Spring Hammock Preserve

Fed by a trickle of hidden springs through lush hammocks of cabbage palms, Spring Hammock Preserve in Winter Springs is one of the most delightful places to take a hike in the Orlando area. In this 1,500 acre preserve, the trails are easy to explore. You have options ranging from paved to splashy muddy adventuresome, and the park has some of the biggest cypresses you’ll ever see.

The preserve includes the Seminole County Environmental Studies Center, extensive interpretive trails, a shimmering spring, and a floodplain forest where you’ll always see birds busy looking for their meals. Bisected by the paved Cross Seminole Trail, it’s well worth a visit any time of year, whether you arrive by bicycle, car, or on foot from neighboring communities. It’s also home of the famed “Mud Walk,” cherished by generations of schoolkids.