The 10 Best Hiking Spots in Orlando
Orlando’s hiking map is better than its flat reputation suggests: a state forest threaded by the Florida Trail, a 7-mile swamp loop on the St. Johns River, marsh berms built for birders, and county wilderness areas hiding in Oviedo, Geneva and Sanford. We scored every park, preserve, forest and trailhead in the metro we could find review evidence for — 28 clear our evidence bar — and these are the ten that come out on top. Two of them are paved rail trails; they are labeled as such, because a paved path is not wilderness hiking, however beloved it is.
How we rank: every business is ordered by its Net Score (0–100), which blends its public ratings from Google, TripAdvisor, Yelp and the other review sources we could retrieve — weighted by review volume, then adjusted so a handful of five-star reviews can’t outrank a proven track record (Bayesian shrinkage, m = 200, disclosed in our methodology). A business needs at least 25 public reviews to be ranked. Scores compare only within this category. Ratings retrieved November 15, 2026.
🏆 Winner feature: Read our full profile of Little Big Econ State Forest — why it won, what to try, and the badge to share.
1. Little Big Econ State Forest — Net Score 94.0 (Geneva)
Blended 4.80★ from 839 reviews — Google 4.8★ (828), TripAdvisor 4.6★ (11).
Get: The real backcountry option closest to town: more than 16 miles of trails wind through cypress swamp and pine flatwoods along the Econlockhatchee River, including an 8.9-mile stretch of the Florida National Scenic Trail. Reviewers call it “peaceful and beautiful,” and the paths earn praise for upkeep.
Local detail: A Florida Forest Service forest of 11,696 acres — 15.6 miles of hiking trails by the agency’s count — with a $2 day-use fee. One live caveat: the bridges connecting into Charles H. Bronson State Forest closed on October 1, 2026 until further notice, which cuts off some trail sections on that side.
2. Black Bear Wilderness Area — Net Score 93.8 (Sanford)
Blended 4.78★ from 1,077 reviews — Google 4.79★ (1,020), TripAdvisor 4.6★ (57).
Get: The single best wildlife walk in the metro: a 7.1-mile blue-blazed loop on levees and boardwalks through cypress swamp along the St. Johns River, in country named for its black bears, with alligators and wading birds part of the ordinary scenery.
Skip: The low sections flood — after heavy rain, expect mud, standing water and mosquitoes on the levee stretches, and check conditions before committing to the full loop.
Local detail: A Seminole County wilderness of roughly 1,600 acres off Michigan Avenue in Sanford. The full loop is the hike; there is no short version that gives you the river swamp.
3. Orlando Wetlands — Net Score 93.3 (Christmas)
Blended 4.82★ from 277 reviews — Google 4.85★ (113), TripAdvisor 4.8★ (164).
Get: A birding spectacle disguised as a walk: more than 220 bird species and plenty of alligators across 1,650 acres of constructed marsh, with a 2,200-foot Cypress Boardwalk and free volunteer-led tram tours for anyone who wants the wildlife without the miles.
Skip: There is essentially no shade on the berm trails — midday in summer is punishing. Go at opening, carry water, and remember the park is closed on Mondays.
Local detail: A City of Orlando park in Christmas with over 18 miles of open marsh trails on grass berms. No pets. The trails are flat, exposed and built for wildlife watching and photography rather than forest hiking.
4. Econ River Wilderness Area — Net Score 91.9 (Oviedo)
Blended 4.70★ from 572 reviews — Google 4.7★ (558), TripAdvisor 4.7★ (14).
Get: A quiet, free, roughly three-mile trail system through pine flatwoods, sandhill and river swamp on the Econlockhatchee River — reviewers describe a “peaceful morning walk” with great horned owls and turtles among the regular sightings.
Skip: Parts of the river sections flood after rain; the low stretches can be muddy and buggy for days afterward.
Local detail: A 240-acre Seminole County Natural Lands property on Old Lockwood Road in Oviedo — a red loop of about 2.2 miles plus a half-mile yellow loop, arrow-marked with benches along the way.
5. West Orange Trail — Net Score 91.7 (Winter Garden)
Blended 4.73★ from 223 reviews — Google 4.73★ (223).
Get: The metro’s beloved rail trail: 22-plus paved miles through Oakland, downtown Winter Garden and Apopka, with full stations — parking, restrooms, water, bike rentals — spaced along the route. Reviewers praise the community feel and how easy it is with kids.
