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Florida is home to vast conservation lands\u00a0and preserved wildlife habitats, though not all of them are managed with human access in mind. However, one wetland area in Central Florida stands out for its multi-functionality and visitor access. Just 50 miles northeast of Disney’s Magic Kingdom, the\u00a0Orlando Wetlands<\/a> comprises\u00a01,650 acres of marshland and swamp laced with\u00a0miles of tranquil hiking, biking, and equestrian trails.\u00a0It’s known for its\u00a0photography opportunities\u00a0and is on the\u00a0Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail<\/a>,\u00a0where hundreds of bird species and plentiful wildlife thrive. Free public tram tours on Fridays and Saturdays allow visitors to get guided glimpses of the water treatment and wildlife, and with 4.9 stars across nearly 1,400 Google reviews<\/a>, it’s easy to see why the park’s such a popular spot.<\/p>\n But Orlando Wetlands is more than a scenic place to picnic \u2014 it’s also an important water treatment facility.\u00a0In the\u00a01970s<\/a>, as cities sought to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s clean water mandates, the City of Orlando built a water reclamation facility called Iron Bridge. A few years later, the city purchased 1,650 acres of a nearby\u00a0former dairy farm that had once been wet prairie,\u00a0building levees and berms to\u00a0simulate wetlands. The artificially engineered area added\u00a02 million plants\u00a0during its development, including 200,000 trees.\u00a0<\/p>\n Along with hydraulic capabilities able to receive up to 35 millions of gallons of water<\/a> per day, this nature-based design was considered incredible innovative for its time and is estimated to have reduced significant costs for wastewater treatment. The Orlando Wetlands\u00a0filters\u00a0reclaimed wastewater pre-treated at Iron Bridge through the foliage, balancing the nutrients and fertilizing the natural habitats while preventing toxic algae blooms in the St. Johns River.\u00a0Today, other communities have adopted artificial wasteland simulations in wastewater management.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Hike miles of trails and watch part of the water reclamation cycle<\/p>\n The inflow structure is about 1 mile west of the wetlands parking lot, next to an observation deck where visitors can check out the first stage of the water treatment system, called a “boil.” Here, an average of\u00a014 to 16 million gallons<\/a> of reclaimed water is dispersed into the wetlands’ deep marshes\u00a0per day,\u00a0removing toxins like nitrogen and phosphorus before flowing into the St. Johns River, a journey that can take 30 to 45 days. Stop by the\u00a0visitors center, which features\u00a0educational, interactive exhibits, taxidermy displays, and a gift shop,\u00a0along with trail maps and information about\u00a0the area.\u00a0<\/p>\n About\u00a018 miles<\/a> of\u00a0trails wind through the Orlando Wetlands’ open marshes, some of which connect to the Florida National Scenic Trail and the Seminole Ranch Conservation Area, a thriving wildlife habitat with trails and primitive campsites<\/a>.\u00a0The Orlando Wetlands Loop Trail is a flagship path, a nearly 4-mile gravel loop\u00a0(a favorite for birders).\u00a0From the visitors\u00a0center, hikers can access several trailheads,\u00a0like the 2-mile Birding Loop trail and the 3.7-mile Lake Searcy Loop, as well as the\u00a0Cypress Boardwalk Trail,\u00a0an elevated wooden path extending nearly\u00a00.5 miles\u00a0over water. It’s\u00a0wide enough for a stroller\u00a0(though bicycles must be walked across) and features benches and viewpoints. From the boardwalk, check out the\u00a0cypress domes\u00a0growing from the marsh as well as birds, turtles, fish, and alligators.\u00a0<\/p>\n Keep in mind that the wetlands aren’t shaded, so bringing water, sunscreen, and hats is recommended. There are a few chickees\u00a0(thatched rain huts) throughout some of the more remote trails. Reviewers also note that the trails are well-marked and well-maintained.\u00a0Non-motorized bicycling\u00a0is permitted on the wide, packed dirt-and-gravel berm roads, and fat tire biking is common.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Flora and fauna abound in the wetlands<\/p>\n More than 220 species<\/a> of birds have been observed among the wetlands, including threatened roseate spoonbills, great blue herons, wood storks, purple gallinules,\u00a0limpkins, and bald eagles. “The wildlife is incredible \u2014 birds, alligators, and beautiful natural landscapes everywhere you look,” writes one Google<\/a> reviewer. “Sunrise here is absolutely magical, with soft light reflecting over the water.” A range of wildlife from turtles, pig frogs, and otters to butterflies, bobcats, and 13 protected species<\/a> live here, and you’ll want to keep an eye out for alligators.\u00a0They’ve been frequently spotted around and on the trails, but they won’t disturb you if left alone. Alligator Alley<\/a> is a mile-long scenic trail filled with alligators, along with\u00a0cabbage palms and a\u00a0wading bird marsh,\u00a0 where you can spot a diversity of herons and other wildlife. The wetlands also feature a bat habitat, where bats help keep the mosquitoes at a minimum.\u00a0<\/p>\n Expect to see classic marsh and aquatic plants throughout the wetlands, including cattails, floating duckweed, and\u00a0American lotus, as well as\u00a0swamp flowers like purple hyacinths and rosemallows. Hammocks of hardwood cypress, along with water hickory trees, ash trees, and plenty of palms, are abundant.\u00a0<\/p>\n Orlando Wetlands is free to enter and best accessed by car, with close proximity to Orlando International Airport (MCO), just\u00a030 miles away. The wetlands are\u00a0located in Christmas, Florida, a holiday-themed town with frontier history and home to the “world’s largest gator,”<\/a>\u00a0which is worth\u00a0visiting on your Orlando Wetlands day trip itinerary. If you want to see more Florida wildlife, just 20 miles west of the wetlands is Titusville, a coastal city with rocket launches and turtle nesting beaches<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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