Past Highlighted Hikes of the Month
May 2024
Lake Jessup Conservation Area, East Tract
Maintained by the St. John’s River Water Management District, Lake Jessup Conservation Area protects over 5,000 acres surrounding its namesake lake. The East Tract is one of three public access points, and one of two that features a marked trail system. Starting at the end of a road in Black Hammock, trails in this portion of the conservation area explore shady hammocks along the southern shore of the lake.
Diamond shaped markers wind through a forest of tall palms and stately live oaks draped with Spanish moss. A wide pathway leads away from the parking area towards the swampy floodplain, reaching the loop portion of the route in about a half mile. Turning to the left at the loop, the wide trail continues to the east, reaching a tall wooden tower on the shoreline at the northernmost point. Taking a right at the intersection, the path skirts around a small pond and becomes narrower as it meanders through a subtropical jungle to the observation tower.
Either way, an out and back exploration of the trail is around a two-mile round trip over undulating terrain and under a generous amount of tree cover. As is the case with all SJRWMD recreation lands, public access is allowed 24 hours a day, so visitors don’t have to worry about rushing back to the trailhead by sunset. Because the St. John’s River and its numerous lakes are subject to seasonal flooding, it may be best to skip over this trail after a heavy rain event.
Lake Jessup Conservation Area Official Website
Florida Hikes Article for Lake Jessup Conservation Area East Tract
April 2024
Charles H. Bronson State Forest River Loop
Located directly south of perhaps the most visited state forest in Florida, one of the least visited forests offers a 9.5 mile loop trail through a spectacular variety of habitats in the St. Johns River floodplain. Acquired by the state in 2008, Charles H. Bronson State Forest was opened to the public in the early 2010’s. This new addition allowed the Florida Trail to leave a substantial road walk behind as a dedicated crew of volunteers re-routed the trail through the forest.
In addition to the orange blazed Florida National Scenic Trail, the Central Florida Chapter added the white blazed River Trail, blue blazed County Line Connector, and established the Fern, County Line, and Joshua Creek Campsites. All three campsites can be reserved online, and they are spaced out at distances to accommodate folks who are new to backpacking and seasoned hikers. Prone to seasonal flooding, springtime is one of the best times to explore this loop trail while it is still dry.
March 2024
Econ Wilderness Wilderness Area
Protecting 240 acres in the Econlockhatchee River watershed, a set of loop trails explores varied habitats that change as they get closer to the water. A Seminole County Natural Land, the Econ Wilderness Area was acquired in 1994 to preserve land alongside it's namesake river. The trail system consists of the red trail with two loops tied together by linear path in the middle, and a short yellow loop spur on the eastern side of the red trail.
Starting at the trailhead, hikers are surrounded by a forest of scrubby flatwoods that slowly transitions to a sandhill community. The county has performed extensive restoration efforts though reducing brush and prescribed fire to bring these habitats to a more natural state.
While following trail markers eastward, the path descends into a baygall swamp, crossing a wet section on a bridge before climbing high above the water table into drier ecosystems. Passing over a larger sandhill community dotted with pines and turkey oaks, the trail dips again towards the river on the other side. If the water level is low, visitors can walk right into the Econlockhatchee floodplain where blackwater creeks wind through cypress knees and orchids bloom high above on huge live oak limbs.
Although this is a very popular park, the parking is large and the trails are spacious enough for everyone to enjoy it's natural beauty.
February 2024
Black Bear Wilderness Area
Easily one of the most popular of Seminole County’s Natural Lands, Black Bear Wilderness Area is a well-known destination for hikers and trail runners in the area. Using a series of berms constructed years ago alongside the St. Johns River, a seven-mile loop trail starts and ends at the large parking area off Michigan avenue in Sanford. A few years ago, Seminole County added several impressive boardwalks that extend off the berm and over the river with spectacular views.
From the trailhead, an accessible concrete sidewalk winds through a subtropical hammock to a tall boardwalk leading to the beginning of the loop trail. Heading right at this junction is best for first-time visitors, as this is the shortest route to the river, where folks can turn around and return to the trailhead instead of tackling the whole loop.
