Hike #26, 52 Hike Challenge: Spring Hammock Preserve, Longwood. Spring Hammock Preserve is a great place to hike around – if you can find it! In fact, I got totally lost on the way to the preserve and when I finally found the entrance, the gate was closed. It turns out that the Environmental Studies Center is closed on weekends, but the trail is still open. So I parked across the street at Soldier’s Creek Park and then took the Cross Seminole Trail until I came upon the trailhead for Spring Hammock Preserve, which is described as “a unique assemblage of floodplain forest, hydric hammock, upland mixed hardwoods and pine flatwoods.” It was definitely one of the coolest hikes I’ve been on in Central Florida so far! Several smaller trails branch off from the main trail. Don’t miss a photo op at colorful Question Pond. Unfortunately, the boardwalk leading to Lake Jesup was closed off (looks like it suffered some severe storm damage). If you want a nice little escape into nature (especially as we enter our brief phase of cooler weather), I definitely recommend Spring Hammock Preserve! Distance: 3 miles.