Five-Star Trails: Orlando

Bowing to a bloodline of adventure that includes explorer Henry Hudson and Lappi reindeer herders, Sandra Friend walked away from a career in software design in the 1990s and headed to the woods. After getting her feet wet with outdoor writing in the mid-Atlantic and traveling backpacker-style across Greece, India, and Nepal with her sister, she carved out a niche with Florida hiking. After publication of her first five hiking books, she spent five years as Communications Director for the Florida Trail Association. With more than 3,000 miles logged on Florida's trails and a growing stack of publication credits, she's working on her 27th book. An avid outdoors enthusiast with a background in information systems and human-computer interaction, Sandra is known beyond her books for keeping up with the cutting edge of online communications, including rapid development of apps and websites. She owns and manages the popular hiking website Florida Hikes. Currently the chair of the Freelance Council of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and a member of the Board of Directors of Friends of Florida State Parks, Sandra has also served in many volunteer advisory roles over the years, among them director of the SATW Institute for Travel Writing & Photography, board member of the Florida Outdoor Writers Association, and as a long-time volunteer on the VISIT FLORIDA nature-based tourism committee.

• Overview MapOverview Map KeyDedicationAcknowledgmentsPrefaceRecommended HikesIntroductionNortheast1. Black Hammock Wilderness Area2. Florida Trail: Little Big Econ State Forest3. Green Spring Park4. Hickory Bluff Preserve5. Lake Harney Wilderness Area6. Lake Jesup Conservation Area: East Tract7. Lake Monroe Conservation Area: Kratzert Tract8. Lyonia Preserve9. Spring Hammock Preserve10. Wiregrass Prairie PreserveEast11. Econlockhatchee Sandhills Conservation Area 12. Econ River Wilderness Area13. Florida Trail: Bronson State Forest14. Florida Trail: Mills Creek Woodlands15. Lake Mills Park16. Orlando Wetlands Park17. Pine Lily Preserve18. Tosohatchee Wildlife Management AreaSouth19. Lake Runnymede Conservation Area20. Shingle Creek Regional Park: Historic Babb Landing21. Shingle Creek Regional Park: Historic Steffee Homestead22. Taylor Creek Loop23. Triple N Ranch Wildlife Management AreaWest24. Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake25. Lake Louisa State Park26. Oakland Nature Preserve27. Tibet-Butler PreserveNorthwest28. Blue Spring State Park: Blue Spring Trail29. Blue Spring State Park: Pine Island Trail30. Florida Trail: Seminole State Forest31. Gemini Springs Park32. Kelly Park33. Lake Lotus Park34. Seminole State Forest: Lower Wekiva Loop35. St. Francis Trail36. Trimble Park37. Wekiwa Springs Hiking TrailAppendix A: Outdoor Retailers Appendix B: Map ResourcesAppendix C: Hiking ClubsIndexAbout the AuthorMap Legend