As the path sticks to the tops of elevated berms, the trail typically remains dry while traveling through the vast forested floodplain. Dense canopies provide plentiful shade along the length of the trail, although a copious number of exposed roots make for tricky footing in many spots. Near the halfway point, a primitive backpacking campsite is nestled under a stand of tall cabbage palms. Reservations can be made ahead of time to stay the night in this remote corner of the county in a truly wild landscape.
Because of this park’s popularity, it has the potential to be very busy, especially on weekends. Weekdays are usually the best time to experience a quieter hike along the trail.
Black Bear Wilderness Official Website
January 2024
Little Big Econ State Forest, Culpepper Bend
Stretching out into the open grassy expanse of the St. John’s River floodplain, the Culpepper Bend trail traces alongside dark, tannic waters of the Econlockhatchee river on tall sandy bluffs. Developed by volunteers from the Central Florida Chapter of the Florida Trail Association, this pathway was added alongside a batch of trails that removed over ten miles of roadwalk from the Florida Trail.
Starting at a trailhead near the end of a 3.5 mile drive down Brumley Road in Chuluota, the route begins with a trek along a service road for 1.4 miles before reaching the white blazed River Trail. Turning northward, the River Trail passes through a densely shaded cabbage palm hammock before reaching the Econ River. The yellow blazes of the Culpepper Bend trail begin along high banks of the winding waterway, heading eastward towards the St. John’s River.
Descending into the floodplain, the bluffs gradually decrease in size until the trail is at the water’s edge along a spectacularly scenic bend. From this point, the trail historically continued around the next bend to a large pavilion on the river, but the structure was removed a few years ago. Depending on the water levels of the St. John’s, folks can explore further into the floodplain, or follow an equestrian trail through an oak hammock to the service road, then back to the trailhead.
Hunting is allowed on certain dates in this part of the forest, please check the FWC website prior to exploring the area. There will be no hunt dates for January and February in 2024, but Spring Turkey season starts March 9th.
December 2023
Split Oak Forest
Named after a majestic live oak that continues to thrive after splitting in half from centuries of wear, Split Oak Forest showcases a rich variety of Florida’s natural habitats. Purchased in 1994 by Orange and Osceola Counties as part of a mitigation program, the property protects dozens of threatened species including the gopher tortoise. A network of trails has been established across the park, including a portion of the Florida National Scenic Trail.
The North / South Loop trail circles a large portion of the vast landscapes, traversing many of the park’s ecosystems from the various upland communities to the unique matrix of different wetlands. A side spur known as the Lake Loop intersects the main trail on the north end, featuring a pair of overlooks at the water’s edge, and the park’s namesake tree.
Although disconnected from the rest of the continuous Florida National Scenic Trail, a four-mile portion of the trail runs through Split Oak. Using a section of the North / South Loop, the orange blazed Florida Trail starts at the southern border of the park and exits on the northeast corner before continuing through adjacent Moss Park. Part of a future major reroute, this section will eventually string the trail together with Triple N Ranch, Lake Lizzie, Moss Park, Crosby Island Marsh, Hal Scott, Pine Lily, and Savage Christmas Creek.
November 2023
Econlockhatchee Sandhills Conservation Area
Offering free access twenty-four hours a day, Econlockhatchee Sandhills Conservation Area is one of several properties preserving the natural landscapes surrounding its namesake. Originating in the swamps of Osceola County, the river most locals refer to simply as the Econ winds through East Central Florida for over fifty miles before emptying into St. Johns River.
In addition to protecting the sensitive watershed, this parcel features sandhill habitats, which have become increasingly rare due to development. These ecosystems are typically characterized by a spotty canopy of turkey oak, sand live oak, and pine, and yellow-tinted sandy soils. Turkey oaks are one of the few upland trees in the area that shed their leaves in the winter, turning brown this time of year before they drop to the forest floor.
