• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Florida Hikes logo

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

  • Trails
  • Maps
  • Guidebooks
  • Search
  • Hike
    • Scenic Hikes
    • Loop Trails
    • Dog-friendly Hikes
    • Hikes for Kids
    • National Parks in Florida
    • Florida State Parks
  • Bike
    • Major Bike Trails
    • Paved Bike Trails
    • Off Road Biking
    • Biking Articles
  • Paddle
    • Canoe & Kayak Rentals
    • Paddling Destinations
    • Paddling Articles
  • Camp
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Car Camping
    • Primitive Camping
  • Florida Trail
    • Plan your Hike
    • Best Scenic Hikes
    • Best Backpacking
    • Section Hiking
    • Thru-Hiking
    • Trail Updates
  • Travel
  • Hike
    • Scenic Hikes
    • Loop Trails
    • Dog-friendly Hikes
    • Hikes for Kids
    • National Parks in Florida
    • Florida State Parks
  • Bike
    • Major Bike Trails
    • Paved Bike Trails
    • Off Road Biking
    • Biking Articles
  • Paddle
    • Canoe & Kayak Rentals
    • Paddling Destinations
    • Paddling Articles
  • Camp
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Car Camping
    • Primitive Camping
  • Florida Trail
    • Plan your Hike
    • Best Scenic Hikes
    • Best Backpacking
    • Section Hiking
    • Thru-Hiking
    • Trail Updates
  • Travel
Trail shelter with bike at marsh

Sunnyhill Levee Trail

A linear path along the channelized Ocklawaha River, the Levee Trail at Sunnyhill Restoration Area stretches 7.5 miles from SR 42 north to Moss Bluff.

Sunnyhill Restoration Area  |  Weirsdale
( 28.993687,-81.834440 )      7.5 miles

852 shares

Protecting the original floodplain of the once-mazy Ocklawaha River, Sunnyhill Restoration Area hugs the river’s eastern shoreline.

Following the river’s edge, the Levee Trail is one of the preserve’s more compelling hiking destinations. Most routes here are on forest roads, but the Levee Trail is grassy.

Grassy trail with blue sky The Levee Trail is largely a broad, grassy berm


It provides scenic views of the channelized waterway as well as of restored marshes that stretch to the east. A popular round-trip destination is a bird blind along this linear route.

That option is described below, as well as the full 7.5 mile linear hike between trailheads.

Cypresses across a river One of many cypress swamps across the river


Resources

Resources for exploring the area

50 Hikes in Central Florida Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover Five Star Trails Gainesville Ocala book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State 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: Weirsdale to Moss Bluff
Length: 7.5 miles linear
Trailhead: 28.993687,-81.834440 (SOUTH/Blue House) or 29.08140, -81.88330 (NORTH/Moss Bluff)
Address: 19561-B SE Hwy 42, Umatilla (SOUTH) 16298 SE 95th PL, Ocklawaha (NORTH)
Fees: Only if parking at Moss Bluff Recreation Area
Restroom: At Moss Bluff Recreation Area
Land manager: St. Johns Water Management District
Phone: 352-821‑1043

Open sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs permitted but not advised.

Be cautious of sunning alligators. Shade is limited. Bring plenty of water, wear sunscreen and a hat.

Boat traffic can be heavy on Saturday mornings. Considering visiting on a weekday for a quieter trek, or show up at sunrise.

Ocklawaha River


Directions

 
From the Belleview exit on Interstate 75 south of Ocala, follow CR 484 east for 8.1 miles. Turn right on US 441 at the traffic light in Belleview. Drive south for 4 miles to SR 42. Turn left at the light. Continue for 9.7 miles through Weirsdale on SR 42 to cross over the Ocklawaha River Bridge. Watch for the low sign on the left for the entrance to Sunnyhill, across from Nelson’s Fish Camp. Turn left on the first road to the parking area at the Blue House.

Hike

At the trailhead, the enticing oak-shaded kiosk for the White Trail will catch your eye near the Blue House.

The Levee Trail starts at the opposite end of the large parking area, at the gate leading towards the river.

Lady in grassy area by cactus Pausing for wildlife watching between oaks and river


Passing through the gate, follow the worn path through an old open pasture with scattered copses of oaks and clumps of prickly pear cactus.

It only takes a minute or two to cross this space – unless you pause to watch the red-shoulder hawk diving from above – before the Ocklawaha River shimmers ahead.

River edged with vegetation First view of the Ocklawaha


Ascend the levee, passing a water monitoring station. You might see an angler or two hanging out in a shady spot just behind it.

This will be a morning for birds and boats, since the Ocklawaha is a popular passageway in and out of Lake Griffin, which lies upstream.

