Palm Bluff Conservation Area SJRWMD

Hiked February at 8am. Decent flat trail thats maintained throughout. Easy low impact walk. Completed the red blazed loop in about 2 hours. Saw a wild hog, blue heron, great egret and many white tailed deer. Saw a large alligator (roughly 9 feet) under the powerlines in a retention area. Plenty of hog damage on trail as well as horse/cow poop to dodge.

One of the things I like most about this trail as well as other trails managed by the St. John’s water management District is that you can access them 24 hours a day. We did a group night hike the other weekend and were able to see many fireflies. Everyone had a great time.

Miles of hiking and horseback trails through well-maintained flatwoods, cypress domes, and hardwood hammock. The land managers do an amazing job maintaining with fire, as evidenced by robust populations of carnivorous plants that are super sensitive to habitat quality & disturbance. Also saw almost no invasive species, which is super hard to accomplish and takes a lot of diligence. The trails can get a little confusing with paths that aren’t marked on the map, but sticking to paths with blazes will get you where you want to go. We tried following the red trail to the yellow loop, but there was no way to cross Deep Creek without walking through shin-deep running water. Lots of horse poop on the trail, and some areas have hog damage or erosion that require you to watch where you’re stepping pretty closely. Either way, plenty of beautiful habitat to experience with decent shade in much of the trail. Has tons to offer to those wanting to explore real Florida and appreciate its native plants and wildlife.

Free hiking area in Osteen, FL.
They have two trails. A white trail which is 2.5 miles long and a red trail.
Horseback riding and biking is allowed.
Pretty easy trail. The red trail is off to the side of the white trail where you go through a closed gate due to cattle.

Beautiful forest with miles of trails to explore. The white trail is a nice, easy 2.3 mile hike that is well marked and easy to follow. The trails may be flooded depending of recent rain levels, so wear boots/shoes to don't mind getting muddy.