This river runs 54 miles from the longest river in Florida, the St Johns river. It runs through one of my favorite hiking spots, the “Little Big Econ State Forest” in the small town of Oviedo, north east of Orlando.
Here is a brochure & map of the area – there are several starting points but I’m going to talk about my favorite spot here, Barr Street.
There is a $2 per person fee and it is payable from a box at the edge of the parking lot (removing a tear off stub from the payment envelope to place in your car). Remember to bring the correct money!
The name Econlockhatchee means “river of many mounds”, due to the shell middens found along it’s path, left behind from the native Americans meals. It runs 54 miles (87 kilometers) from it’s source, Lake Conlin, to the St John’s river near Puzzle lake.
The trail is marked periodically & the path is quite clear to follow. I like to check out floridahikes.com for more information on the trails😊
For a fair distance on this trail you follow the river as it slowly curves its way through the forest, and the decline to it is quite steep in places. You can come across some areas where you can climb down onto the sandy shoreline if the water levels aren’t too high. These areas are ideal for fishing too, so bring your gear!
There is quite a variety of wildlife such as birds, fish, turtles and of course alligators – some of which can be quite large. Leave them alone and they won’t bother you.
If you’re visiting on the weekend (& sometimes mid-week), you’ll be sure to come across some kayakers enjoying its tranquil path and avoiding the busier State Parks. Its smooth but light current (as long as there hasn’t been heavy rainfall) make this generally an easy paddle.
If you’re interested in camping, primitive campsites are available – contact the Little Big Econ State Forest office on 407-971-3500 for more info and reservations.
I love visiting any of these trails that lead to this river, and my sister & I always hike here when she visits.