Florida Hiking Trails

Hike #6: Green Springs Park, Enterprise

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Hike #6, 52 Hike Challenge: Green Springs Park, Enterprise. Encompassing 36 acres near the north shore of Lake Monroe, Green Springs Park boasts one of Florida’s few green sulfur springs (note: swimming and fishing are not allowed!). We enjoyed strolling on both the paved and natural trails that wind through the park, which also features scenic overlooks, a playground and picnic pavilions. Green Springs Park also serves as a trailhead for both the East Central Regional Rail Trail and Spring-to-Spring Trail. A “hotel for invalids” was built at this site by Cornelius Taylor in 1841 as one of the first health spas in the Sunshine State. Tourists were attracted to the springs in the belief that they could cure various ailments. In the late 1800s, Green Springs was part of a huge estate built by wine importer and steamboat magnate Frederick deBary. Distance: 1.2 miles.

 

Hike #5: Trimble Park, Tangerine

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Hike #5, 52 Hike Challenge: Trimble Park, Tangerine. A very peaceful park to hike on a Sunday morning, Trimble Park on the Harris Chain of Lakes in Tangerine (population: 2,865) offers several lakeside trails and a boardwalk shaded by ancient oak trees. I saw numerous alligator and snake warnings along the trail, but did not view either on this particular hike. By the way, author Pat Frank (1908-64) wrote his classic 1959 post-apocalyptic novel Alas, Babylon (1959) while living in Tangerine. Distance: 1.8 miles.

 

 

Hike #3: Palm Island Park

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Hike #3, 52 Hike Challenge: Palm Island Park, Mount Dora. A true hidden gem in Mount Dora just south of the downtown area, eight-acre Palm Island Park is located on Lake Dora and features a boardwalk, hiking trails and picnic pavilions. Alligators are abundant (although I did not see any during this visit). Distance: 1.0 mile.

West Orange Trail – Forest Lake Golf Club

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My favorite stretch of the West Orange Trail starts at the Ingram Outpost (Mile 11.8) and winds around the Forest Lake Golf Club. I would estimate it is about a 3-mile walk if you go from the outpost entirely around the outer perimeter of the golf course and back. I like this route because it is less crowded than many other segments of the trail. In fact, I rarely encounter any other walkers in the late afternoon and usually just a handful of cyclists. You may even find an errant golf ball or two along the way!

West Orange Trail

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The West Orange Trail runs for 20.8 miles between Apopka and Oakland. Today I walked from the Ingram Outpost (Mile 11.8) to the Apopka Vineland Outpost (13.6) and back. Although the West Orange Trail has become diminished in many areas due to rampant development, there are several stretches left where you can still imagine you are briefly wandering in the wilderness far away from civilization. We definitely need to help preserve what’s left of this wonderful trail before it’s too late! For more information about the West Orange Trail, visit orangecountyfl.net.