The Welaka mud is soooo amazing!.. You can walk, run and do…read moreexercise, bike and walk dog around there.. The pool is very cold omg and your body feel nice when you get out of the water.

Absolutely beautiful spring. A short mile and a half hike to the beautiful spring. Well worth the…read moretrip

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!

Such a beautiful Florida hidden gem! Green Springs is a small, easy hike that's perfect when you…read morewant to get outside without committing to anything too long. The spot where the river and spring meet is pretty cool, and the water is the prettiest turquoise blue -- absolutely unreal. Definitely worth checking out!

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

This Spring is incredible for swimming, hiking and paddle boarding. They don't allow bicycles in…read morethe park at all, they don't even have bike racks, but they let us lock them up by reception while we spent the day inside the park. Awesome areas to picnic or grill and boats are docked where you launch kayaks. One even was selling hotdogs and soft drinks. Absolutely breathtakingly beautiful spring head. The staff are amazing. Especially Virginia who does an amazing job keeping the grounds clean. This is my favorite spring in close proximity to Orlando. Can't wait to go back!

Beautiful spot for swimming, bird watching, picnicking. Not so great for kayaking because there is…read morea very challenging 200 yard portage from the parking lot. Glenn is a staffer and he was very friendly and helpful. Don't miss the Boils trail. Come for the day but avoid the weekend

Lake George State Forest is part of an extensive wildlife corridor that provides habitat and a…read moreroaming area crucial to the survival of the Florida black bear population in the area, unfortunately today I didn't encounter any black bears, that would have taking this adventure over the top. I did spend some time having a wonderful conversation with Jimmy who was staffing the game check in station located at the entrance to the Mary Farms and Dexter tract. Jimmy like me is a transplant to Florida and brings an unbelievable amount of knowledge with his 80 years of life experiences and his time in the area. Lake George State Forest holds four tracts of land-primarily comprised of slash pine, longleaf pine, bottomland hardwoods, and interspersed cypress and bay depressions, the fire storm of 1998 devastated this forest but it has made a remarkable recovery nearly half the acreage of Lake George State Forest was damaged during the wildfires. My visit to the forest today was fun, besides Jimmy I didn't have any other interactions, so it seemed I had the entire forest to myself, so peaceful and relaxing I was amazed how scared this forest still is after being in recovery for the last 25 years but it's still a beautiful place to visit...

You have to bring water!! It is a nice little trek over to…read morethe grassy part of this natural vista, but the summer Florida sun does not abate itself. There is even a stand with pamphlets and two very nice people manning it, to answer your questions. I imagine there are more alligators to see early in the morning, but I went around 10:30a. A nice long boardwalk with one place to sit and get shade from the great ball of fire in the sky. Beautiful trees, remnants of alligator eggs, and water fowl feeding and foraging. I can imagine that the Alachua sink would be more active, after a big rain. I will def go there a day after a big storm, to see the action of the earth!

La Chua Trail is hands down one of the many great spots in Gainesville for wildlife viewing and…read morestunning scenery. Whether you're a birdwatcher, a photography enthusiast, or just someone who loves a peaceful walk through nature, this trail delivers. We visited in February for one of the Rim Ramble ranger-led hikes, which started around 10 AM. Our guide, Ranger Wes, was fantastic--full of historical facts and insights about the landscape that truly enriched the experience. He painted a vivid picture of the area's past while pointing out key features of the ecosystem. The trail itself is easy to navigate and offers an incredible mix of open wetlands, boardwalks, and views of Alachua Lake. Wildlife was everywhere--majestic sandhill cranes & alligators basking in the sun. The early morning mist over the prairie gave everything a magical, almost prehistoric feel. If you're visiting between November and March, I highly recommend joining one of the ranger-led hikes (most Saturdays) to get a unique experience. Whether you go solo or with family and friends, La Chua Trail is an unforgettable slice of Florida's wild beauty. Tip: Bring binoculars, wear comfortable shoes & long pants , and bug spray. Come early for the best wildlife sightings!

Great way to get out and see beautiful Central Florida nature. Great for hikers, people who like to…read morewalk and all ages. If you're looking for off the beaten track adventures this is it.

From the owner: Have you always wanted to try hiking but are unsure of your abilities in the woods? Fred the Guide…read morespecializes in people new to the outdoors. We’ll take you on a great hike and teach you the basics so that you can feel confident enjoying the natural areas that Florida has to offer! We can also put together custom itineraries for families and groups. Email us today with any questions you have!

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.

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.

Great place to spend the day and have fun!!We go on the weekends with friends by boat and it's…read morelot's of fun!

sure didn't look like the brochure. too many bugs, spring…read moredidn't look like the pictures. much smaller area. several outhouses in the parking lot no refunds once you pay even if it's 5 minutes later