Boaters under highway bridge Boaters headed under the SR 42 bridge from Lake Griffin


To the right are the vast marshes of the original floodplain – before the river was carved into a “navigational channel” by the Army Corps of Engineers.

At a Y in the levee, a side trail leads downhill to the marsh edge on the right. That trail (blue on the map below) connects to the Observation Tower hike.

Levees on both sides of marsh
Y intersection with connector trail. Stay left, next to the river.

Expecting alligators? Snakes? Deer? In the morning, the levee is abuzz with all sorts of wildlife. We saw all these and more. Friends have spotted a bear.

A red-winged blackbird hops from lilypad to lilypad, and a white egret picks through the shallows in front of the purple pickerelweed.

Riverside marsh The marshes make excellent cover for birds


A breeze off the water helps keep things cool. The willow marsh on the river’s far shore ends after 0.4 mile, and is supplanted by a boathouse.

As the far shore segues into bits of floodplain forest, private properties with lawns reach to the river. None are especially obtrusive and all have tree cover for wildlife.

vast marsh The original Ocklawaha River floodplain


To the east, a constant chorus of crickets rises from the marshes. Its treed edge draws close, eventually blocking the expansive view.

After being a straight line, the levee curves into the distance. Floodplain forest crowds up to the levee, red maples and sweetgum dominating.

Curve in levee Curves edged by sweetgum and red maple


By 1.5 miles, the levee broadens to almost triple its original width and lowers to river level, making it easy for alligators to climb up and sun.

The broad dike curves right, then left. Open prairie is visible in the distance, where sandhill cranes gather en masse in winter. Longleaf pines rise behind the floodplain forest beyond the river.

Curves in dike Levee curving between river and marsh


This bend in the river, with cabbage palms leaning out over the water and lilies on both shores, feels more like a real, non-engineered, river.

A dike takes off unexpectedly to the right, into the marsh. It is low and mushy and vanishes into the marshes. It does not connect to the Observation Tower hike.

dike in marsh Side trail to nowhere


Birdsong fills the air around the bird blind at 2.4 miles. It’s an unexpected observation deck, like a shelter along the Appalachian Trail.

Facing away from the river, it offers a commanding view of the marshes while keeping you dry and out of the sun.

Trail shelter and bike The bird blind is a shelter along the marsh


In the far distance, you can make out a ribbon of water that is the original channel of the river. This is a gathering place for red-winged blackbirds, their calls echoing off the walls of the shelter.

For a day hike, particularly for birding, this bird blind makes an ideal turnaround point on the Levee Trail.

View framed by shelter The levee stretching north from the bird blind


On the return trip, you pass the low levee again on the left at 2.7 miles, just before the Levee Trail starts to curve along the major bend in the river.

marsh vegetation Dense vegetation in the marsh before the junction


Duck potato and pickerelweed grow close to the shore, along with many American lotuses. Morning glory vines tangle atop the grasses along the shoreline.

Reaching the end of the levee at 4.7 miles, notice a bench hiding in the shade by the trees next to the cove in the river by the sluice gates.

River bend with trees and grasses View from the bench


Walk down the slope and through the old pasture, where gopher tortoises may be browsing tasty plants.

Returning to the gate, cross the parking area to your car, completing a 4.8 mile hike.

River curve One of the curves along this section of the levee


Hiking to Moss Bluff

With two cars, or plenty of time, its possible to continue on to Moss Bluff beyond the bird blind for a 7.5 mile linear trek.

Biking this levee to its north end, however, we discovered it’s tricky. It’s grassy, so there is no traction and it can be difficult to maneuver.

Fallen bike on levee The levee is open to cyclists but the grass isn’t easy to ride


Additionally, for both hikers and cyclists, there is no “out” when bad weather creeps up, as it did on us.

The trail continues as a broad grassy ribbon adjoining the river. Older growth cypresses appear on the opposite shore.

Storm clouds raining Chased north by storm clouds


Marshes persist to the east, but you cannot always see them. The trail is adjoined by bayhead and hardwood forest, blocking the view.

North of a curve at 3.7 miles, expansive natural marshes are edged by pine forest on their eastern rim.

Forest  edging marsh The northern extent of the large marsh


On the opposite side of the Ocklawaha River, marshy, natural coves off the river become more prominent.

Pass beneath a high-tension powerline at 5.5 miles, where the levee jogs northeast for the final run up to Moss Bluff.

Levee under power line An osprey nesting spot adjoins the power line


Cypresses line the opposite shore of the river as it narrows, and aquatic plants edge the levee.

As the levee makes an arc towards the approach to the natural bluff, boathouses and docks extend to the water from residences.

Lily-lined waterway with cypresses Looking south from the Moss Bluff end of the trail


The closer you draw to Moss Bluff, a dense forest of hardwoods and loblolly bay adjoins the levee to the east.

