Oviedo

Exploring Oviedo

Established as an agricultural community around Lake Charm and the shores of Lake Jesup, Oviedo is surrounded by public lands offering interesting hikes and off-road biking.

The town is a Florida Trail Gateway Community, with both the Florida Trail and the Cross Seminole Trail intersecting the heart of the historic downtown.

Nearby Little Big Econ State Forest and other public lands that buffer the Econlockhatchee River provide hikers, cyclists, and paddlers miles of well-forested outdoor recreation.

Trails and Parks near Oviedo

Bear Creek Nature Trail A patch of wild in a sea of suburbia, Bear Creek provides nearly a mile's worth of exploration atop sandy bluffs in a shady creekside hammock in Winter Springs.

Black Hammock Wilderness Area Black Hammock is a bit of Old Florida in Oviedo, with a trail showcasing a delightfully long boardwalk and a loop through scrub habitats above Lake Jesup.

Cross Seminole Trail A 27.6 mile paved bike path connecting to the Orange and Volusia county lines, the Cross Seminole Trail provides access to a massive network of Central Florida bike trails.

Cross Seminole Trail North Connected to a vast network of bike paths, this 21 mile corridor between Oviedo and Sanford hosts portions of the Florida Trail and the Florida Coast to Coast Trail.

Cross Seminole Trail West Connecting to the Cady Way Trail, the western leg of the Cross Seminole Trail enables cyclists to ride from Oviedo into Orlando.

Culpepper Bend One of the lesser-known trails of Little Big Econ State Forest, Culpepper Bend leads you to an outstanding panorama where the Econlockhatchee River meets the St. Johns River.

Econ River Trail A little-known trail in a remote corner of Little Big Econ State Forest, the River Trail offers outstanding views from the river bluffs and an archway of ancient oaks to get there.

Econ River Wilderness Protecting a narrow band of green space in the urbanizing suburbs of the Orlando metro, the Econ River Wilderness surprises with its botanical beauty and wildlife.

Econlockhatchee River Paddling Trail Along a blackwater river surrounded by dense subtropical forest, the Econlockhatchee River Paddling Trail offers a remarkable perspective of Florida landscapes from the water.

Econlockhatchee Sandhills CA In the floodplain of the Econlockhatchee River, Econlockhatchee Sandhills Conservation Area is a 706-acre showcase of upland habitat diversity with a 3.2 mile loop trail.

Flagler Trail South Following a historic railroad route, the southern portion of the Flagler Trail provides a sometimes rugged, sometimes gentle offroad ride between Chuluota and Geneva.

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, Little Big Econ State Forest One of the most beautiful hikes near Orlando is rugged, too: the Florida Trail atop bluffs above the Econlockhatchee River through Little-Big Econ State Forest.

Florida Trail, Mills Creek Woodlands Discover a fairyland of ferns at the center of a spectrum of fascinating habitats along this 2 mile linear section of the Florida Trail.

Florida Trail, Orlando Between the prairies of Osceola County and the Ocala National Forest, this 150 mile section of the Florida Trail slips through suburbs of the Orlando metro.

Geneva Wilderness Area Showcasing prairie ponds amid scrub on the edge of a pine flatwoods, Geneva Wilderness Area offers two loops of gentle paths on which to explore the habitats.

Ken Bosserman Econlockhatchee River Preserve Venture across lush hydric hammocks and floodplain swamps on a rugged loop trail with stunning views alongside the Econlockhatchee River.

Lake Jesup Conservation Area Protecting large swaths of marshy shoreline, the Lake Jesup Conservation Area filters runoff from surrounding suburbia while providing places to hike along Lake Jesup.

Lake Jesup East Tract Savor the bird's-eye view of one of the largest lakes in the Orlando metro from a tall observation tower along this 2.1-mile loop hike in Oviedo

Lake Jesup Wilderness A pair of loop trails across the St. Johns River floodplain create a 4-mile hike amid jungle-like hammocks and expansive prairies that erupt with vibrant sunflowers in the fall.

Lake Mills Park Camp beneath ancient live oaks or wander the gentle trails to Lake Mills as you enjoy one of Seminole County's nicest county parks.

Lake Proctor Wilderness Area Protecting 475 acres of of marshes, prairie, sandhill, and scrub, Lake Proctor Wilderness Area echoes with the cries of sandhill cranes across the landscape.

Little-Big Econ Kolokee Loop Tieing together the Florida Trail, the Kolokee Trail, and the Flagler Trail, the 5.6-mile Kolokee Loop in Little Big Econ State Forest shows off the best facets of the its humid subtropical forest.

Little-Big Econ State Forest Spanning from Oviedo to Geneva and Chuluota, Little Big Econ State Forest encompasses more than 10,000 acres of diverse habitats.

Round Lake Park With woodlands and wetlands edging its namesake lake, Round Lake Park has a delightful stroll for birding adjoining its playgrounds and picnic pavilions.

Seminole Ranch Puzzle Lake At the northern end of Seminole Ranch Conservation Area, roam 8.4 miles along the marshy eastern shore of Puzzle Lake, part of the St. Johns River system.

Articles

The new 50 Hikes in Central Florida (10/5/2018) 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.

Fourth of July in Geneva (7/3/2017) For a heartwarming dose of old-fashioned Americana, visit the Central Florida community of Geneva for their 4th of July celebration, which starts at 9 AM. Bring a camp chair!