Green Springs Park is 31 acres of natural land located on the north shore of Lake Monroe. The green…read morehued sulfur spring supplies fresh water to Lake Monroe from the Florida aquifer. It is one of the few green springs in Florida. Green Springs Park is a significant archaeological and historical site. Six thousand years ago Green Springs was once an important site for Native Americans such as the Mayaca. Later the Seminoles favored the supposed healing properties of the sulfur water. The Green Springs Midden, a huge shell midden once existed near where the spring run empties into Lake Monroe. Middens are a type of ancient garbage dump that can tell a lot about the people who once lived there. Primitive tools, pottery sherds, as well as remains of humans and animals were found here before the midden was destroyed for road building and fertilizer prior to 1885. Later Enterprise became the final destination on the St. Johns River for the area steamboats. The area near the spring was first settled in 1841 by Cornelius Taylor, a Seminole War veteran, former timber agent, and first cousin to General Zachary Taylor. He was nicknamed the Thunder of Enterprise for his hot temper. In 1842 Taylor constructed a hotel on the midden to attract steamboat passengers. He promoted his hotel as one of Florida's first health spas. The spring was marketed as having restorative powers for people with illnesses. By 1883, the spring was on property owned by wealthy New York wine importer Frederic DeBary, whose guests used the spring recreationally. Today the spring is supposed to be closed to swimmers but there were local kids jumping from the trees into the clear water when I visited. Pretty cool to think they are enjoying the same swimming hole used by the ancient people who once lived here. In the 1980's the spring and surrounding natural land was in danger of being turned into a condo development. After more than 20 years of effort to acquire and develop the site and $1 million investment in land acquisition and improvements, the park finally opened in September 27, 2008. Today the park has restrooms, a large picnic pavilion with tables, a playground, nature trails under the shade of oak, pine and cedar trees, interpretive signs, and scenic overlooks. This park is also where the Spring-to-Spring Trail and the East Central Regional Rail Trail connect. The East Central Regional Rail Trail begins at Green Springs and travels 5.7 miles to State Road 415 in Osteen.

What an amazing oasis this place is. There's so many hiking trails. I wouldn't even know where to…read morebegin. My visit was brief, but beautiful. I would have to take a whole day to even begin to remotely explore this springs Park. I was hoping to see the fluorescent green water, but it wasn't that way this time of year. Either due to the weather or the time of year, I'm not sure. But I will be back. I will see that water yet!

Great trial to connect to nature. Lots of wildlife and natural Floridian terrain. 10/10read more

This is a pretty nice trail. It's a 7 mile trail with plenty of things to see like the St John's…read moreRiver. I recommend coming early in the morning to avoid the Florida heat. You'll definitely feel the mugginess in the afternoon. Though it is a popular place to hike. It was actually quiet and peaceful. It's an easy trail but I wanted to challenge myself so I did it with a weighted vest on my back. In fact, I passed a few other hikers with weights on too . so if you're training for something, this place is it.

I entered at the Jones East Trailhead, which has plenty of parking and also has restrooms at the…read moreentrance to the trailhead. Walking the trailhead was relatively simple and relaxing. I did encounter a few other people (they were either walking like myself or on a bicycle). The path itself is somewhat narrow, but it was enough for us to pass each other with no real inconvenience. Little Big Econ State Forest is a pretty cool place to check out. Walking the path, it was easy to forget that you were just outside of a major United States city in the twenty-first century. I seek out these spots where I can walk through the trees and forget the troubles of living in a modern city in today's modern world. Little Big Econ State Forest is a cool place to seek out if you are looking for a respite from the hustle and bustle of the modern world.

This state forest is about a 25 minute drive from downtown Orlando. We highly recommend it. They…read moreoffer maps at the start of the trail. So lush and peaceful. The stream along side most of the trail is beautiful. There are many benches along the path that offer a nice view of the scenery with shade. We took our pups and hiked for about 2 miles. The hikes range from 3 - 10 miles. I saw they do offer camping as well. Make sure to pack some water. It was nice to see many tamiles and couples enjoying the outdoors. We loved the variety of scenery and that it has lots of natural shade throughout the hike.

Bear Creek Trail was a fun discovery on a recent trip to Winter Springs. There is a small parking…read morearea at the trailhead. From the parking area the trail radiates in both directions through a small hammock area with ancient cypress, oaks, and cabbage palms. The natural area serves as a floodplain buffer between two neighborhoods in the Tuscawilla community. The trail is maintained by the City of Winter Springs. Bear Creek Nature Trail is narrow and sandy. It runs parallel to Bear Creek. There are changes in elevation which makes it more interesting and you cross two small bridges. When you are high above the creek you have to be cognizant of your footing so that you don't accidentally step off the trail and fall. There are also picnic tables available. The length of the trail is .9 of a mile. Bear Creek Nature Trail was an easy and fun hike and I enjoyed the view of the creek. It also had the added bonus of being mostly shaded and bug free!

awful do not recommend. I couldn't even stand up from over five seconds straight before freaking…read moredirt slid out from underneath me and I fell into like 20 different rivers only like a mile we ended up like 5 miles away from where we started and I was drenched in water for how many times I fell in the creek bro. I've probably got one or 23 amoeba's in my dick right now, dude if I get sick, I'm suing the creek