A worn-two track makes an appearance as the fishing pier on the river’s opposite shore and the lock and dam swing into view.

pier and dam on river The Moss Bluff recreation complex surrounds the lock and dam


Exit around a locked gate to the parking area at Moss Bluff Recreation Area to end the walk after 7.5 miles.

In addition to parking, the recreation area has scattered picnic tables, shaded pavilions, and a restroom.

Picnic shelter with grill and dam beyond Picnic shelter at Moss Bluff


Trail Map

Sunnyhill Restoration Area Trail Map
Green: Levee Trail. Orange: White Trail. Yellow: Yellow Trail. Red: Red Trail. Blue: Connector.

Explore More!

Learn more about Sunnyhill Restoration Area

Expanse of marsh with blue skies above

Sunnyhill Restoration Area

Edging the eastern shore of the Ocklawaha River north of Lake Griffin, Sunnyhill Restoration Area protects the channelized river’s historic floodplain.

Related Articles

JK and his Cannondale

Farewell to my Cannondale

Requiem for a much-loved bicycle: in November, my vintage Cannondale Super V 1000 mountain bike made its final ride while we were doing trail research in Marion County.

purple gallinule in lilies

Summer birding at Sunnyhill

Birding at Sunnyhill Restoration is best along the Levee Trail adjoining the Ocklawaha River and in the marshes beyond it. A round-trip walk leads to a purpose-built bird blind in a hot spot.

Hiker on levee next to river

Sunnyhill in the sunshine

Today was my third visit to Sunnyhill Restoration Area, more than 4,400 acres managed by St. Johns Water Management District, and finally, I found the right entrance for a pleasant hike. There are so many entrances to this vast preserve!


Slideshow

See our photos from the Sunnyhill Levee Trail


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Sunnyhill Marsh

Sunnyhill Observation Tower Hike

A 2 mile hike to a humble climb up a small observation tower leads to an incredible panorama of marsh at Sunnyhill Restoration Area.

Ocklawaha Prairie

Ocklawaha Prairie Restoration Area

At Ocklawaha Prairie, east of Lake Weir and south of Marshall Swamp, trails lead to some of the best birding in the region from levees along the extensive marshes of the river basin.

Alexander Springs

Alexander Springs

Surrounding one of Florida’s most picturesque first magnitude springs, Alexander Springs is a prime destination for a summer swim or snorkel

Lake framed by pines

Clearwater Lake Recreation Area

With a campground and lakeside day use area at the southeast corner of the Ocala National Forest, Clearwater Lake Recreation Area offers an easy loop hike and access to the Florida Trail.

Trail Map (PDF) Official Website

Category: Biking, Central Florida, Day Hikes, Hikes, Trails, Water Management AreasTag: Belleview, Birding, Eustis, Leesburg, Observation Decks, Observation Towers, Ocala, Ocklawaha, Ocklawaha River, Riverfront, Silver Springs, Sunnyhill Restoration Area, Weirsdale, Wildlife Viewing

Have an update? Contact us.

Primary Sidebar

CENTRAL FLORIDA

CENTRAL FLORIDA OVERVIEW
East Coast Greenway. Florida Trail

Brooksville. Coast to Coast Trail. Cocoa Beach. Cross Florida Greenway. Crystal River. Dade City. Daytona Beach. Kissimmee. Lakeland. Leesburg. Ocala. Ocala National Forest. Orlando. Sanford. St. Petersburg. Tampa.

Our Newest Books

The Florida Trail Guide

The Florida Trail GuideOur definitive guidebook to planning backpacking trips on the Florida National Scenic Trail, now in its fourth edition. Full data charts and maps. B&W, 356 pages. $19.95 + tax & shipping.

Order Now


Florida Trail Hikes

Florida Trail Hikes 2nd edition coverFifty of the best day hikes, overnights, and weekend trips on the Florida Trail. Full hike descriptions and maps, full color. 376 pages. $24.95 + tax & shipping.

Order Now


Discovering the Florida Trail

Florida Trail mini coffee table book cover of trail into palm hammock
A visual journey the length of the Florida Trail, covering more than 1,500 miles from the Everglades to Pensacola Beach. Hardcover, 196 pages. $24.95 + tax & shipping.
Order Now


50 Hikes in Central Florida 3rd edition
Five Star Trails Orlando guidebook
Explorer's Guide North Florida & The Panhandle guidebook

Florida Trail Apps

Farout GuidesFarout Guides Comprehensive logistics and offline maps for the
Florida National Scenic Trail (1,500 miles), the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail (108 miles), and the ECT Florida Connector (92 miles).

