A preferred vacation spot for paddling and boating, Lake Griffin State Park protects over 600 acres close to the shore of its namesake lake, which is the historic headwaters of the Ocklawaha River.
The park encompasses the Useless River, a river floodplain lake surrounded by basin marshes and swamps, with upland communities on the fringes of those expansive wetlands.
Alongside the floodplain boardwalkThough most of the park’s actions middle across the water, a set of trails wind by lush hammocks and throughout swampy landscapes on a prolonged boardwalk.
To not be missed, a brief path leads from the primary trailhead to the Mammoth Oak, a stately stay oak on the prime of a hill.
Underneath the oaksSources
Overview
Location: Fruitland ParkLength: 1.8 milesTrailhead: 28.857306, -81.901861Address: 3089 US 441, Fruitland ParkFees: $5 per vehicleRestrooms: on the picnic areaLand supervisor: Florida State ParksPhone: 352-360-6760
Open 8 AM to sundown. Leashed canine welcome.
Instructions
Hike
Starting at a trailhead subsequent to the ranger station, cross the primary park drive and look to the left for an indication indicating the beginning of the character path.
The trail instantly dips down right into a shady hammock alongside a swampy despair.
Starting of the pathReaching 0.2 miles, the path emerges on the campground earlier than crossing a highway and delving again into the woods.
A big, twisted oak coated in resurrection ferns arches over the pathway subsequent to the Spur Path, which is marked with a map kiosk.
Spur Path kioskCrimson markers paved the way northward alongside a hall lined with combined hardwoods and cabbage palms.
Because the path climbs a small hill to spherical a bend, an inviting bench sits beneath a stand of enormous oaks within the dappled daylight.
Picnic spotObserve the trail because it descends in direction of a basin marsh the place verdant royal ferns border a wood walkway main throughout seasonally flooded wetlands.
Tall loblolly bays, pines, and pink maples line the boardwalk because it zigzags throughout soggy soils earlier than reaching a picnic desk on the fringe of a xeric hammock.
Wetland boardwalkThe path follows a large sandy pathway to the property line, then curves again by a dense forest, returning to the picnic bench after making a 0.3 mile loop.
From this level, head again alongside the boardwalk to the start of the spur path and take a left.
Tall palmettos within the hammockA well-defined pathway winds previous marshes lined with dahoon hollies earlier than ending on the perimeter of the day use space.
Stroll throughout a grassy garden, passing the playground and picnic tables on the way in which again to the trailhead.
Earlier than ending the hike, proceed previous the trailhead on a brief path to the Mammoth Oak, the place a bench sits alongside an indication describing this magnificent tree.
Mammoth OakPath Map
Discover Extra!
Be taught extra about Lake Griffin State Park
Lake Griffin State Park Lake Griffin State Park sits alongside the marshy shore of Lake Griffin, its campground and canoe launch its greatest attracts, however its land-based highlights aren’t refined: large stay oaks.Video
Climbing Lake Griffin State Park
Slideshow
See older photographs from this park
Close by Adventures
Path Map (PDF) Reserve Campsite Official Web site
