You better think twice before you wear your favorite hiking shoes cause things might get a little muddy! During rainy season some of the trails even close down due to flooding. But for the most of the year this preserve is about three miles of nice, flat hiking. We even spotted some osprey and a tortoise sunbathing in the middle of the trail on the way out. read more

Tibet-Butler Preserve - Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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Upon entering I immediately realized I had to leave because there is multiple signs that dogs are not allowed. read more

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This nature preserve is now my favorite place. There's something about the outdoors that puts my soul at ease. This wildlife haven is well kept and is 3.6 miles of gentle hiking trails and some swampy areas. Lots of interesting flora and fauna to see here. They are open daily from 8am-6pm and is a great escape from the everyday chaos. Disney parks are nearby but you'd never know it because it is so quiet and peaceful here. No pets are allowed but it is family friendly. We saw some tourists during our time here and they seemed to enjoy it although they weren't prepared. I recommend dressing appropriately visiting Tibet. Please come with hiking shoes on...you will step in some swampy areas. I cringed when I saw a woman's toes dip in to the mud. read more

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I really enjoyed walking the trails at Lake Butler. The scenery was beautiful and the trails were easy to navigate--I was even able to push a stroller through without much trouble. There's a small nature center near the parking area that shares information about the wildlife in the reserve, which was a nice touch. Most of the trail is shaded, and there are water stations and benches along the way. We spent about two hours walking and had a great time. I'll definitely be back! read more

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This is a great local park. It's close enough to get to quickly, but big enough to get you away from most of the hectic city life. There are a limited number of trails, but very diverse in the vegetation you'll experience - pines, palms, cypress and other plants. The trails are mostly dirt and grass, but one trail is actually sand! There is a nice conservation center and you will usually see one or more large tortoises. It's a great way to spend an hour or two (or more) to get some exercise, commune with nature, or just sit and relax. I've been here a few times since it is so convenient and I highly recommend it for individuals or families alike. read more

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Tibet Butler Preserve offers a pleasant, if easy, hiking opportunity near Disney Springs. With about 3 miles of flat trails, the entire trail system can usually be hiked in less than an hour. Not a lot of wildlife to be seen on the trails but there is some good birding at times. I dropped the preserve to 4 stars because the area is prone to flooding. I would not visit in the rainy season for that reason. read more

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This is a nice, small preserve to walk around. They have lots of turtles and tortoises and other wildlife and all sorts of plants and trees. It's well-maintained, but the area is prone to flooding and large sections of the preserve can get closed off if there's too much flooding. It can also get a bit crowded on weekends. read more

We weren't ready for the muddy trail. We have to come back again. But it was beautiful. read more

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Grant at the visitor center was primo!!! A lovely trail walk through nature was just what we needed to get out of the hustle and bustle of Orlando traffic and crowds during our Florida vacation. read more

Tibet-Butler Preserve - Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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Very pretty and well kept. It does say enter at your own risk. Can't account for wild animals. Although I gave my mother a heart attack while hiking in "alligator state" as she says. I had a great time and ran into no gators! Lots of anoles , woodpeckers and snakes indeed! There was a trail and an off the beaten path more difficult trail which I took of course. With my walking stick in hand and my buddy at my side. It was a nice hike which circled around back to the parking lot. There's a map and it definitely can go further depending on which route you take. I enjoyed the palmetto plants because of the drum like noise they make when tap the leaves. The swampy areas were cool, they had logs thrown over some areas for you to cross, which I did. If only mom knew lol Go enjoy!! read more

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Beautiful nature trail located on the shore of Lake Butler, managed by Orange County Parks and Recreation. Lovely, quiet well-maintained preserve with nice visitor center. Parking is easy and bathrooms are clean. Trails are easy to walk. Benches are available for seating you can sit at when you need to take a break. Most of the hike was shaded with a nice breeze. Highly recommended for those who jog early in the mornings. read more

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This is my second time visiting Tibet-Butler Preserve nature park. Plenty of parking. Nice visiting center that also has restroom. Pets are not allowed in this park. Great relaxing place for a nature hike. Trails are easy to walk. There are some areas along the trails that are shaded. A few bench chairs throughout the park for breaks in between hikes. I enjoyed this place and will be back again. read more

