Explore the Top 6 Parks for Hiking In Orlando
Explore the Top 6 Parks for Hiking In Orlando
Florida’s unique forests, wetlands, and coasts make it a prime destination for outdoor enthusiasts, and Orlando is an excellent place to begin your adventure. This city offers many hiking trails for nature lovers.
Discover the best spots for hiking in Orlando in this concise guide. Whether you want to discover swamps teeming with wildlife or walk through majestic forests, you’re sure to find an option you like.
6 Best Hiking Spots in Orlando, Florida
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Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo
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Little-Big Econ State Forest
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Lake Louisa State Park
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Rock Springs Run State Reserve
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Orlando Wetlands
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Hal Scott Preserve and Park
Orlando’s hiking trails will take you through prairies, wetlands, forests, and lakes, so they’re suitable for people of all skill levels. The best part is that they’re either free or have a small entrance fee.
1 | Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo |
If you're in Orlando and eager to explore Florida’s pristine wilderness, Westgate Ranch Resort & Rodeo is an excellent starting point. Nestled on a sprawling 1,700-acre property near the Kissimmee River, this resort is surrounded by lush natural preserves on three sides.
With wide-open spaces, shaded trails, and diverse ecosystems, hikers can explore Florida’s stunning scenery without leaving the property. Enjoy vast wetlands, towering pine flatwoods, and meandering riverbanks—at your own pace.
There are luxury glamping camps, tepees, Conestoga wagons, and an RV campsite to rest with modern amenities once you finish your outdoor adventures. Should you feel like venturing into Florida waters, there’s an airboat and a river cruise vessel available at the resort. If you don’t want to scout the land on foot, you can take horse or swamp buggies.
Neighboring the resort, there’s Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area, KICCO WMA, and other breathtaking national parks with rivers and lakes. All these beautiful trails are only a stone’s throw away from luxury camps at Westgate!
WHERE: 3200 River Ranch Blvd, River Ranch, FL 33867 │WHO: 863-692-1321
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2 | The Little-Big Econ State Forest |
The Little Big Econ state forest is known for its breathtaking views and has some of the best hiking trails near Orlando. Its Barr Street trailhead is a 20- to 30-minute drive from downtown.
This 10,000-acre reserve offers 12 miles of trails that take you through lush forests and dense marshes along the Econlockhatchee River floodplain. Explore sandhills, scrub, pine flatwoods, and oak-palm hammocks in these beautiful woods.
The forest trail ground is rugged and rooty, so you’ll have strong footing, but watch out for stray tree roots. It can get squishy and slippery near marshes and riverbanks.
On most trails, the dense forest canopy provides shade against direct sun and light rain. Although there are elevation changes along the riverside hike, it’s not steep, so hikers of any skill level should be able to complete it.
The 5.6-mile Kolokee loop is among the most popular routes for hikers. It weaves among palms and pines following the river to show you the most scenic parts of the forest.
You’ll find several benches along the trails to rest and enjoy the lush greenery around you. Observe alligators sunning on the banks, raccoons hiding in the trees, and birds hopping among branches as you disconnect from city chaos.
This forest is unsafe for hiking during and after heavy rainfalls as it lies on a floodplain river. Some sections will also be closed off for hikers during the hunting season, so stay updated through the Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC) website.
Make sure to keep the trail maps with you during the hike.
WHERE: 1350 Snow Hill Rd, Geneva, FL 32732 │WHO: 407-971-3500
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3 | Lake Louisa State Park |
Half an hour from Orlando, you’ll find Lake Louisa State Park, which offers over 20 miles of unpaved trails that take you around wetlands, lakes, and hills.
The park encompasses a rare geographical transition zone between Green Swamp and Lake Wales Ridge, giving it unique landscape characteristics with nine stunning lakes and 11 diverse ecological systems to explore.
Retreat into its rolling sand hills, dense swamp forests, and bubbling creeks and discover majestic oaks, stately cypresses, and lush palms. You’ll stumble across an abandoned orange grove, a sandy beach, and picturesque campsites nesting between lakes. There are bathrooms, picnic tables, and a kids’ playground around the beach area.
If you stay the night, get up early for magically misty mornings with white-tail deer hopping around the mossy oaks. Keep your eyes peeled for bobcats, forest squirrels, ospreys, and other animals. The bird and butterfly checklists available at Rangers station make for a fun family activity as well.
You can rent horses for family members who don’t want to trek so that everyone can experience the beauty of this forest. Should you feel like journeying through the waterways, there’s swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, and a fishing pier.
