The eastern corridor of the Florida National Scenic Trail has several excellent legs that are easy to reach from Orlando for short backpacking trips at charming backcountry campsites. Most are in flood plains for the St. John’s River and its tributaries. But as the Florida Trail bends northwest on its way to the Ocala National Forest, it passes through a scenic stretch of the Seminole State Forest that transitions from the wetter lowlands to the sandy hills and forests to the north. The Seminole State Forest’s 7.5-mile stretch of the Florida Trail between the Bear Pond and Cassia trailheads is excellent for linear day hikes or one-night backpacking outings.
Covering more than 28,000 acres just north of the Wekiva Parkway (SR-429) between Sanford and Sorrento, Seminole State Forest provides a vital wildlife corridor connecting the Wekiva River Basin to the Ocala National Forest, and its scrub lands provide a sanctuary for the endangered Florida scrub-jay, the only bird species endemic to Florida. From its eastern border along the Wekiva River to the northern end of the State Forest’s southern tracts near Cassia, Seminole State Forest also contains a kaleidoscope of ecosystems, including most of the kinds found in Central Florida. It’s also one of the best places in Central Florida to see a Florida black bear.
The southern half of Seminole State Forest is also very popular with nature-loving families and outdoor enthusiasts, as it has more than 30 miles of hiking trails, as well as more than 25 miles of equestrian trails and even roads popular with cyclists. There are also eight reservable campsites with fire rings and picnic tables, three of which are located on the Florida Trail south of the Cassia trailhead. Perhaps Seminole State Forest’s best-known campsite is Shelter Camp, which has an Adirondack shelter like those found on the Appalachian Trail.
The one-night out-and-back I did last weekend to Sulfur Camp is a great way to get acquainted with Seminole State Forest. After parking at the Bear Pond trailhead at the southern entrance just north of State Road 46, start at the kiosk where the Florida Trail bends east into the forest at the entrance to the parking area. You’ll then hike 5.4 miles on the FT to Sulfur Camp, traversing scrub oak forests and fields of pine and palmetto, after passing Shelter Camp and the mailbox at the junction with the white-blazed Lower Wekiva Loop. After passing a section of pine flatwoods that was recently burned, you’ll cross Black Water Creek, a scenic tributary of the Wekiva River that’s also popular with paddlers.
The large open clearing at Sulfur Camp sits among tall pines and is large enough to accommodate several tents, which also makes it ideal for stargazing. And although it sits beside Pine Road, one of the main crushed stone thoroughfares used by cyclists and campers driving to the group campsites, it’s hidden enough to feel isolated and quiet enough at night to hear the owls.
Sulfur Camp also has a special bonus, a nearby 0.1-mile side trail leading to tiny Shark Tooth Spring, which spills from a crack in the limestone into a jungle-like setting. A small boardwalk over the stream created by the spring provides a refreshing place to pat a sweat-soaked brow after a long hike. Although there are many springs in Seminole State Forest, this is one of the few that can be reached so easily from its trails.
Seminole State Forest is also a great place to see Florida’s wildlife. With the frequency of bear sightings, use of a bear bag or bear canister at camp is a must. And although I didn’t see any bears, I did have plenty of turkeys around my campsite, and I saw my fair share of scrub-jays on the trail. Seminole State Forest is also a popular stop for migrating birds, including peregrine falcons.
Reservations for campsites at Seminole State Forest can be made here for around $9 per night plus around $6 in transaction fees and taxes; there’s also a free hike-in campsite on the 10.5-mile Lower Wekiva Loop. The best place to park overnight is at the Bear Pond trailhead 0.3 miles past the State Forest’s southern entrance off State Road 46. You can also park for the day at the Cassia Trailhead off Brantley Branch Road just 0.1 miles east of SR 44, from which you can reach Sulfur Camp through a 2-mile a hike on a white-blazed trail that used to be part of the Florida Trail. For family friendly hiking and camping, Seminole State Forest is one of the best places to taste the natural beauty of Central Florida.
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