Who Placed This Tree in the Middle of the Trail?
Black Bear Wilderness Area
Florida Alligator
Officially known as the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), the Florida alligator is a large, semi-aquatic reptile native to the southeastern United States. It is Florida’s official state reptile. Alligators are a vital keystone species that play a crucial role in maintaining wetland ecosystems.
Florida Barred Owl
The Florida barred owl (Strix varia georgica) is a permanent, native resident subspecies of the common barred owl. Known for its expressive brown eyes and horizontal brown-and-white “bars” across its chest, it is best recognized by its loud, echoing hooting call that sounds exactly like, “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?”
Deer at Black Bear
I arrived early at Black Bear Wilderness Area in Sanford and noticed these deer casually grazing right near the parking lot. What a treat!
Red-Shouldered Hawk
I saw this Red-Shouldered Hawk chilling out on a fence as I was leaving Black Bear Wilderness Area. It was a real treat!
Top 10 Hikes in 2020
Black Bear Wilderness Area, Sanford
Circle B Bar Reserve, Lakeland
Enchanted Forest Sanctuary, Titusville
Lake May Reserve, Eustis
Little Big Econ State Forest, Geneva
Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland
Riverbend Park, Jupiter
Split Oak Forest, Orlando
Spring Hammock Preserve, Longwood
Withlacoochee River Park, Dade City
Black Bear Hike 2020
In August, my son and I finally managed to hike the entire 7.1-mile Black Bear Wilderness Loop Area in Sanford. It was a great experience and several miles of the trail run alongside the scenic St. Johns River. We didn’t see any alligators this time out, but we did view two deer along the way. The trail is definitely rugged, so bring plenty of water and bug spray, and prepare to invest at least 3.5 hours if you plan to hike the entire thing. However, a good short hike involves going counterclockwise to the St. Johns River and back for a two-mile stroll.
Wandering Florida 