Things to Do in Oviedo and Winter Springs
Suburban towns on the edge of Lake Jesup marshes and the Econlockhatchee River.
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Oviedo and Winter Springs sit on the southern and eastern shores of Lake Jesup, a long, shallow lake connected to the St. Johns River. Oviedo was once a celery and citrus town, and its old center still has the feel of a small farm community, while Winter Springs grew as a quiet residential city in the decades after Interstate 4. Both lead quickly to some of the wildest land in the county.
Black Hammock, the rural area north of Oviedo, ends at the lakeshore. The Black Hammock Wilderness Area has about five miles of trails and a boardwalk through hardwood hammock and marsh, and a fish camp at the end of Black Hammock Fish Camp Road serves fried fish, runs airboat rides onto Lake Jesup and has a bar on the water. Lake Jesup holds a large alligator population, so keep a careful distance from the shore. The St. Johns River Water Management District manages the Lake Jesup Conservation Area, where an observation tower on the east tract looks out over wet prairie that draws wading birds and shorebirds, especially in spring.
East of Oviedo, Little Big Econ State Forest protects close to 12,000 acres along the Econlockhatchee River, which bends through the forest for about 17 miles. Hikers use the Florida Trail along its banks, and paddlers float the tannin-dark water past sandbars and cypress. The forest charges a small day-use fee at its trailheads.
For an easier outing, the paved Cross Seminole Trail runs through Winter Springs and Oviedo, and Central Winds Park in Winter Springs has lakeside lawns and sports fields that host the Central Florida Scottish Highland Games each winter. Oviedo on the Park and Center Lake Park are the city's gathering spots for movie nights, the winter parade and the holiday tree lighting, with restaurants and a wine bar a short walk away.
Don’t Miss
About 700 acres on Lake Jesup with roughly five miles of trails and a boardwalk.
A lakeside restaurant and bar at the end of Black Hammock Fish Camp Road that also runs airboat rides on Lake Jesup.
Three tracts of marsh and wet prairie with an observation tower on the east tract, known for wading birds and spring shorebirds.
Nearly 12,000 acres along the Econlockhatchee River, with hiking on the Florida Trail and river paddling. A small day-use fee applies.
About 23 miles of paved path for walking and cycling through Winter Springs, Oviedo, Longwood and Lake Mary, part of the Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail.
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Where can I take an airboat ride in Seminole County?
The Black Hammock fish camp on Lake Jesup near Oviedo runs airboat rides onto the lake. Rides depend on weather and water levels, so call ahead.
Is the Econlockhatchee River good for paddling?
Yes, for paddlers comfortable with a narrow, winding river with occasional fallen trees. Water levels change a lot with rainfall, so check conditions before you launch in Little Big Econ State Forest.
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