Explore More

Our recent park & trail updates in this region

Florida rosemary growing in bright white sand

Shadow Bay Park

Shadow Bay Park
Marker 26 at edge of pine woods

Alafia River North Trails

Alafia River North Trails
Sunset in a pine forest

Red Trail, Palm Bluff Conservation Area

Red Trail, Palm Bluff Conservation Area
Footpath in shade of palm forest with white blazes

White Trail, Palm Bluff Conservation Area

White Trail, Palm Bluff Conservation Area

Footer

FIND A TRAIL OR PARK

NORTHWEST FLORIDA
Apalachicola. Apalachicola National Forest. Blackwater River State Forest. Blountstown. Bonifay. Bristol. Cape San Blas. Carrabelle. Chattahoochee. Chipley. Crawfordville. Crestview. DeFuniak Springs. Destin. Ebro. Eglin Air Force Base. Fort Walton Beach. Freeport. Gulf Islands National Seashore. Madison. Marianna. Milton. Monticello. Mossy Head. Navarre Beach . Niceville. Panama City Beach. Pensacola. Ponce De Leon. Port St. Joe. Quincy. Sopchoppy. South Walton. St. Marks. St. Marks NWR. Tallahassee. Vernon. Wakulla. Wewahitchka

NORTH FLORIDA
Alachua. Amelia Island. Baldwin. Branford. Bunnell. Cedar Key. Chiefland. Crescent City. Dowling Park. Ellaville. Fernandina Beach. Flagler Beach. Gainesville. Green Cove Springs. High Springs. Jacksonville. Keystone Heights. Lake Butler.Lake City. Live Oak. Mayo. Macclenny. Micanopy. Olustee. Orange Park. Osceola National Forest. Palatka. Palatka-Lake Butler Trail. Palm Coast. Perry. Salt Springs. St. Augustine. Starke. Steinhatchee. Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. Suwannee Springs. Talbot Islands. Timucuan Preserve. Trenton. Welaka. White Springs. Williston

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo

MULTI-REGION
Big Cypress Swamp. East Coast Greenway. Everglades National Park. Florida National Scenic Trail

CENTRAL FLORIDA
Apopka. Belleview. Brandon. Brooksville. Bushnell. Canaveral National Seashore. Christmas. Chuluota. Clearwater Beach. Clermont. Coast to Coast Trail. Cocoa Beach. Cross Florida Greenway. Crystal River. Dade City. Daytona Beach. De Leon Springs. DeBary. Deland. Deltona. Dunedin. Dunnellon. Frostproof. Geneva. Inverness. Kenansville. Kissimmee. Lake Mary. Lake Wales. Lakeland. Largo. Leesburg. Longwood. Melbourne. Melbourne Beach. Merritt Island. Merritt Island NWR. Mims. Mount Dora. New Port Richey. New Smyrna Beach. Ocala. Ocala National Forest. Ocklawaha. Orlando. Ormond Beach. Osteen. Oviedo. Palm Bay. Ridge Manor. Sanford. Silver Springs. Spring Hill. St. Cloud. St. Petersburg. Tampa. Tarpon Springs. Titusville . Walt Disney World. Weeki Wachee. Winter Springs. Withlacoochee State Forest. Withlacoochee State Trail. Yeehaw Junction

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Bradenton . Charlotte Harbor. Ding Darling NWR. Englewood. Estero. Fort Myers. Immokalee. Naples. Pine Island. Port Charlotte. Punta Gorda. Sanibel Island. Sarasota. Venice

SOUTH FLORIDA
Arcadia. Basinger. Big Cypress National Preserve. Big Cypress Seminole Reservation. Clewiston. Everglades City. Fisheating Creek. Lake Okeechobee. Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail. Lake Placid. LaBelle. Lakeport. Moore Haven. Okeechobee. Pahokee. Port Mayaca. Sebring. South Bay

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
Big Pine Key. Biscayne Bay. Biscayne National Park. Boca Raton. Boynton Beach. Coral Gables. Davie. Delray Beach. Northeast Everglades Natural Area. Florida Keys. Fort Lauderdale. Fort Pierce. Hobe Sound. Hollywood. Homestead. Islamorada. Jensen Beach. Jupiter. Juno Beach. Key Biscayne. Key Largo. Key West. Marathon. Miami. Ocean to Lake Greenway. Overseas Heritage Trail. Palm Beach. Port St. Lucie. Redland. Sebastian. Stuart. Vero Beach. West Palm Beach

  • Trails
  • Parks
  • Beaches
  • Gardens
  • Springs
  • Ecotours
  • Attractions
©2006-2023, Sandra Friend & John Keatley | Disclosure | Site Index | Work with Us | Advertise with Us
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy | Florida Hikes PO Box 93 Mims FL 32754| Contact