The Lake Minneola Scenic Trail is also called the South Lake Trail. It is a paved 13 miles stretch…read morethat many people use to bike, walk and skate. It is also wheelchair friendly. We picked up the trail at the Killarney Station and rode through to Minneola Trailhead Park. The views are beautiful and we appreciated all of the areas with trees that helped keep the heat bearable in the afternoon. There are a lot of sections that intersect with the roadway so you have to stay alert and possibly not have very young children lead the way. There were lots of people on the trail when we visited and everyone seemed to be mindful of each other.

Wide paved trail of rolling hills along Lake Minneola, residences and highways. Planning us…read moredefinitely to the motorists' advantage, unfortunately. They have the bicyclist stopping after charging down a hill, then having to climb from standstill?!. Lake is beautiful and winding through the woods is serene, but a good deal is along highway; although, you are on a separate dedicated trail. Some stops to get smoothies and eats aling tge way

OMG I found wild blueberries! I went with my dog and we had a fricken BLAST. I know I shouldn't…read morehave picked some blueberries but it was a one time thing

The Econ Sandhills Conservation Area in East Orlando (not far from Rt. 50) is a decent sized loop…read moreof a hike at 3.25 miles. The paths are pretty wide and part of of it is down a power line area. If you're new to hiking, this is a good spot as it's not too long and there is a loop. I find it frustrating to just walk in a few miles, then just turn around and walk back. The reason I rate it average is it's kind of confusing to figure out where to go, where the loop starts, where to turn off of the power lines in both directions, and where to see the river if you wanted to (we didn't see it). It wouldn't take much to improve this to a point where you're not in fear of getting lost and if you're heading in the right direction. There's lots of scenery in the area, nothing completely breathtaking, but nice to be in nature. I'd go again, but mainly if I was looking for a shorter walk or simply because it's close by.

The Geneva Wilderness Area offers a nice Trail to take a morning hike. A Hidden Gem on this Trail…read moreis this tiny outdoor Chapel in the middle of nowhere next to a body of water. I honestly cannot see this being used very often, but it certainly wasn't nice find during my morning walk. With it being late May in Florida, the bugs kept me company swarming about my head as I walked parrots hey, this is real nature. Nothing can be done about it. The trail is well laid out with continuous markers on the trees and on posts. I would call this definitely a beginner's type trail and you will not find a lot of challenges walking it. Another nice touch is the fishing pier along the trail. I did find it interesting that they had a few signs posted about releasing non-native fish into these waters, specifically tilapia. I didn't know that this was a problem here in Florida, so I could understand how that could destroy a lake. I also liked the rocket-box bat house by the fishing pier. All in all, I will give this trail five stars. With plenty if parking and a nice walk, it was a great way to start a Saturday.

Deserts, fires, and…read morenature centers The Geneva Wilderness Area is a wonderful place of almost 200 acres. Miles of well marked trails cut across the area and allows for some easy yet interesting hiking. Of course no hills or rocks, most of the trails are in soft sand and goes through what is known as Florida's desert. Very dry and rather barren but interesting terrain. They actually start fires here to burn away the underbrush and debris and the marks of the fires are visible on many of the trees. Doesn't harm the healthy trees and keeps uncontrolled fires from starting. There is also a very cool nature center at the wilderness area that has lots of interesting exhibits and a great woman that knows everything there is to know about the area. A very cool place for a easy hike, you get to see lots of interesting trees, plants and critters. A pleasant place to spend some time with nature.

I love spending time in nature, so I was delighted to discover this short trail tucked away inside…read moreDr. P. Phillips Community Park. While there isn't any parking directly next to the trailhead, it's only a short walk from the main parking area. The trail was created through a corporate sponsorship between Orange County and Orlando-based LongHorn Steakhouse, helping to fund and preserve local green spaces for the community to enjoy. Fun fact: The very first LongHorn Steakhouse opened on August 10, 1981, on Peachtree Road in Atlanta in a building that previously housed an adult bookstore. The LongHorn trail meanders through 10 acres of Florida scrub habitat, also known as a xeric hammock community. This unique ecosystem is one of the state's most endangered habitats because it occurs on higher, well-drained elevations, he same areas that are often targeted for development. It's a challenging environment where plants and wildlife have evolved adaptations to survive the dry, sandy conditions. As you stroll along the sandy path, you may see native species such as sand pines, sabal palms, Adams needle yucca, grapevines, ferns, lichens, songbirds, cicadas, raccoons, and perhaps even a threatened species of gopher tortoise crossing the trail. This is an easy hike that just about anyone can do as long as you can walk on soft, sandy terrain. Benches are placed along the trail, offering spots to rest before reaching an observation area overlooking Big Sand Lake. Once there you can sit quietly, enjoy a picnic, or simply take in the scenery. Although Dr. Phillips orange groves that once covered this area have long since been turned into residential and commercial development, it's nice to know that you can still find pockets of Florida's natural landscape that have been preserved. Trails like this offer a peaceful escape and a place for Florida's native animals and plants to find a home.

