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White blaze on pine in palm forest

Tosohatchee White Loop

A botanically-rich immersion into Tosohatchee WMA, the White Loop combines the Florida Trail and the White Trail for a hike of nearly 11 miles.

Tosohatchee WMA  |  Christmas
( 28.477534, -80.958799 )      10.8 miles

114 shares

Encompassing nearly 31,000 acres along the western shore of the St. Johns River, Tosohatchee WMA offers expansive landscapes for hiking.

An 11 mile segment of the statewide Florida Trail runs north-south through the preserve. Using the White Trail, this route makes a loop through the scenic heart of Tosohatchee.

Palm thicket with ferns A sometimes-soggy palm hammock


Located closer to the floodplain, the orange-blazed Florida Trail tends to be wetter underfoot.

To its west, the White Trail follows an old railroad embankment and spends more of its time in pine flatwoods.

Hiker in a dry pine flatwoods Drier habitats characterize the White Trail


There are several starting points possible for this hike, and one primitive campsite, Tiger Branch, along the loop.

Spring and fall are the best times to tackle this trail, thanks to the bountiful and colorful wildflowers along the route.

blue flag iris bloom Blue flag iris draws attention in spring


Resources

Resources for exploring the area

Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover 5 Star Trails Orlando 50 Hikes in Central Florida

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: Christmas
Length: 10.8 mile loop
Trailhead: 28.477534, -80.958799 (Parking Area 31)
Fees: $4 per person
Restroom: Vault toilets at reserve entrance and at Youth Camp
Land manager: Florida Fish & Wildlife
Phone: 407-568-5893

Leashed dogs welcome. Campsites available, call ahead to reserve.

Mosquitoes and wading highly likely. Do not attempt this hike when the St. Johns River is in flood stage.

Tall pines

FWC permits seasonal hunting. Be aware of hunt dates and wear blaze orange clothing during hunts. Camping restrictions may apply during hunts.


Directions

 
From Interstate 95 in Titusville, follow SR 50 for 10 miles west into Christmas. Turn south on Taylor Creek Rd. The entrance is 2.9 miles south on the left. Follow Ranch Rd; the White Trail crosses it before you are forced to turn left but there is no trailhead. Turn right on Powerline Rd and go 1.8 miles east to Fish Hole Rd. Turn right. Continue 2.1 miles to Parking Area 31 on the left. While it is deep within the preserve, this parking area provides the closest access to the southernmost junction of the Florida Trail and the White Trail.

Hike

By starting the hike at Parking Area 31 and proceeding north along the White Trail, you’ll traverse the driest habitats along the loop first.

Footbridge and man on far side The bridge that starts this loop


Cross Fish Hole Rd and go over the bridge over the ditch on the opposite side of the road. The trail turns north.

Path in pines and palms The northerly path among pines and palms


The mostly straight-line route follows an old rail line from when these forests were logged a century ago.

Tall pines and white blaze A beautiful corridor for hiking


Some pieces of railroad rail are visible before the trail circles a stand of ancient saw palmetto.

Ancient saw palmetto Long roots lifting fronds skyward speak to the age of the saw palmetto


The straightaway resumes with wet prairie views. Enter a stand of younger pines before emerging on a forest road at a junction with the Yellow Trail at 1.7 miles.

Path among young thin pines Pine forest before the Yellow Trail junction


Continue straight north. Another straightaway in the pines leads to Ranch Rd. Cross this entrance road you drove in on.

The white blazes continue north through the pines.

Roughed up trail between pines White blazed linear corridor


Reach the orange blazed Florida Trail at the north junction of the White Trail with this loop at 3.4 miles.

Trail junction signage in pines North junction with White Loop


Turn right to follow the orange blazes southbound, first on a straightaway and then veering into a series of showy palm hammocks.

Thicket of palms with giant oaks beyond The palm and oak hammocks are very showy


Pass a side trail to Parking Area 8 at 5.5 miles. Continue due east through sometimes-wet palm hammocks to pass another side trail, this one to Powerline Rd trailhead.

