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Waterway winding through aquatic plants

Wekiva River Basin

Encompassing the Wekiva River, Little Wekiva River, and Rock Springs Run, the Wekiva River Basin is a watershed on the eastern rim of the heavily populated Orlando metro, collecting waters that flow towards the St. Johns River. Many parks and natural lands edge or protect this drainage basin.

A Walk at Wekiwa

Wekiwa Springs State Park

February 17, 2006    Sandra Friend

A walk in the park at Wekiwa Springs State Park doesn’t have to be a long one. Here’s a way to sample the park’s highlights and habitats along its trails.

Bear, There!

July 1, 2013    John Keatley

Last Monday, we decided to visit an area behind a familiar trailhead. Sandy had noticed the unlocked gate before, so we decided to check it out. The gate led us to a slightly worn path and then an old sugar sand road. Walking along I noticed small bear prints in the white sand. They were …

Black Bear Wilderness Area

Black Bear Wilderness

Sanford      ( 28.835294,-81.355201 )      7.1 miles

North of Orlando, Black Bear Wilderness Area in Sanford offers some of the best wildlife watching in the region on its loop along the St. Johns River.

Black Bear Wilderness Loop Trail

Along a narrow levee on the Black Bear Wilderness Loop Trail

Black Bear Wilderness Area  |  Sanford
( 28.835294,-81.355201 )      7.1 miles

Trot out your sense of adventure for an immersion into one of the wildest trails you’ll find near Orlando, the 7.1-mile loop in the Black Bear Wilderness Area in Sanford.

Do not feed the bears

Bear in a trash can (Florida Fish & Wildlife)

April 23, 2014    Sandra Friend

“A fed bear is a dead bear,” says Florida Fish & Wildlife. It’s time to make homeowners responsible for keeping trash and food out of reach when they live in bear territory.

Florida Trail, Seminole State Forest

Seminole State Forest

Florida Trail, Orlando  |  Seminole State Forest
( 28.819203, -81.428048 )      7.5 miles

7.5 miles. Walk through vast, open spaces that you’d never imagine existed so close to Orlando.

Hiking at Kelly Park

Kelly Park Loop

October 6, 2011    Sandra Friend

For families in the know, Kelly Park is a favorite destination for tubing, the southernmost tubing run in Florida. But it also has some great hiking trails where you will probably see wildlife.

Just Bearly

Florida black bear at Kelly Park

July 21, 2011    Sandra Friend

As I discovered later, bear sightings are common at Kelly Park. But this bear certainly surprised me at the end of my research hike for Five Star Trails Orlando.

Kelly Park

Kelly Loop Trail at Rock Springs

Kelly Park  |  Apopka
( 28.757290, -81.500509 )      2.6 miles

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

Lake Lotus Park

Altamonte Springs      ( 28.644075,-81.425531 )      1.7 miles

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.

Lower Wekiva Loop

Lower Wekiva Loop

Seminole State Forest  |  Sanford
( 28.8196, -81.4287 )      10.7 miles

Explore the Wekiva River and Black Water Creek floodplains on this lengthy loop hike in Seminole State Forest

Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park

Oaks, pines, and blueberry bushes

Sanford      ( 28.82843, -81.41155 )      

Paddle, hike, or ride your horse within this massive riverine preserve on the edge of the Orlando metro, where the Wekiva River and St. Johns River mingle.

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