Pine Lily Preserve is off the beaten path, but it is a cool place to get away from the hustle and…read morebustle of the daily grind and get lost in the woods and get back to nature. It is basically a path through the woods, some parts with gravel and some with just grass and dirt. Still, it is a peaceful escape. There is a small parking lot. All in all, a cool hidden gems. Come check it out.

You will find scenic Griffin Park is on the shores of Little Lake Harris. The park has a covered…read morepavilion with picnic tables and grills that can be rented for only $50. There is also a children's playground area, outdoor fitness equipment, bicycle fix it station, a bench swing, boat launch, and 7 mini piers to fish from. I was just passing through but this lovely outdoor recreation area is the perfect spot for play, exercise, picnics, parties, fishing, and wildlife watching. You may even spot an alligator in Little Lake Harris. Griffin Park was named in honor of C.V. Griffin Sr. who was born in Canton, Illinois on October 16, 1903. Mr. Griffin made money in the citrus and real estate industries in Howey in the Hills after going into business with town founder, William J. Howey. He helped to elect Fuller Warren governor of Florida in 1948. He also built and donated the ,Town Hall, established Griffin Airways and was instrumental in seeing that the State Road 19 Bridge linking Lake County cities and promoting business was constructed over Lake Harris. In 1956, Mr. Griffin founded a co-educational 7th to 12th grade prep school, the Howey Academy that became an internationally recognized school. C. V. Griffin died at his Griffin Village home, Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida on April 2, 1982 at the age of 79.

Griffin Park is a small neighborhood park. It has a dock and play area where the children burn off…read morewhat seems like endless energy. The view of the lake is beautiful. If you go early in the morning or just before the sun goes down you can usually catch a few large gators gliding through the water. They are majestic and spooky all in one.

Ferndale Preserve is located in what feels like the middle of nowhere. The park opens at 6:30 am…read moreand closes at 6pm. There are two trails currently open. One is .5 mile up to a high point and the other is a 1.6 loop. No dogs are allowed in the park or in the trails for their safety. Bathrooms are available at the entrance. The playground area is separated into two sections. The sections are age appropriate and super challenging and fun for children. The equipment is clean and has the appearance of being well maintained. The park is not shaded so I don't recommend coming in the middle of the summer. Fall, winter and spring will provide lots of fun.

I'm a sucker for a good nature preserve and this place is no different. I loved my experience here…read morethe trails were fantastic and the wildlife and trees were incredible. This place has a good trail system encompassing about two and a half miles with multiple cutbacks and side trails and they've even got a water access for fishing. The scrub forest was fantastic and this park is at a higher elevation than most area around it so the views were pretty cool especially looking down onto Lake Apopka. I loved my experience here, and they've got nice clean bathrooms in the parking lot available for your use.

I joined the Save Split Oak group for a guided hike and had a lovely visit. Highly recommend…read morechecking them out and going with the group as they are so knowledgeable about the flora, fauna, special points of interest, and any questions we had. It's a beautiful area with plenty of trails to wander and experience true Florida nature. There are many options to choose from to have the experience you're looking for for length of hike, shade level, openness, what to see, etc. Hopefully it will remain protected but definitely recommend visiting while you can.

Was craving some outdoor adventure but wanted to stay local and away from crowds, so when I looked…read moreup nearby hiking trails, Split Oak Forest came up. Originally wanted to do the 4 mile hike but ended up doing 5.67 miles. What can I say, we got lost in the wilderness. But really, the split oak tree near marker G distracted us. We were suppose to follow the orange markers but somehow ended up following the yellow markers which veered us off course. Once we realized that we were going the opposite way, it was already too late to turn around. Plus, nature was calling and the thought of holding it in for another 3 miles just convinced me to just keep going. The trail was easy. Lots of sand trails though. And with that being said, make sure you've got the right hiking shoes on. I recommend getting hiking shoes from REI. Trust me. With the uneven sand trails, you want to have good balance. Your feet will thank you later. Split Oak forest is a hidden gem tucked away in a city away from the city. Made me feel like I was far away from civilization. Great for getting your cardio in and enjoy nature at the same time.