By 7.1 miles, cross Powerline Rd itself, followed by a sturdy pedestrian bridge over a deep ditch. Enter a series of palm hammocks along the edge of the Jim Creek basin.

Wooden bridge Bridge after Powerline Rd


In a shady hammock, meet a four-way intersection at 7.6 miles. The Yellow Trail comes in from the right.

The dead-end Swamp Spur leads left. The quarter-mile spur trail showcases virgin cypress in the ancient swamp.

Trail junction under palms Junction of Yellow Trail and Swamp Spur


For the next mile, the trail continues through a series of hammocks with tall trees, some of them of incredible size.

A transition to pine flatwoods occurs after a dip through a sometimes-wet basin.

Junction sign and pine forest Yellow Loop junction


At 9.1 miles, reach the junction with the other end of the Yellow Trail, which makes a shorter loop within this loop.

Pass it by and the trail turns southwest. Continue through a mix of flatwoods and bayheads, the corridor sometimes lush and soggy.

Dense green understory in damp forest Lush growth pressing against the trail corridor


By 10.5 miles, reach the side trail to Tiger Branch Camp, the one primitive campsite along this loop.

It features a picnic table, fire ring, tent platforms, and water pump.

Benches around a fire ring Fire ring at Tiger Branch Camp


Cross a ranch road just south of the camp. Soon after it is the southern junction with the White Trail.

Turn right, the only direction the “Thru Trail” sign doesn’t point.

Thru trail sign in palms The thru-trail corner


Follow the white blazes north a quarter mile through pine flatwoods to complete the 10.8-mile loop at Parking Area 31.

Clearing with road and bridge beyond Returning to the start of the loop


Trail Map

Tosohatchee White Loop Trail Map
Red: White Trail. Orange: Florida Trail. Yellow: Yellow Trail. Blue: side trails.

Explore More!

Learn more about Tosohatchee Reserve

Pine-palm flatwoods

Tosohatchee WMA

Protecting more than 30,000 acres of the St. Johns River floodplain near Christmas, Tosohatchee WMA is a place to immerse yourself in the grandeur of old Florida and its bounty of botanical beauty.

These trails interconnect with and overlay part of the White Loop

Dense palm hammock

Florida Trail, Tosohatchee

Bridging an immense expanse of pine flatwoods bisected by floodplain forests, an 11-mile segment of the statewide Florida Trail crosses Tosohatchee WMA.

Yellow blazed pine among palms

Tosohatchee Yellow Loop

A scenic immersion into palm hammocks in Tosohatchee WMA, the Yellow Loop provides perspective on ancient trees near the Jim Creek floodplain.


Slideshow

See our photos of the White Loop at Tosohatchee


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Florida Trail, Seminole Ranch

Florida Trail, Seminole Ranch

At Seminole Ranch Conservation Area in Christmas, the Florida Trail follows a linear 4.9 mile route through a string of hydric hammocks in the St. Johns River floodplain

Open marsh at Orlando Wetlands Park

Orlando Wetlands Park

For a hike filled with the flutter and squawk of birds about their daily routines, Orlando Wetlands Park is one of the best birding spots in the state. This 5-mile loop showcases our favorite route

Canaveral Marshes Conservation Area

Canaveral Marshes

Hike up to 5 miles on levees through the marshes of the St. Johns River at Canaveral Marshes Conservation Area between Orlando and Titusville.

Pine flatwoods panorama

Savage Christmas Creek Preserve

Protecting more than a thousand acres, Savage Christmas Creek Preserve east of Orlando has more than 8 miles of trails through panoramic prairie and pine flatwoods landscapes

Hunt Dates Official Website

Category: Backpacking, Central Florida, Day Hikes, Florida Trail, Hikes, Loop HikesTag: Archaeological Sites, Big Trees, Birding, Botanical, Christmas, Dog-friendly, Five Star Trails Orlando, Florida Trail, Florida Trail Biking, Historic Sites, Notable Trees, Orlando, Primitive Camping, Scenic Hikes, Tosohatchee WMA, Wildflowers, Wildlife Viewing

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