Skip: Be clear about what this is: a paved multi-use path shared with cyclists and skaters, not wilderness hiking. It earns its place on distance, upkeep and affection, not on dirt.
Local detail: An Orange County Parks rail trail of 22.32 miles, scored here from the Chapin Station record in Winter Garden. Free access, and the Winter Garden station puts you on Plant Street for coffee before or after.
6. Moss Park — Net Score 91.6 (Lake Nona)
Blended 4.67★ from 1,386 reviews — Google 4.7★ (1,311), TripAdvisor 4.2★ (75).
Get: Orange County’s biggest park is a genuine trailhead, not just a picnic ground: the Bear Island Nature Trail and the Swamp Trail walk you through 1,551 acres of pine flatwoods and oak hammock — and the Swamp Trail keeps going, straight into Split Oak Forest.
Skip: There is a per-vehicle entry fee, and pets are not allowed — plan around both.
Local detail: An Orange County park on Moss Park Road in the Lake Nona area, with camping and lake access alongside the trails. Review text for this record was too thin to distill further; the ranking rests on its review volume and the verified trail system.
7. Geneva Wilderness Area — Net Score 91.3 (Geneva)
Blended 4.70★ from 172 reviews — Google 4.7★ (172).
Get: A small, free, pet-friendly preserve where reviewers single out the clearly marked trails and the scenery: a 1.8-mile red-diamond loop through sandhill and flatwoods, with the Ed Yarborough Nature Center and a Chapel in the Woods overlooking the pond.
Local detail: A 180-acre Seminole County Natural Lands property on County Road 426 in Geneva — the compact, easygoing counterpart to the bigger state forest trailheads down the same road.
8. Cross Seminole Trail — Net Score 91.2 (Winter Springs)
Blended 4.89★ from 35 reviews — Google 4.89★ (35).
Get: A shaded, tree-lined paved trail linking Winter Springs, Oviedo and Lake Mary — one reviewer calls it proof that “the perfect walking trail DOES exist.” Free, accessible, and well supplied with trailhead parking.
Skip: Like the West Orange Trail, this is a paved rail trail, not a wilderness hike — and the pedestrian bridge over State Road 434 is a genuine climb by Florida standards.
Local detail: A Seminole County multi-use trail of about 30 miles countywide per the county’s own brochure, scored from the State Road 434 record in Winter Springs. Its 35-review evidence base is the thinnest in this top ten, which is why the shrinkage adjustment holds it at No. 8 despite the highest raw rating on the list.
9. Oakland Nature Preserve — Net Score 90.9 (Oakland)
Blended 4.76★ from 50 reviews — Google 4.76★ (50).
Get: The two-thirds-mile Healthy West Orange Boardwalk out to Lake Apopka is the draw — reviewers rave about the birding (woodpeckers are repeat mentions) and call it a “perfect place for a walk at lunch.” The education center’s live-animal exhibits make it an easy family stop.
Skip: Leave the dog at home — non-service dogs aren’t allowed on the trails, and bicycles are out too.
Local detail: A 128-acre Town of Oakland preserve run by Oakland Nature Preserve, Inc., free and open 365 days a year, with color-coded natural-surface upland trails behind the boardwalk. It sits just off the West Orange Trail near Killarney Station.
10. Shingle Creek Regional Park — Net Score 90.7 (Kissimmee)
Blended 4.63★ from 1,767 reviews — Google 4.63★ (1,767).
Get: Boardwalk trails through cypress swamp at the headwaters of the Everglades, scored from the Steffee Landing entrance — where you can also rent a kayak and paddle the creek itself — with the Pioneer Village open-air museum as the park’s second act.
Skip: The park comes in pieces spread along the creek; check which entrance has what you came for before you drive.
Local detail: An Osceola County park on West Vine Street in Kissimmee. The regional multi-use trail that shares its name is planned at 32 miles when fully constructed — what you hike inside the park today is boardwalk and natural trail through the swamp.
Part of Orlando Citizen’s Top Businesses in Orlando series. Net Scores are recalculated from fresh public review data each edition.
Orlando Citizen by email
The weekly edition, in your inbox
One email, every Saturday: the week’s edition of Orlando Citizen — the week’s stories, rankings and winners, gathered in one place. Free, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
For businesses
Own a restaurant or venue?
You can ask Orlando Citizen to review it. Asking never buys a verdict and never guarantees coverage — but every request is read by an editor. Request a review.
Related Stories
Spotted an error? Tell us — corrections · How we rank
