Two days. Thirteen miles. 11 deer sightings. Many osprey sightings, among other bird species. Riverbend Park. Jupiter. Don’t miss it!
Florida Wildlife
Oakland Nature Preserve
“West of Orlando, just 30 minutes from the attractions and nestled between Winter Garden and Clermont in the beautiful Town of Oakland, lies a “hidden gem.” A 128-acre preserve offering environmental education and ecotourism activities for visitors of all ages.” Visit the official Oakland Nature Preserve website for more information.
Lake May Reserve, Eustis
If you’re looking for a short and scenic hike (2.4 miles) in Lake County, check out the Lake May Reserve in Eustis. There’s even a slight elevation change!
Highlands Hammock State Park
Address: 5931 Hammock Road, Sebring, Florida 33872
Phone: (863) 386-6094
Hours: Daily, 8 AM to Sunset
Admission: $6 per vehicle; $4 per single occupant vehicle; $2 for pedestrians & bicyclists
History: First opened in 1931, the site of a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp in 1934 and became one of Florida’s first state parks in 1935. Today, the park encompasses more than 9,000 acres
Hiking Trails:
- Alexander Blair Big Oak Trail (home to one of the park’s 1,000-year-old oak trees pictured above)
- Allen Altvater Trail
- Ancient Hammock Trail
- Cypress Swamp Trail (scenic catwalk and most popular trail in park)
- Fern Garden Trail
- Hickory Trail (features a narrow catwalk)
- Richard Lieber Memorial Trail (boardwalk)
- Wild Orange Grove Trail
- Young Hammock Trail
Other Park Activities:
- Bicycling
- Birding (part of Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Trail)
- Camping
- Geo-Seeking
- Picnicking
- Tram Tours
- Wildlife Viewing
Florida Softshell Turtle
I saw this Florida Softshell Turtle waiting patiently for me to walk by on the West Orange Trail (near the northern end of the Forest Lake Golf Club) so she could make her way across to the other side.
Riverbend Park, Jupiter
We set out from Pompano Beach for Riverbend Park in Jupiter early on Good Friday and it was a dismal, rainy morning. However, the rains subsided by the time we arrived and so we embarked on a three-hour hike through the myriad of limestone hiking, biking and equestrian trails that make up Riverbend Park. We viewed a lot of wildlife such as six deer (including a fawn!), marsh rabbit, raccoon and wood stork. The next morning, we set out for Riverbend Park again to explore the more rugged trails on the other side of the park. We enjoyed a great view of the wild and scenic Loxahatchee River from a kayak outpost and then reached the far end of the park, which was populated with cypress knees. We made our way back to the other side of the park for a quick loop and saw five more deer. All in all, a great time and next visit we are definitely going to do some kayaking here.
Black Bear Wilderness Area
With urban sprawl threatening preservation efforts everywhere throughout Central Florida, 1,600-acre Black Bear Wilderness Area in Sanford provides a welcome glimpse of wilderness amid a nightmarish sea of cul-de-sacs, strip malls and office parks. When I arrived around 10 AM last Sunday morning, the parking lot was already full, so I had to park along the street outside. The trail itself is an often rugged 7.1-mile loop (part of which runs near the St. Johns River) and features 14 numbered boardwalks, but I only had time to do a brief sampler. So I first ventured out counterclockwise for about a mile and then hiked about a mile the other way. The trail is simply amazing and I saw two alligators sunning. Florida Black Bear sighting are apparently common here, but I had no such luck. I will be back soon to hike the entire loop at Black Bear Wilderness Area!
Wandering Florida 