Bourlay Historic Nature Park
Leesburg 1.5 milesRich with the history of Leesburg’s early settlers, Bourlay Historic Nature Park features quaint century-old buildings and a system of short nature trails.
Dade Battlefield Historic State Park
Bushnell 1.7 milesThe Second Seminole War sparked amid the longleaf pines in these woods near Bushnell, where Federal troops and Seminole warriors met on December 28, 1835.
Flat Island Preserve
Leesburg 3.7 milesEstablished as a botanical preserve for native plants, Flat Island Preserve protects islands in the Okahumpa Marsh, offering hikers and paddlers immersion in a lush wilderness
Fly’n R Ranch
Raise a Slush Puppie to toast one of Florida's newest public lands, 3,100 acre Fly’n R Ranch along the Ocklawaha River, thanks to conservationist Will Radcliff
Lake Griffin Nature Trails
Leesburg 1.8 milesIn the uplands above the Dead River Marsh, a set of nature trails showcase wild landscapes and one of Florida’s largest live oaks at Lake Griffin State Park.
Lake Griffin State Park
Lake Griffin State Park sits along the marshy shore of Lake Griffin, its campground and canoe launch its biggest draws, but its land-based highlights aren't subtle: giant live oaks.
Lake Okahumpa Park
Wildwood 1.4 milesBask in the sun, shelter in the shade, or slide your kayak into the marshy waters of Lake Okahumpa at this easy-to-find Sumter County park along SR 44.
Ocklawaha Prairie Restoration Area
Ocklawaha 1.6 milesAt 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.
PEAR Environmental Park
Leesburg 3.0 milesDiscover a deeply shaded walk on a nature trail that follows the trickle that is now the Palatlakaha River flowing towards Lake Harris.
Sarah Maude Mason Nature Preserve
Tavares 1.4 milesExplore a floodplain forest along Little Lake Harris along a 1.4 mile hike on boardwalk to an observation tower and a pathway along its edge.
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.
Sunnyhill Levee Trail
Weirsdale 7.5 milesA 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.