Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area

Nichole Palmer

I visited split oak Forest today for forest yoga and a guided hike. What a beautiful peaceful place. There's miles and miles of trails that I didn't make it down but I plan on coming back with my dog and exploring more of the land. There's a lot of wildlife like birds and tortoises. I'm sure in the morning there's a lot of deer as well. I really hope they can save this place and not build a road through it. It's free and there are maps at the front you can take with you so you don't get lost lol there are no bathrooms not even at the front.

Chelsea LeNoble

Such a shame that Orange and Osceola counties have decided to ignore the pleas of their constituents and build a highway directly through this absolute treasure of diverse & exceptionally well-maintained natural Florida ecosystems. Split Oak Forest offers a serene refuge from the chain restaurant & retail hellscape gobbling up the surrounding area, meaning that the forest will likely be a significant and unparalleled source of physical and mental well-being for the residents and visitors here until construction begins. The trail map at the parking lot trailhead shows the different types of habitats you can walk through with trail lengths as well as points to look out at beautiful lake vistas. The trail through the scrub (pink areas) is white sugar sand, which can be difficult to walk through and very reflective on sunny days. The flatwoods, hammock, and other areas have pine straw trails that are much easier to traverse. We walked on the mowed sides of the sandy trail areas, which made it easier to get through those parts. You’re likely to see all sorts of neat plants and animals. We saw two gopher tortoises, a few woodpeckers, dozens of songbirds, scarab beetles, butterflies, native orchids, and carnivorous bladderwort and sundew plants. There are tons of massive, gorgeous oak trees dripping in air plants, including the name sake split oak that’s marked on the trail map by the blue blazed lake loop. Anyone who spends time walking on the trails here will be convinced of its value above that of a toll road, so it’s up to us to visit the forest and advocate that it remains protected. And if advocacy just isn’t your thing, then be sure to visit Split Oak Forest before the toll road construction begins so you can enjoy it while it lasts!

Dave Kilbourne

Nice place for an early morning walk. The 6 mile loop takes you through varying landscapes.

Karen Metilinos

Beautiful park with lots of wildlife activity. I saw 6–8 deer cross the path and a couple circled back to the trail. None noticed me.

Angela M

This place is amazing. It's simply amazing. The trails are like a journey through ancient Florida. Aside from the occasional plane overhead, there's no city sound, only nature. I was stunned by the native plant abundance. There is so much habitat and food for our local fauna. We even found fresh tracks (bobcat/panther?) by Bonnet Pond! I sincerely hope they keep this place preserved for the health of our local environment. We'll be back often!

Sam Trador

Sandy trails but a nice place to walk. The trails are poorly marked so you should definitely grab one of the maps at the entrance.

MannyG33309

A great park with excellent trails to Lake Mary. I would recommend hiking either early in the day or later in the afternoon. Such amazing views. There are no bathrooms so be ready. Either way once you get started it's amazingly quiet and tranquil.. until you here the wildlife. It's the sound of music! You never know what you'll see but won't be disappointed.

Mike Schuster

Very quiet and very natural. Note that the trails, though groomed, are mostly all beach sand, so the hike will be more challenging than on soil. Trails are obvious and well marked. Keep in mind that most trails have no shade from trees. No facilities or services here. If visiting Florida, I wouldn't go out of your way to come here. But if in the area, a very nice break from the hustle, bustle, and noise of Florida.