There aren’t any lifeguards around, so don’t go for a swim if you see alligator signs. Keep a map with you at all times for your safety.
WHERE: 7305 U.S. Highway 27, Clermont, FL 34714│WHO: 352-394-3969
4 | Rock Springs Run State Reserve |
Located less than an hour from Orlando, Rock Springs Run Reserve spans 1,400 acres along the stunning Wekiva Springs basin, offering over 14 miles of multi-use trails.
Walk along the pristine Wekiva River or explore the basin’s pine flatwoods, oak hammocks, sand pine scrubs, bay heads, and swamps. The park is known for its beautiful stream systems, making it a must-visit for people who love gushing waters.
Marvel at tortoises and gators along the waters. When in the high scrub, look upwards to spot scrub jays. Stay on the lookout for signs of the Florida Black Bear. You can spot pawprints, torn-apart stumps, and even a bear wandering about!
Although the trails are mostly marked, it’s easy to get distracted by the beautiful forest and lose your way. Keep a map, compass, or GPS handy. Make sure to check the state website or talk to the staff about routing changes made during weekend hunts.
WHERE: 30601 County Rd 433, Sorrento, FL 32776│WHO: 407-553-4383
5 | Orlando Wetlands |
Orlando Wetlands is a human-made wildlife oasis that never fails to inspire nature enthusiasts. It has 20 miles of hiking trails around lakes and marshes, allowing for breathtaking wildlife encounters.
Let your path take you through wetlands teeming with critters of all kinds. Find the gorgeous roseate spoonbills wading in large open marshes, red-winged blackbirds humming in the swaths of cattails, and wood storks gathering sticks in oak trees.
Plant enthusiasts will love the elegant bromeliads, orchids, and ferns growing from oak trees. Discover American Lotus blooms floating in pools, hyacinths rising from watery grounds, and cabbage palms silhouetting the horizon.
Stop by Lake Searcy and take in stunning open-water views. You’ll come across alligators on your hike, especially on the shores of the lakes and the paved sections. Remember to stay over 20 feet away from them.
As the park mainly consists of wetlands, trails can get muddy, overgrown, and squishy. If you would rather walk on paved or sandy areas, stick to the trails near the perimeter of the park. Trail maps are available near restrooms.
Many routes, especially near the perimeter, are exposed to the sun. It’s best to visit this park on cooler, overcast days. Bring sunscreen, a hat for protection, and bottled water to stay hydrated. Note that dogs aren’t allowed.
WHERE: 25155 Wheeler Rd, Christmas, FL 32709 │WHO: 407-568-1706
6 | Hal Scott Regional Preserve and Park |
If you want a more leisurely and less exploratory hike or picnic in the woods, Hal Scott Preserve is the place to go. The park encompasses 5,000 acres of pine-palmetto prairies and seepage bogs along the Econlockhatchee River and has plenty of marked trails. The expansive landscape is serene and grounding. It’s perfect for a calming walk or a quiet run with your dog.
On the ground, you’ll discover wildflowers, ferns, lily pads in ponds, and the rare, endangered hooded pitcher plant in the wetland drains.
The trail ground has sections of grass and sand. On sunny days, it’s almost bone-dry, whereas you may have to wade through some sections after heavy rains. Note that the trails aren’t shaded, so bring a hat and wear sunscreen.
As it’s not a swampy area, there aren’t alligators around. Stay on the lookout for river otters, gopher tortoises, deer, bobcats, and other majestic critters wandering in the forest. Some feathered friends you may spot along the way include sandhill cranes, red-cockaded woodpeckers, and bald eagles.
The park also permits fishing in its reclaimed phosphate pit. Off the Red Loop, you’ll find trails heading to Long Branch Preserve and Pine Lily Preserve, providing the perfect opportunity to extend your excursions.
If you want to spend the night in this calming park, you can get a free camping permit and take shelter in its picture-perfect oak hammock campsite.
WHERE: 5150 Dallas Blvd, Orlando, FL 32833 │WHO: 386-329-4404
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From glittering theme parks to scenic forests, Orlando truly offers all to vacationers. Don't forget to explore these hiking spots on your next visit to discover the best of this beautiful town. For more insights into Orlando, check out our Westgate Resort Travel blog.
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* Aside from Westgate River Ranch Resort and Rodeo, Westgate Resorts is in no way affiliated with the attractions featured in this article. Items or places listed are current as of the publishing date of this article. Please call or visit the respective website for the most up-to-date offerings and details.
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