 12 miles of hiking through the heart of Florida black bear territory, the loops at Rock Springs Run Reserve State Park get you into the wild outside Orlando.
- Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park - November 3, 2026
- A.J. Henry Park - November 1, 2026
- Okeeheelee Nature Center Trails - October 22, 2026