On land traditionally used for cattle ranching, D Ranch Protect is now owned and managed by Conservation Florida.
Since buying the property in 2019, the group has labored with volunteer teams and companies on restoration packages and constructing trails, opening to the general public in 2025.
The well-marked path system compliments a map guiding guests throughout ecosystems from upland pine forests to wetlands within the northern a part of the protect that seasonally flood.
Picnic tables and benches present alternatives to relaxation and take within the sights and sounds of those pure landscapes alongside the way in which.
Path hallAssets
Overview
Location: OsteenLength: 3.9 milesTrailhead: 28.832000, -81.190917Address: 2655 Reed Ellis Rd, OsteenFees: FreeRestrooms: Portalet at trailheadLand supervisor: Conservation FloridaPhone: 352-376-4770
Open dawn to sundown. No pets allowed.
Instructions
Hike
Starting on the parking space, head by means of a set of gates in the direction of a distinguished trailhead kiosk displaying a map of the protect.
Posts with purple path markers point out the trail because it heads throughout an open subject, passing an indication pointing to a trailside picnic desk within the shade.
Trailhead kioskAt an intersection of trails in 0.2 miles, flip proper, persevering with to observe purple arrows as they lead right into a flatwoods habitat coated in noticed palmettos and dotted with longleaf pines.
In a tenth of a mile, the trail bends eastward to cross a inexperienced clearing sprinkled with pawpaws earlier than getting into one other patch of forest at a junction with the Pink and Yellow Trails.
Into the flatwoodsFlip proper, following yellow arrows as they weave by means of a small pine savanna, rejoining the Pink Path at 0.7 miles.
The Pink Path continues one other quarter mile to an inviting picnic spot below an imposing reside oak draped with Spanish moss.
Picnic spotFrom this level, observe the path because it loops again, turning to the suitable the place a path marked with white arrows curves northward and emerges from the pine forest into an open pasture.
Pay shut consideration to the markers because the White Path takes a pointy flip at 1.4 miles to hint alongside an fringe of the woods.
Throughout the pastureComing upon purple arrows once more at 1.7 miles, flip eastward to observe a sandy hall for 0.4 miles to the tip of the Pink Path.
A bat home and an interpretive signal stand in a grassy meadow close to a prairie pond.
Head again down the path for 1 / 4 mile, turning proper at a marker for the Inexperienced Path.
Bat homeA large pathway bordered by lush sand pines leads northwards, passing a small despair marsh because the terrain step by step turns into soggier.
The path takes a fast flip to the west on the property boundary, skirting across the glassy waters of a pond coated with lily pads earlier than reaching the Blue Loop.
Prairie pondsComply with blue arrows southward for 0.4 mile and make a proper flip onto the Pink Path one final time.
Turkey oaks and wiregrass dot xeric soils, hinting at components of a sandhill or scrub habitat because the path winds previous a bench earlier than returning to the primary intersection at 3.7 miles.
From this level, observe the purple markers for 0.2 miles again to the trailhead.
Scrubby habitatPath Map
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Climbing D Ranch Protect
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