About us
The Central Florida Chapter was chartered in 1981 and is one of FTA’s largest chapters with more than 500 members. Our active members lead and participate in a variety of hiking, biking, paddling, camping and trail maintenance activities. Each Thanksgiving we have a group camping event at a local state park or forest and each New Years we “retreat” to the Ocala National Forest for a fun-filled camp out and celebration.
The Central Florida Chapter maintains Florida National Scenic Trail through Seminole Ranch WMA, C.H. Bronson State Forest, Chuluota Wilderness, Mills Creek Woodlands, Little Big Econ State Forest, Cross Seminole Trail (multi-use), Greenwood-Crossings Trail (multi-use), Seminole-Weikiva Trail (multi-use), Lower Wekiva River Reserve State Park and Seminole State Forest (south of Blackwater Creek).
Loop and Side Trails maintained include; the Orlando Wetlands Trails, Wekiwa Springs State Park Trails, the Lower Wekiva Loop Trail in Seminole State Forest, the River Trail in C.H. Bronson State Forest, the Culpepper Spur Trail and the Kolokee Loop Trail in Little Big Econ State Forest.
DID YOU KNOW? The American Hiking Society named the Florida Trail in Little Big Econ State Forest as one of the top family-friendly hikes in the United States.
Little Big Econ State Forest is a popular destination for day hikers in the Orlando metro area. Accessible from trailhead parking areas in Chuluota along Snow Hill Road and Oviedo at the Barr Street Trailhead off SR 426 and at Lockwood Road, Oviedo, the Florida Trail runs 7.3 miles through extraordinarily scenic terrain, following the river bluffs and river bottom forests along the Econlockhatchee River. Hikers enjoy unobstructed river views from several points along the trail, including the new Econ River Bridge on the Flagler Trail. With a trail shaded by towering cabbage palms, dense stands of cypress, and grand live oaks, it’s a hike you shouldn’t miss.
Wekiwa Springs State Park is the busiest park in the Florida State Parks system, popular for picnicking, paddling, camping, swimming in the springs, and hiking. The Wekiwa Springs Hiking Trail includes a deeply shaded 1.9-mile linear trail between Wekiwa Spring and Sand Lake, and a 7.2 mile loop trail through scrub, pine flatwoods, cypress swamps, and hard wood forests that starts and ends at the Sand Lake parking area. Backpackers can take advantage of Camp Cozy, a scenic destination along Rock Springs Run.
