Spring Hammock Preserve

The Spring Hammock Preserve is an approximately 1,500 acre property that includes Soldiers Creek Park and Big Tree Park as well as a portion of the Cross Seminole Trail and the Florida National Scenic Trail. Approximately 446 acres of the hammock were acquired by the state and subleased to Seminole County for management purposes. Most of the property remains in a natural state, however the property is surrounded by urban development, except for the east boundary which is Lake Jesup.

This property is a unique assemblage of floodplain forest, hydric hammock, upland mixed hardwoods and pine flatwoods. There are many rare and listed species including the bipinnate cuplet fern, Okeechobee gourd, and the gopher tortoise.

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.