Another beautiful hiking trail that is near the Orlando area in Florida is the Black Bear Wilderness Area Trail. About a 30 to 45 minute drive north from the heart of Orlando, it is located a few minutes from Historic Downtown of Sanford, Florida. Dogs are allowed on this trail as long as they are on a leash. Bikes are not allowed here. It is accessible year round, but the best time to hike this trail would be in the cooler months of winter or spring. Summer brings in torrential rains that could flood some areas along the St. Johns River, and the heat could become unbearable. Summertime can also bring out bugs and mosquitoes, so bring some bug spray with you if you decide to go in the summer.
The trail is a little over 7 miles long, if you do the whole loop. If you do a counter-clockwise loop, the first half of the loop takes you along the river where several boardwalks let you walk above the waters of St Johns River. This provides several opportunities to watch wading birds and ospreys in the area. Since this is Florida, don’t be surprised to see some alligators, too.
While the boardwalks are easy on the legs, the trails do have a lot of tree roots that can trip you. So, be careful when watching the wildlife around you. We went at a later time of the day and saw a pack of wild boars feeding along the trail. We also saw a Red-shouldered Hawk, a Pileated Woodpecker, and several wading birds that are commonly found in Florida’s waters. Although we haven’t seen a bear, it is called the Black Bear Wilderness Trail because bears are common in this area. Keep this in mind if you have young kids or dogs with you. And don’t forget about the alligators!
Halfway around the loop, the trail veers away from the river and passes through a primitive campground. From here, the trail takes a more uphill direction and can get a little more strenuous with more tree roots to contend with and some slippery spots if there has been some recent rain. The slope is not too bad for most hikers.
The Black Bear Wilderness Area Trail is an enjoyable hike. Not too strenuous, but not too light either. You will not feel awkward wearing your hiking boots for this one, and I would actually recommend wearing one with good ankle support because of the numerous tree roots that can cause you to roll your ankles.
The trail is open from 7 in the morning until sunset. It is a popular trail and can get busy. We saw several hikers and joggers on the trail. A sign by the parking lot says the gates are locked at sunset, so make sure to get back by sunset if you don’t want your car locked in.
Watch this YOUTUBE video of our hike and an overhead view of the St. Johns River. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY4Av_oc91c&t=19s
Have you been to this trail before, or can you recommend other good trails in the area? Drop a comment below! Thanks for reading!
