Overview

Split Oak Forest is managed by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission as habitat for sandhill cranes, with lands purchased by dollars assessed developers who destroyed similiar habitats in Central Florida. From the trailhead, the Cross Trail provides access to the two major loops.

Along the South Loop, the south end of the park is primarily open prairie with scattered oak hammocks and a large marsh with an observation deck for birdwatching. The South Loop follows forest roads for the most part, passing through habitat for not just sandhill cranes but also gopher tortoises, indigo snakes, and alligators.

The North Loop is the more popular option for a short day hike. It leads you through scrub and scrubby flatwoods to the namesake Split Oak, a live oak tree split in two with its trunk-like branches reaching up to the sky from the prone trunk. The Lake Loop branches off the North Loop and winds through oak hammocks to a spur trail out to Lake Hart and an observation deck on lily-covered Bonnet Pond.

The trail system connects with Moss Park, a popular campground and picnic area, via the Swamp Trail, a 0.9-mile causeway through the marshes south of Lake Hart.

Map

Split Oak Forest is off CR 15 south of SR 417. Drive 3.5 miles south and turn left on Clapp-Simms-Duda Road. Follow it 1.5 miles to the parking area on the right.

 Disclaimer: While FTA strives to maintain accurate information and is constantly updating its geodatabase, the trail and development along the trail corridor is constantly changing. The data has been collected from a variety of sources and accuracy varies. FTA provides this data for recreational purposes only and does not intend the data as a survey. 

Centerline data Florida Trail System (c) 2007 Florida Trail Association, Inc.

Trailheads

Large grassy parking area at trailhead. Walk approximately 0.1 mile east where a marked red loop trail begins.

Features

Sandhill crane habitat   

Conditions

Level walking through open scrub and prairie, oak hammocks and scrubby flatwoods. 

Precautions

Expect the trail, which follows forest roads on the South Loop, to flood after a rain. No potable water is available.

Restrictions

 No camping is permitted. You may camp at adjacent Moss Park for a fee.  

Resources

50 Hikes in Central Florida

Central 5 Loop Trails

Hiker’s Guide to the Sunshine State

Moss Park

Split Oak Forest