Named for a marshy lake close to the middle of the property, Lake Could Reserve protects almost 136 acres on what was as soon as agricultural land used for orange manufacturing.
The county has undergone in depth restoration efforts to return the ecosystems to a extra pure state, which might have been a mixture of mesic and xeric pine forests.
When the property initially opened to the general public, a small car parking zone with 5 areas was offered for entry. A bigger parking space has since been added.
A connector path results in the previous trailhead. Fashionable for climbing and fowl watching, the reserve additionally provides a floating dock for fishing and launching kayaks onto the lake.
Pathway by way of the scrubAssets
Overview
Location: EustisLength: 2.4 milesTrailhead: 28.873111, -81.627417Address: 36300 CR 44A, EustisFees: FreeRestrooms: On the trailheadLand Supervisor: Lake CountyPhone: 352-253-4950
Open daybreak to nightfall. No pets allowed.
Instructions
Hike
Beginning at a brick walkway bordered by native plant gardens, head in direction of a steel pavilion, stopping at signal for the reserve to select up a path map.
A crushed shell path leads away from the pavilion, snaking throughout combined forest for 0.3 mile earlier than reaching a small parking space for the previous trailhead.
Trailhead walkwayObserve a slim pathway previous an info kiosk and thru the pines, turning proper on the first junction to start a counterclockwise route alongside the bigger loop.
Crossing gently contoured terrain, the path weaves previous a sinkhole pond as clusters of dwell oaks stretch gnarled branches overhead.
Trailside oaksTall sand pines dot the panorama close to an ascending gradual slope, indicating a transition to clean habitat.
Sage tinted reindeer moss carpets the forest flooring, flanking a hall of stark white sugar sand.
Alongside the way in which, small interpretive indicators show footage of vegetation discovered right here subsequent to widespread and scientific names.
Scrub forestBecause the path opens to a big subject on the one mile mark, Lake Could comes into view within the distance.
Keep to the proper on the subsequent intersection, the place a grassy path leads in direction of the western shore of the lake.
The pathway dives right into a small successional hammock that rapidly opens to a scrubby clearing.
Hardwood hammockTufts of wiregrass and Florida rosemary sprout from xeric soils the place the path traces a sandy ridge.
It then curves again eastward on a skinny strip of land between the lake and a highway.
Shortly after passing a shed from the previous grove, a facet spur leads down a fishing dock with incredible views of the water.
View from the fishing dockClose to the facet spur, a big signal describes the shoreline ecosystem intimately, with footage and details about flowering vegetation that may be discovered on this wetland neighborhood.
On the subsequent fork within the path, keep to the proper once more, paralleling an fringe of the previous grove earlier than ending the loop at 2.1 miles.
From this level, comply with the crushed shell path again to the trailhead for 0.3 mile to finish this 2.4 mile hike.
Shoreline habitat signalPath Map
Discover Extra!
Video
Climbing Lake Could Reserve
Close by Adventures
Path Map (PDF) Official Web site
