It was a cold, cold morning last Sunday when I took a stroll from the Sand Lake trailhead at Wekiwa Springs State Park into the open pine scrub. Good thing that the canopy is relatively open as you head out on the hiking loop, although it’s disappointing that the main trail (blazed white) is still […]
Apopka
Only 30 minutes from downtown Orlando, Apopka has interesting hikes in public lands along the Wekiva River basin and its tributaries, as well as the chain of lakes connecting to Lake Apopka.
Ferndale Preserve
On Lake Apopka’s western shore, Ferndale Preserve offers some of the finest panoramas of the largest lake in Central Florida – and serious elevation changes.
Hiking at Kelly Park
Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to revisit Kelly Park and explore its little-known hiking trails. For families in the know, Kelly Park is a favorite destination for tubing, the southernmost tubing run in Florida. I’ve always thought of it as a natural water park, since you can splash and play in the chilly waters of […]
Kelly Park Loop Trail
Tubing down Rock Springs Run is why most folks show up at Kelly Park, but the Kelly Loop Trail is a nice dry way to see the waterway and 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.
Mount Dora
A nice place to stay for outdoor recreation, Mount Dora spills down a rolling hill to the edge of Lake Dora, with a very walkable historic downtown district.
Oakhill and Prairie Lakes Trails
On the Western Addition trails at Kelly Park, explore scrub and oak hammock habitats where the remains of a spring-fed lake can be seen.
Orlando
Orlando is one of Florida’s best places to get outdoors and play, with not only a large quantity of hiking trails but superb quality as well.
Rock Springs Run Hiking Trail
With more than 12 miles of hiking through the heart of Florida black bear territory, Rock Springs Run State Reserve gets you into the wild outside Orlando.
Rock Springs Run State Reserve
You have a better-than-average chance of spotting a Florida black bear at Rock Springs Run State Reserve, a vast wilderness area in the Wekiva River basin. This is the one park where we’ve seen the most evidence of our native Florida black bear.