The Enchanted Forest Sanctuary in Titusville, Florida, is a 470-acre nature preserve. It is a…read moreflagship Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) property and offers visitors an opportunity to experience one of Florida's most diverse natural landscapes. In 1911, Edgar W. Ellis, J. H. Beckwith, and a consortium of developers established the Titusville Fruit and Farm Lands Company after acquiring 22,500 acres of marshland within the historic Delespine Grant. Their ambitious goal was to drain the wetlands and convert them into productive farmland. What they failed to appreciate was the massive coquina rock ridge hidden beneath the landscape. Excavation equipment proved incapable of cutting through the rock, preventing completion of the project's main canal. Without adequate drainage, the venture collapsed financially. Ironically, this failed engineering project was the very thing that helped preserve the land in its natural state. Nearly a century later in he 1990s, the property was designated for conservation, becoming the very first acquisition under Brevard County's Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program. On August 27, 1999, the Enchanted Forest Sanctuary officially opened to the public. Today, visitors can explore a unique ecosystem where northern temperate and southern subtropical habitats overlap. The sanctuary contains five distinct habitat types, oak scrub, mesic hammock, hydric hammock, wet prairie, and pine flatwoods that support abundant native wildlife. You may see gopher tortoises, white-tailed deer, bobcats, Florida scrub lizards, and even the rare Eastern indigo snake. More than 4.5 miles of well-maintained hiking trails starting at the visitors center wind through the preserve, making it excellent for hiking, wildlife observation, birdwatching, and nature photography. The Management & Education Center features interactive exhibits that explain the sanctuary's natural history and diverse habitats. You may want to stop in here first because the center also offers trail maps, restrooms, and a water fountain for visitors. On weekends, the sanctuary offers free naturalist-led guided hikes lasting approximately 45 minutes and covering about one mile of the trail system. These walks typically include portions of the Coquina, Biodiversity, Mesic, Tomoka, and Tortoise Trails while introducing visitors to Florida's endangered upland ecosystems and the plants and animals that call them home. One of the preserve's most distinctive historical features is the network of overgrown canals, remnants of the failed agricultural project from more than a century ago. Now recognized as a Florida Heritage Site, these canals stand as a lasting reminder of an ambitious engineering vision that nature ultimately reclaimed. Enchanted Forest Sanctuary is one of Titusville's true natural gems. It's a beautiful place where history and nature exist side by side. Unfortunately when I came when the weather was pushing a 105 degrees. They were also doing a prescribed burn on some of the trails so they were closed and the air was smokey. For the most enjoyment I recommend visiting during the cooler months of the year.

This is such a great spot for walking/running. There is a parking lot out front, hardly ever a…read morecrowd when I come. Typically visit in the morning. There is no fee to enter. You do need to sign in at the front desk. Sometimes there is someone at the desk to greet you. There are accessible restrooms inside the main building. There are a few different trials, in which all are marked. Throughout the trials, there are clear signs and markings as you navigate your way through the sanctuary. I love the coquina trial. There are pretty views and I have seen on occasion turtles on my walks.

Wow! What a breath of fresh air this nature preserve can be when you are sick of the craziness of…read moreeveryday 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!

You better think twice before you wear your favorite hiking shoes cause things might get a little…read moremuddy! 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.

What a cute little trail here in Oviedo! It's pet friendly, kid friendly and "inactive adult"…read morefriendly. It's well shaded so even at 3pm on a sunny day we were OK. Bring your water and enjoy the walk!

Really nice shaded trail. Good for bikes or walking . Nice big parking lot for arrival that's…read moreshaded with a bike station..

Kicking off the new year on a new trail - and it was a great one! This trail is part of the Majorie…read moreHarris Carr Cross Florida Greenway that stretches from the Gulf to the St Johns River, the Greenway is a Florida State Park. This address takes you to the Landbridge Trailhead (approximately 1.4 miles NE of the actual I-75 Landbridge) and has separate parking and trails for equestrians -vs- hikers and bikers which is nice. There are bathrooms, a water bottle filler, a bike wash station, a few picnic tables, a bike tool station (although the air hose was cut) and all of it very well maintained given the impressive number of acres. The mountain bike trail intersected the paved trail so when we had enough bumps (hello, beginner here?!) we could take the paved trail a little while longer and all the back, thank goodness.

Great hike easy to moderate difficulty (not totally flat) make sure to bring water and stay…read morehydrated interesting to stand above I75 and watch the traffic pass below

My family and I pass this land almost daily and we have been wanting to hike the trail. Hubby and I…read morefinally were able to on our anniversary and it was a great time. We got a little lost, but it was the company that made me enjoy the experience. I especially liked how open the trails were. There are maps and info to guide you along the way. It was like Naked & Afraid, only we were clothed and confident. One thing to watch for are the spiky stickers. It was funny and painful all at the same time. Also, there's a horse ranch nearby, so watch out for doo doo. The wildlife kept us intrigued the whole path. We might try to bring our bikes next time. If you're a fan of Pokémon Go, there's a stop and gym, also, for your entertainment.

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