Tibet-Butler Preserve - Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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Wow! What a breath of fresh air this nature preserve can be when you are sick of the craziness of everyday life. This park includes a visitor's center, multiple hiking trails, and a cute garden area with a gopher tortoise and salcutta tortoise living their best lives. Make sure to check out the Osprey Overlook as there is a boardwalk that overlooks a large lake with plenty of opportunity to see wildlife including otters, gators, and turtles. Honestly, I feel like this is the one park in Orlando where you can actually go hiking. All of the trails here are on mossy/swampy forest floor with no paved walkways. This is good to keep in mind if you are trying to rollerblade or bike ride as there are multiple tree roots on the trails, so probably best to leave these items at home and witch to trail shoes. This also means that some of the trails may be washed out when you visit, especially if going in the summer months. Actually, I would recommend skipping a visit if it has rained less than 24 hours before going as you will not be able to see as much as you would like. Overall, there is easy parking, great hiking, and excellent photo opportunities. Worth a trip if you are in the Orlando area! read more

Great place to go walk around and get away from all the tourists stuff in the Disney area. read more

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Like swampland when it's been raining but beautiful nonetheless. A boardwalk will keep your feet dry in areas but I still waded through small ponds during my August 2020 hike. This year just won't let up, will it? Overall, highly recommend having a go at a trail or two over here. The welcome center has a tortoise habitat and some areas for children to learn and play. read more

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Amazing! Well maintained and an oasis for wildlife. You enter through the nature center. There are around three miles of trails to choose from. The initial path is a foot bridge. I recommend taking some of the offshoots from the main trail with water access. We were able to find a water snake. There is also another trail outside the entrance separate from the preserve. From the observation deck we saw large red slider turtles and many water fowl. The paths was liking walking on nature's carpet. Numerous placds along the trail that did not detract from natural wonder. read more

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Away from the city madness without going too far, this is a great place for a short hike. The ground was rather wet which made for some messy hike! The lovely cool weather at this time of the year is a bonus. We didn't see any animals but we met some nice people. read more

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5 stars and we didn't even get to explore much because trails were flooded due to the recent storms and we didn't have the proper footwear. We honestly enjoyed just checking out the turtles and reading about them. Can't wait to visit and hopefully do a little hiking next time. read more

This is a beautiful, well-maintained park. There's plenty of parking, so don't get discouraged if you don't see any right away. There are a few different trails, which are all very well marked. There's a map by the visitor's center that lists the mileage. There's a lot of shade throughout, except for the Tarflower Loop ... that one has a few spots with no shade, so it can get pretty hot. The Visitor Center has restrooms and some educational areas. Nearby there are picnic benches and some playground equipment too. read more

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Nice preserve with a clean and well maintained educational center. The bathrooms were very clean as well and had running water. the only problem was it was very marshy and wet, we couldn't complete the trail but there was a hurricane recently which probably made the trail muddy. There's live alligators and tortoises as well read more

Tibet-Butler Preserve - Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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I found this nature preserve on a Google search for local attractions and things to do near Disney, and I'm so glad I stopped to visit! The preserve offers easy to hike trails that are on a flat gradient and easy to walk and identify. The visitors center also contains a wide array of educational material discussing the local flora, fauna, and ecosystem diversity of the area. I would highly recommend this location if looking for a free family activity in the area! read more

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Tibet-Buttler Preserve has their trails open during the stay-at-home order in Orange County. It's a great place to get out for a little exercise while still being able to comply with staying six feet from another person. There is over three miles of hiking trails. The Preserve has about 438 acres of natural Florida to explore. There is a brochure available that offers an informative guide. It takes about 2 hours to do a slow walk through the entire trail. We took one of the shorter trails and stayed for about an hour. The trails are not shaded so it is most pleasant during the cooler part of the day. Pets, bicycles, alcohol, fishing and boating are not allow in the park. Closing time is 6pm daily. read more

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After a day of money sucking excitement in Orlando- such a wonderful mental cleanse. Trails are soft and flat- birds, lizards and insects are plentiful. Interesting visitor center, clean restrooms. read more

Tibet-Butler is a wonderful nature preserve suitable for all ages. All in the trails combined are roughly 3 miles. The terrain is relatively even, making this a solid option for anyone looking to go on a run when it's dry. For anyone without hiking boots be wary as there is very little drainage here. The trails have a tendency to get somewhat flooded, so if you don't have hiking boots I recommend you come in shoes you do not deeply care about. On one of the trails there's a nice post that provides a scenic overlook of the lake. There's a great learning center towards the front of the trails, but that is currently closed due to COVID. When that opens up I highly recommend you explore it. It's a brief stop but very informative. It's also home to Darwin, who is a ginormous tortoise. The Trailblazer Program here is great. If you log 20 miles through their check in-system you get a free t-shirt. Nice program that I hope other preserves adopt. If you're looking to log some miles in nature check this place out! read more

