Split Oak Forest North/South Trail Hiking Guide
Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area protects about 2,460 acres of flatwoods, scrubby oak and marsh straddling the Orange-Osceola county line, about 16 miles south of Orlando. It was bought in 1994 to protect gopher tortoise habitat and is named for a live oak, about 200 years old, that split down the middle and kept growing. The North/South Trail is its long loop, a free and quiet walk on soft sand that rewards an early start.
The Loop
Orange County's trail map lists the North/South Trail at 5.3 miles, following green markers numbered 1 through 33, and breaks it into legs: markers 1 to 6 are 1.1 miles, 6 to 12 are 1.0, 12 to 18 are 0.6, 18 to 24 are 0.9, 24 to 30 are 1.3 and 30 to 33 are 0.3. AllTrails maps the full loop at 6.1 miles with only about 32 feet of gain, so expect your phone to read longer than the county's posted figure. Shorter options branch off it: the Lake Loop (1.2 miles, blue markers 1 to 12) and the Center Trail (0.9 miles, yellow and black markers). The tread is mostly sugar sand with long open stretches.
Which Entrance
There are two ways in. The main entrance is the small, free lot at 12175 Clapp Simms Duda Road, Orlando, which recent AllTrails reviews describe as small with limited parking. The other is the Swamp Trail, 0.8 miles from Moss Park; the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail says that route is only usable at times of low water and is the easiest way to reach the split oak itself, which grows in the northeast corner. Moss Park charges $5 per vehicle as of August 11, 2026 and bans pets, and it has the only restrooms nearby; there are none inside Split Oak.
Hours and Rules
Orange County posts hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in summer and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in winter, while the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which co-manages the land, lists access from half an hour before sunrise. When the two disagree, go by the county's posted hours. FWC says no daily-use permit is required and no hunting is allowed here. Bicycles and vehicles are prohibited; horses are allowed. Camping, campfires and firearms discharge are not.
Dogs
Dogs are permitted at Split Oak but must be kept under physical restraint at all times, so bring a real leash. Because Moss Park does not allow pets, anyone hiking with a dog has to start from the Clapp Simms Duda Road entrance rather than the Swamp Trail.
Sun, Bugs and Wet Ground
FWC recommends this area for fall through spring, when temperatures are lower and bugs fewer, and the summer reviews on AllTrails bear that out with complaints about horseflies and limited shade. Rain leaves standing water in low spots. In return you get some of the area's best wildlife viewing close to the city: gopher tortoises, fox squirrels, eastern bluebirds, wild turkeys and deer along the trail, wading birds from the wetland overlooks, and sandhill cranes near the sawgrass marsh platform on the south loop.
The Toll Road Question
In 2024 state wildlife commissioners and the Central Florida Expressway Authority approved extending the Osceola Parkway across about 1.3 miles of Split Oak's southern edge. Local reporting at the time said the segment that would cross the forest, east of Narcoossee Road, was not expected to be built until around 2030. For now the trails are unaffected, but check with Orange County before a visit if construction news picks up.
Hiking tips for Split Oak Forest North/South Trail
- Arrive early; parking at Clapp Simms Duda Road is limited.
- Use the green marker numbers to track your progress around the loop.
- Start from Clapp Simms Duda Road if your dog is coming.
- Use the restroom at home; there are none inside Split Oak.
- Wear long pants and repellent for horseflies in warm months.
Nearby trails to explore
- Kolokee Loop Trail
- Tibet-Butler Preserve Osprey Overlook Loop
- Wekiwa Springs Volksmarch Trail
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Six miles of open sand is easier to start at sunrise when someone else is already at the lot. Use TrailMates to find Orlando hikers heading to Split Oak Forest. Download the TrailMates app to connect.