From the large parking area, red blazes lead into the conservation area, passing through a shady section before emerging into a scrubby habitat near high-tension power lines. The red trail follows under power lines for a few hundred feet before turning off into the woods. Continuing straight along the utility corridor eventually heads out to a scenic spot on the Econlockhatchee, where dark, tannic waters flow through stands of cypress trees. Turning right to stay on the red trail, a wide pathway cuts eastward to the yellow loop where a well-marked route weaves across sandhill communities for about two miles before returning to this junction.
Econlockhatchee Sandhills Conservation Area Official Website
Florida Hikes article for the Econlockhatchee Sandhills Conservation Area
October 2023
Seminole State Forest
An oasis of wilderness within the bustling Greater Orlando Area, Seminole State Forest offers an impressive variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. As the Florida National Scenic Trail leaves Central Florida, orange blazes cross over 17 miles of this state forest before leading northward through Camp La No Che and into the Ocala National Forest.
Natural landscapes form a mosaic of habitats, from swampy jungles to xeric scrub ecosystems. Over a dozen crystal clear springs bubble up across the property, some close to trails, while others are hidden behind dense vegetation. Deer and black bears roam the woods, occasionally crashing through the underbrush as visitors approach. The Florida scrub jay is arguably the most famous resident of this forest, a rare and endangered species found only in the state of Florida.
Bear Pond Trailhead is a popular access point on the south end, where a section of the Florida Trail leads to white blazes along the Lower Wekiva Loop. A round trip of nearly 11 miles, this combined set of trails makes for an excellent day hike or overnight backpacking trip. Along the way, a blue blazed route known as Rachael’s Blueberry Crosstrail is available for a shorter hike and change of scenery. This trail was dedicated in 2021 in honor of Rachael’s 31 years of service to the Florida Trail, including 16 years as the Trail Coordinator for the Central Florida Chapter.
In addition to miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails, the forest features several primitive campsites, one of which has a screened-in bunkhouse. Paddling is popular on Blackwater Creek, a dark, slow-moving waterway that flows eastward into the Wekiva River. As an active wildlife management area, hunting is available during the cooler months, with specific dates listed by the FWC.
Seminole State Forest Official Website
Florida Hikes article for the Lower Wekiva Loop at Seminole State Forest
September 2023
Chuluota Wilderness Area
One of nine properties in the Seminole County Natural Lands Program, Chuluota Wilderness Area protects over 600 acres of sensitive ecosystems. The most striking habitat in the preserve is endangered Florida scrub, a desert-like community featuring Florida rosemary, sand pines, and rusty lyonia.
Two miles of the Florida National Scenic Trail pass through this conservation area, connecting Charles H. Bronson State Forest to a road walk heading towards the Mills Creek Woodlands. The county maintains two loop trails, one with red markers leading through the scrub, and a yellow loop exploring the often-flooded wet flatwoods to the east.
In the warmer months, including September, scarlet calamint is in full bloom, sporting vibrant red flowers alongside blossoms of buttery yellow coastalplain honeycombhead. Gopher tortoises and their burrows are a common sight along the trails.
Due to the fire-dependent nature of scrub communities, the county occasionally performs prescribed burns at the Chuluota Wilderness Area. Although these events can dramatically change the landscape, regular intervals of fire disturbance are necessary to keep the habitat healthy and covered in wildflowers.
Chuluota Wilderness Area Official Website
Florida Hikes article for the Florida Trail in Chuluota Wilderness Area
August 2023
Savage Christmas Creek Preserve
Located in rural Northeast Orange County, Christmas Creek Preserve is host to a little-known section of the Florida Trail. A two mile segment of orange blazes lead through various natural habitats including scrubby flatwoods, mesic flatwoods, and oak hammocks.
Although August is notoriously hot in Central Florida, this preserve has a network of trails to lengthen or shorten the hike depending on the weather. In late summer and early fall, dry sections of the trails are covered in brilliant purple and yellow wildflowers, and the wet flatwoods portion features numerous vibrant red pine lilies.