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This trail is perfect for a little getaway or work out. I popped in for about 20 minutes with a friend and we walked mostly on the part of the trail that was not the boardwalk. I believe it had just rained, because it was a little bit muddy in certain parts. And if it hadn't just rained it is located in Central Florida and Florida has inclement weather all the time so you never know if the trail will be muddy or not therefore I recommend if you're going to go just wear close toed shoes I wore some crocs and it wasn't terrible but it would've definitely been more enjoyable if I had been in a sneaker or a hiking boot. There is a guestbook where you can sign in at the main starting point of the trail there's also a little nature center with some rocking chairs. The parking lot is easy to access as it is just one circular loop. There were a ton of signs that said no pets allowed. read more

If you are looking for an easy hike in central Florida, this is it. Well marked trails lead you to three different options to view flora and fauna. We did see an osprey fishing on the nearby lake. Many picture boards showed off what we missed due to cooler temperatures and people keeping them hiding. They could use a few more explanations of foliage and plant types.the welcome center should be your starting point for any hikes, with maps available to follow. read more

We love this place!!!! There's so much parking and a little picnic table by the entrance if you want to bring food. There's a nice big house with some bathrooms and the cutest tortoise right as you enter the park. There quite a few trails to choose from. We've done all of them and loved every single one of them. There's a lot of shade and ample space on the trail for people to pass each other if you need to. There's a beautiful boardwalk that leads you towards the water. I highly highly recommend this park!! read more

2017's Yelp 100 Challenge 60/100 We chose this hike because it was in a part of Florida we hadn't visited before and we wanted a relatively easy hike after spending 8 hours at Universal studios. This park features a visitors center where you can sit on the patio and stare at the parks wildlife like lizards, gators and various tortoises/ turtles, or you could walk around the back and view the small greenhouse. You could also spend time inside the building learning about the area around you. When leaving for a hike they have this visitors book you can sign if you don't go out with a guide, it lets folks know who went on the hike, what time you arrived, what trail you took, and when you left. I think this is smart just in case someone goes on a hike and gets lost. We opted to take the easier trail that took us through the woods, a little muddy area, then on the coolest boardwalk to the lake. We were able to look at lily pads and see a few otters, I was hoping to see a gator or two, but it was a colder day so they were probably hiding out. We spent about 1.5 hours just checking this trail out. I definitely recommend making a visit here. read more

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There aren't too many places in Orlando you can be out and experience silence. Here you can escape the madness and go walk a walk in nature. It's easy to find on 535 and there's a decent amount of parking. Enter through the main building to access the trails. The first building is actually educational in reference to what type of animals are located in the area. They even have a couple of baby alligators in a tank you can see up close. There's a few trails in this park. It's most definitely suitable for beginners. You won't be encountering much difficulty. You don't even need hiking boots in my opinion. Trails are extremely flat (aside from unevenness from roots) and the brush is cut and maintained so you have at least 8 feet of space to walk. There isn't toooo much to see on any of the trails, but one of them has you follow a wooden bridge back to where you are in a small hut with some benches overlooking a lily pond. This is probably you best opportunity to see some wildlife including gators, otters, turtles and birds. Though... on my visit, there were only turtles. I do suggest going. I spent about 2 hours there walking around (though I did go off the main trails sometimes), it's very quiet, relaxing, and suitable for all ages. read more

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I am a fan of the outdoors, so I was pretty excited about coming here. The Tibet Butler Preserve is simply gorgeous! Amazing park to admire Florida's flora and fauna. The trails are about three to four miles. If you really want to appreciate nature, visit the pavilion at the end of the Osprey trail that overlooks the lake. It's such a quiet and peaceful spot that you kind of forget you're in a city. Sign in before beginning your walk on the trail, visit the educational center, wear comfortable shoes, put on sunscreen and bug spray. Five stars! read more

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What an amazing find that my husband stumbled upon. I'm not much into nature but I loved my walk through the preserve; it was so peaceful, quiet, and pretty. There are various trails you can take to get in a good walk. I found them a little confusing at first, so I suggest picking up a map and stopping a staff member if needed. While I had to flag one down, she ended up being super helpful. I went in March so the weather was nice and there were no issues with bugs. There is also a butterfly garden, little picnic area, and a small nature center with fun facts and a classroom. The preserve is a good location for the whole family. Their bathrooms are large and well maintained. If you love nature, I strongly suggest checking out this preserve. read more

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Great park for hiking and family time. Very scenic. Highly recommended. Been here many times and worth the time if you enjoy hiking and wildlife. read more

