Best Hiking Trails in Orlando, FL

When most visitors picture Orlando, they imagine roller coasters and resort pools—but Central Florida is also laced with surprising pockets of wild, walkable beauty. From shaded boardwalks that skirt black-water swamps to sandy pine forests alive with birdsong, the region’s trail network offers locals and visitors a refreshing escape only minutes from the city’s bustle. Below are six of the area’s most rewarding hikes, chosen for their scenery, accessibility, and year-round appeal.

Wekiwa Springs State Park

Just 20 minutes north of downtown, Wekiwa Springs anchors 13 miles of interconnected trails that wind through sandhill ridges, pine flatwoods, and cool spring-fed hammocks. Options range from the 0.8-mile Wet-to-Dry interpretive stroll to half-day loops like the 5.9-mile Volksmarch, so you can tailor the distance to your schedule. Post-hike, reward yourself with a dip in the 72 °F spring head that feeds the Wekiva River.

Black Bear Wilderness Loop Trail

About 20 miles north in Sanford, this 7-mile loop lives up to its name. Fourteen elevated boardwalks carry you over tannic swamps thick with cypress knees, while drier stretches parallel the St. Johns River—prime territory for spotting wading birds, feral hogs, and, occasionally, the trail’s ursine namesake. Expect ankle-twisting roots, seasonal mud, and almost no elevation change, making it a moderate but memorable half-day adventure.

Kolokee Loop – Little Big Econ State Forest

Starting from the Barr Street Trailhead in Oviedo, the 5.6-mile Kolokee Loop stitches together segments of the Florida, Kolokee, and Flagler trails along high bluffs of the Econlockhatchee River. Dense palm tunnels give way to sweeping river vistas where sunbathing gators aren’t uncommon. Benches and primitive campsites dot the route, so you can linger over the scenery—or tackle the whole circuit in about three hours.

Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve

If you have young hikers—or a tight schedule—head west toward Windermere. Within earshot of Walt Disney World, Tibet-Butler offers 3.6 miles of well-groomed loops through longleaf-pine uplands, bayhead swamps, and a cypress-ringed lake shoreline. The nature center’s exhibits make a great primer on local wildlife, and the flat, shaded paths mean strollers and grandparents can come along, too.

Shingle Creek Regional Trail

Dubbed the “Headwaters of the Everglades,” Shingle Creek flows quietly south of Orlando proper, and the multi-use trail that parallels it is a scenic promenade for walkers and cyclists alike. Stretching from Kissimmee Lakefront Park toward Orange County, the path threads beneath live-oak canopies, links canoe launches and historic homesteads, and supplies plenty of creekside benches for bird-watching breaks.

West Orange Trail

Paved, 22 miles long, and studded with trailheads offering water and bike rentals, the West Orange Trail is Central Florida’s premier rail-trail. Starting at Killarney Station, it rolls northeast through the charming downtown of Winter Garden—where cafés make a perfect mid-ride refuel—before ending near Apopka. Because the grade is gentle, families, runners, and inline skaters share the corridor comfortably year-round.

Conclusion

Orlando’s best hikes prove that Florida’s natural side is never far away—from spring-fed forests to cypress swamps alive with wildlife. Whether you’re a weekend wanderer looking for a quick nature fix or a long-distance walker chasing mileage, Central Florida’s trails invite you to trade asphalt for pine needles and rediscover why the Sunshine State is an outdoor playground.

Ready to hit the trail in style? Stop by Sport Subaru South in Orlando to test-drive an adventurous, all-wheel-drive Subaru Outback or Forester before your next trek—and let our team outfit you with a vehicle as capable as the paths you plan to explore. We’re just minutes from many of these trailheads—visit us today and start your next journey on (and off) the road.