Florida Day Trip: Orlando Wetlands Park
During my annual winter visits home to Florida, I love exploring the wild and unique nature that my home state has to offer. On this trip, my friend (and fellow photographer) Mike invited a few friends for a day trip to Orlando Wetlands Park, a wildlife preserve that offers 1650 acres of trails and beautiful views of nature.
Open to the public for free, Orlando Wetlands Park is an environmental conservation project located in Christmas, Florida (about a 30-minute drive from Orlando). Here, visitors can discover a thriving ecological habitat featuring a network of ponds, marshes, and wetland areas home to a diverse selection of plant and animal species.
Orlando Wetlands Park is most popular for birdwatching, hiking, and photography, but you can also ride bikes or horses. Wear comfortable walking shoes and be prepared to cover some distance as you weave along the different trails. I recommend visiting early in the morning or on an overcast day because the Florida sun hits strong and there's virtually nowhere to hide in the shade. On weekends, you can catch a tram to ride around the park, plus the visitor center will open soon. Maybe I'll catch that on my next visit, and next time, I’ll definitely bring a zoom lens!
The marsh is a great place for nature enthusiasts to observe the sights of Florida's natural beauty. You can catch a spectacular view of birds from along the 2,200 ft long Cypress Boardwalk that stretches across the marsh.
We spotted butterflies, dragonflies, and many birds, including Great Blue Herons and snow Egrets, plus a large flock of Roseate Spoonbills and, of course, lots of alligators!
We explored the network of trails and a long walk on the outer path that loops around the water. Beware — you're likely to see plenty of alligators along the trail! We spotted a few big ones sunning themselves along the shoreline close to the path. It was thrilling but they were almost too close for comfort!
Stunning views aside, this wetland’s main function is to improve aquifers' health and treat reclaimed water for communities surrounding the Orlando area.
How the wetlands work
The wetlands act as natural filters for treated wastewater, purifying the water further through natural processes and helping to remove excess nutrients and pollutants from the water before it is released back into the environment. You can visit Orlando Wetlands Park on Tuesday-Sunday, from sun up to sundown.
This was a new spot for me to discover, but Mike has a personal connection since his father spent some of his career working on this monumental environmental project! Curious for more? Listen to an episode of Mike’s podcast interview with his dad and learn more about how the wetlands were
Discover more Florida Day Trips here.
