Exploring Orlando
Best known for its theme parks, Orlando and its surrounding communities have a surprising diversity of character. Historic neighborhoods are shaded by ancient live oaks. Parks and gardens hug the many lakes. It doesn’t take long to find a natural area nearby for hiking, biking, and paddling, or a spring for swimming. A growing network of bike paths extends across the region, providing day-long riding opportunities.
As residents of the Orlando metro for many years before moving to the Space Coast, we explored our own backyard more than anywhere else in Florida. For backpacking in palm-shaded wilderness, head to the Florida Trail along the St. Johns River floodplain. For day hikes in the many regional parks and preserves, check out the trails we suggest in Five Star Trails Orlando, all within an hour of downtown.
Resources
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Download a list of hikes around Orlando with GPS coordinates for trailheads
See all Florida Trail hikes in the Orlando area for backpacking and day hiking
See our list of the region’s Five Star Trails and learn more about our book
Go on a guided hike in the Orlando area with the Florida Trail Association
Recent Articles
Sunflower Season on the St. Johns River near Orlando
In September, swamp sunflowers put on a colorful show along the St. Johns River between Sanford and Geneva, north of Orlando. Here’s where to take a hike to find them.
Expand Econ River Wilderness
A proposal has been made public of a land swap offer between a developer and Seminole County for possession of Econ River Wilderness Area. We think that the existing preserve should be expanded, instead. Here’s how.
Zipping Over Gators at Gatorland
What’s it like to sail over a pondful of alligators on a zip line in Florida? Contributor Sally White of the Adventures of Mom shares her experience on Gatorland’s Screamin’ Gator Zip Line in Orlando.
The new 50 Hikes in Central Florida
We launched a new full-color edition of 50 Hikes in Central Florida at the National Trails Festival in Deland the first weekend of October. Take a peek inside.
Where to Stay in Orlando
With Florida’s largest concentration of hotel rooms, you’ll find something here to meet your family’s budget. Before we moved to the metro, we stayed in – and can still recommend – unique lodgings like The Courtyard at Lake Lucerne and the EO Inn & Spa, downtown.
Camping? You’ll delight in the woodsy campgrounds you’ll find here. The trick at Wekiwa Springs State Park is reserving a space well in advance. You’ll find cabins at Lake Louisa State Park, not far from Walt Disney World. Lesser known but nice for families are the well-shaded campgrounds at Kelly Park, Trimble Park, and Lake Mills Park. Inside city limits, Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake has RV sites, tent camping, and cabins.
NEARBY: Apopka, Christmas, Clermont, Cocoa Beach, Kissimmee, Lake Mary, Lakeland, Maitland, Poinciana, Sanford, Walt Disney World, Winter Garden, Winter Park, Winter Springs | PART OF: Central Florida