Essential to the nationally-designated Wekiva Wild and Scenic River System, Wekiva River Buffer Preserve and the Charles Lee Sabal Point Sanctuary protect over 2,500 acres.
Along an old logging tramway, a 1.7 mile linear trail tunnels into an iconic floodplain forest where the Wekiva River and Little Wekiva River meet.
Well-beaten path along the old tramwayResources
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Overview
Location: Longwood
Length: 3.4 mile round-trip
Trailhead: 28.711818, -81.410133
Address: 404 Wilderness Dr, Longwood, FL 32779
Fees: Free
Restrooms: No
Land managers: Audubon Society, St. Johns Water Management District
Phone: 407-539-5700
Open dawn to dusk. Leashed dogs permitted. Bicycles allowed.
Bug protection is highly recommended, due to high numbers of biting flies and mosquitos.
Directions
From Interstate 4 in Altamonte Springs, head west on SR 434 for 0.8 mile, then turn right onto Wekiva Springs Rd. In 0.9 mile, make a right at Sabal Palm Dr S. Take an immediate left onto W Sabal Palm Dr, and continue for 1.2 miles before turning left at Wilderness Dr. The entrance is at the end of the road in 0.2 mile.
Hike
Starting at the trailhead, a small dirt pathway leads behind a concrete wall to an information kiosk. This covered display provides details about the property, and a basic map.
TrailheadThe lush jungle-like nature of this landscape is immediately apparent while following a leaf-strewn pathway under a canopy of cabbage palms, hickory, and tall sweetgum trees.
Huge palm fronds extend towards the trail in gentle bends, hovering over a dense border of ferns.
Fern-lined pathShowy blossoms of lyreleaf sage, ironweed, and violets sprinkle the forest floor with splashes of purple against a vibrant green backdrop.
The trail bends to the right for a short jog before following a straight line at 0.2 mile.
Lyreleaf sageIn this subtropical environment, a keen eye can spot epiphytic orchids in certain trees, several feet in the air.
Growing among branches carpeted with ball moss and resurrection ferns, these orchids produce striking blooms in the warmer months.
Butterfly orchidsA cacophony of birds call to each other from the overstory.
The high-pitched tweets of cardinals accent laughter-like chirps of red-bellied woodpeckers and the “peter-peter-peter” songs of the tufted titmouse.
Continuing northward, pine trees become more prevalent as the trail crosses Hog Island, an island of mesic flatwoods.
Mesic flatwoodsDescending slightly from the pine island, the surrounding terrain quickly becomes soggier as the trail passes a bench alongside a small pond.
Slow moving tannic waters and thick mud surround the elevated tram road as it extends further into the floodplain forest.
Pondside benchReaching one mile, the trail leaves Audubon property, entering the adjacent Wekiva River Buffer Preserve.
Cabbage palms of all sizes inch closer to the path as cypress join the diverse mix of trees, with distinctive knees protruding from soft soils alongside the berm.
Cabbage palm corridorIn 0.7 miles, a gate crossing the pathway indicates the trail’s end. From this point, retrace your steps up the tramway.
Catch glimpses of songbirds and unique plants you may have missed on the way in, ending your hike at the trailhead after 3.4 miles.
Gate at the far end of the trailTrail Map
Explore More!
Video
A walk through Sabal Point Sanctuary
Nearby Adventures
Wekiva River Paddling Trail A leisurely float downriver from Wekiwa Springs provides paddlers an immersion in the beauty of a Wild and Scenic River teeming with wildlife. 
Lake Lotus Park At Lake Lotus Park in Altamonte Springs, the 1.7-mile trail system along Lake Lotus and the Little Wekiva River floodplain provides a great respite from surrounding suburbia.
Wekiwa Springs State Park A massive wilderness area on the edge of the Orlando metro, Wekiwa Springs State Park is centered on a first-magnitude spring that pours forth a river lined with jungle-like vegetation.
Kelly Park Tubing Rock Springs Run is why most folks visit Kelly Park, but the Kelly Loop Trail provides unique perspectives on many more natural features within the park.
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