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Overall: Very nice nature park that provides natural setting close to developing communities. A great get away to relax and enjoy nature. Compared to other county parks, this is definitely a more relaxed atmosphere away from hustle and bustle of other locations. Due to having a very peaceful and nice park near developments and being clean and maintained, will round up to 5 stars Paths: 4.5 stars. Nice marked and wide nature trails wandering through various landscapes (e.g. pines, wetlands, lake) that provide a peaceful environment minus the paths that take u closer to Hwy 535 where u will pick up traffic noise. Paths are all on ground (no cement) and boardwalks over lower wetlands and lake overlook. Buildings are well maintained. Buildings and parking: 4.5 stars- Small museum at entrance and clean bathrooms off to the side. Plenty of shaded porch area to relax after your adventure. Also off main entrance is a live gopher tortoise exhibit and nature garden of butterfly plants. Plenty of parking with one way travel making it easier to navigate. Well maintained buildings and exhibits. Have never seen staff so no rating even though they are available to answer questions in offices behind museum. read more

A neat little park for exploring some of the nature of Florida and getting away from crowds and tourists. It encompasses a few funky Southern (Floridian?) ecosystems, many of which to me were quite intriguing and bordering on creepy (not sure why, but in a very good way, like a kind of heightened sensation that everything around you is so very alive). I had only a few hours to spend outside, and this seemed like a good place to get a little taste of Florida's nature, and I was right. There are many flat walkways throughout the park that meander through a good bit of forests and wetlands; unfortunately the longest trail is closed for repairs. I saw many interesting plants but very few animals. Do pick up a little trail map/brochure for the different elements for the park, which are numbered. Florida's humidity allows for such a beautiful lushness that we rarely find in Southern California; it was a few hours well spent, and pleasantly quite and calm for a Saturday afternoon. Only thing is - don't go expecting a large expansive park or strenuous set of trails. read more

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This is a great oasis only a few miles from Disney, Sea World, Universal Studios, etc... After experiencing the hustle and bustle of all the tourist attractions in Orlando - for those you want to stroll around and get away from it all - this is the place. They are right off the main road with a variety of things to do; a small nature center; a nature classroom; a couple of small animal enclosures (I startled the alligator), a series of trails (I ended up doing them all twice and walking 10 miles according to my GPS device. There is a variety of local foliage, flora, fauna, swamps, and Florida sand. For a couple places, there's a boardwalk. There's an observation deck over a lake. There are boxes for owls to nest in. And... one quickly gets a sense of Orlando before the people arrived. Highly recommend. read more

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This park is by Disney, Windermere, Dr Phillips. It doesnt allow pets or beer but has 5 or so picnic tables for if you want to eat after walking (there is no view unless it is parking lot). Parking is decent. This could be a good place to walk with kids since you could pick a short trail for 30 mins. I would plan at least an hour here, we walked 3 or so of the trails and the last one was closed due to heavy rain making it unwalkable. There is an environnental center with restrooms, rocking chairs and some info on the 5 or 6 trails (the one that looped around whole park was closed), info on bird types, an area showcasing native plants and providing info on them, a classroom and a small area where a tortoise lives (roped off with no tortoise, hes prolly out there with the kids during class time). Very wide trails so that when we almost stepped on a rat snake (I believe the sign said that is what the red striped snake was), it was fine because I had enough time to scream. The osprey trail is mainly on a shaded bridge walkway so it is a nice break from the sun. It is almost June and when we left at 10am, it was toasty so, if you start at 8 when it opens, it is a decent walk but all those brave souls coming in when we left...well, the trails are short so they will be ok! read more

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It a nice trail. It was just a little wet this time of year. Mud trails everywhere. But still enjoyable.

Great place to walk or run, especially if you like running cross country. Trails are well maintained and there is a great boardwalk. I wish all the trails had been open. Some are underwater at times due to rain and swampy areas. The trails are also very wide for the most part. I was able to get in a great walk. The welcome center was also very informative. I also like the fact of signing in and out when entering and leaving the trails. Great place. read more

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Well maintained ~3 mile mostly flat trail. Partially shaded/wooded (bring sunscreen/hat). You'll get to travel through a variety of landscapes on your short trek - desert, jungle/swamp, evergreens, & boardwalk. Abundance of flora & fauna - we even had a tortoise cross our path! A few benches w/shade along the way for resting. Please carry out your trash! Interesting interpretive nature center at the trailhead introduces you to the preserve & things you'll see - don't miss this. The trail map/signage along the trail isn't the best, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the trail before heading out. Note for those with young visitors: portions of the trail are strollerable! read more

Beautiful nature trails. Close to the attractions. It was a little flooded when we visited but we expected that and there were signs posted to warn hikers before going out on the trails. read more

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