23 scenic hiking trails to explore in the Orlando area

Bill Frederick Park

3401 S. Hiawassee Road, Orlando
Located in the City Beautiful’s largest park, this winding nature trail is one way to escape urban life for a relaxing afternoon of exercise and outdoors.

Barr Street Trailhead

951 Barr St., Oviedo
While it’s not far off from the Orlando metro area, once you get to Barr Street Trailhead, it's easy to forget about civilization. With miles and miles of winding trails, this trailhead has sights for hikers of all abilities to explore. There's no bathroom, though, so make sure to fit a pre-hike bathroom break into your plans.

Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve

8777 Winter Garden Vineland Road, Orlando
This walking-only trail is part of a larger preserve which also houses the Vera Carter Environmental Center, home to several educational exhibits and displays. Guests can hike through miles of the walking trail and then learn more about their environment.

Lake Harney Wilderness Area

2395 Osceola Fish Camp Road, Geneva
Two loops add up to more than two miles of natural beauty along this lakeside wonderland. Eagles perch in the tall pines here and wildflowers bloom along the lowlands, all of which can be viewed from the watchtower-style boardwalk.

Wekiwa Springs Hiking Trail

1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka
Wekiwa is typically known for its crystal-clear springs, but its 10-mile hiking trail will give adventurers another take on the state park’s natural beauty. Hikers typically get to spot white-tailed deer, gopher tortoises, turkeys, bobcats and sometimes even a Florida black bear. The trails here are multi-use, so be prepared to run into the occasional cyclist or horseback rider on your walk.

Split Oak Forest

12175 Clapp Simms Duda Road, Orlando
You might have guessed from the name, but this forest was named for a centuries-old oak tree that split down the middle. Hikers can spot the tree while traveling along nearly eight miles of dusty prairie terrain. This network of trails and unpaved roads also veers into land that was once used for cattle operations. Now, it’s mostly home to gopher tortoises and birds.

Disney Wilderness Preserve

2700 Scrub Jay Trail, Poinciana
The Disney Wilderness Preserve is an 11,500-acre nature reserve located near Kissimmee. It was originally created through an agreement between Disney, The Nature Conservancy and the state of Florida. This longleaf pine habitat offers a breezy getaway just outside the more sought-after tourist trap.

Twin Oaks Conservation Area

2001 Macy Island Road, Kissimmee
This grassy trail is perfect for the less experienced hikers, although it is geared toward all abilities. Along the 1.9-mile path, hikers are almost guaranteed to spot plenty of birds throughout the tall grasses and oak trees that line the board walk trail.

Little Big Econ State Forest

1350 Snow Hill Road, Geneva
This trail sits on a larger wilderness conservation area and offers a chance to explore the wonders of Florida wildlife while meandering down a winding river. The spot also has plenty of pavilions, a visitors center and the chance to spot sandhill cranes, deer and more.

Orlando Wetlands Park

25155 Wheeler Road, Christmas
This park consists of a series of wetland “cells” the city uses to naturally filter treated wastewater. Hikers can follow their fancies here: Pick your way through the wetland marshes or explore the surrounding forest, your choice.

Oakland Nature Preserve

747 Machete Trail, Oakland
This trail cuts across a boardwalk along the Lake Apopka shoreline before twining into a shady oak hammock. Hikers have a good chance of spotting animals in the adjacent wildlife preserve. Largely considered a hidden gem, this 150-acre preserve and its network of trails is nestled between Clermont and Winter Garden.

Green Springs State Park

994 Enterprise Osteen Road, Deltona
Known largely for its naturally occurring (that's right) green sulfur springs, this state park also offers an extensive scenic trail system perfect for viewing the pristine waters while hiking. The preserve covers 31 acres of land with scenic overlooks and pavilions scattered across the nature trails.

Lake Runnymede Conservation Area

4600 Rummell Road, St. Cloud
This short but sweet trail showcases some massive oak trees with limbs that snake in every direction. It's perfect for a hiker looking for a good tree to climb or a picturesque place to snap some photos.

Lake Louisa State Park

U.S. 27 Highway 27, Clermont
This four-mile one-way hiking trail showcases the habitats found along the shores of Lake Louisa, from scrublands to cypress groves.

Hal Scott Preserve

5150 Dallas Blvd., Orlando
You’ll probably spot some planes overhead on this vast swath of prairie land located right outside Orlando International Airport. The trail is a five-mile flat path, perfect for hikers of all ages and abilities.

Gemini Springs Park

Spring to Spring Trail, DeBary
Hikers at Gemini Springs Park can visit woodland spots once frequented by ancient civilizations who lived along the banks of these twin springs. The trails border the pristine spring pockets, granting hikers some pretty picturesque views.

Black Hammock Wilderness Area

3276 Howard Ave., Oviedo
This 700-acre property was acquired as part of a comprehensive effort to preserve significant habitat along the shores of Lake Jesup. The hiking paths offer an approximately 4.5 miles of trails, bringing hikers through mixed hardwood swamp, sand pine scrub, pine flatwoods and more. It's not hard to spot wildlife on this trail, like the barred owl, white-tailed deer, bobcats and snakes. The trails are open to hikers, bikers and any other outdoor enthusiasts.

Kelly Park

400 E Kelly Park Road, Apopka
Typically Kelly's Parks Rock Springs are what draws the crowds to this park that shares some of its boundaries with Wekiwa State Park. However, if you're looking for a scenic trail to hike through while staying dry, the Kelly Park Loop Trail is the way to go. Kelly Park got its start (and its name) when Dr. Howard Atwood Kelly, one of the founders of Johns Hopkins Hospital, gifted the spot to the city of Apopka in 1927 for use as a park, wildlife preserve and bird sanctuary.

Shadow Bay Park

5100 Turkey Lake Road, Orlando
Orlando's Shadow Bay Park straddles an ancient shoreline and offers a network of trails winding through the scrub habitat and sandy footpaths. Along with the trails, this park also has a variety of recreational opportunities, like tennis pickleball, basketball, fishing and a playground.

Little Econ Greenway

2451 N. Dean Road, Orlando
The Little Econ Greenway extends nearly 7.5 miles from the intersection of Alafaya Trail and Lokanotose Trail to Forsyth Road. Along the trail, hikers can find riverside recreation activities, picnicking spots, wildlife and canoe trails.