Black Bear Wilderness Area
Black Bear Wilderness Area
4.5
About
Duration: More than 3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Black Bear Wilderness Area and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
115 within 3 miles
Attractions
73 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
52 reviews
Excellent
36
Very good
12
Average
4
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Xterri6
New Port Richey, FL59 contributions
May 2020 • Friends
This is an excellent hike! Plenty of varied terrain, instead of just flats that we’re used to in Florida. Saw a few gators, birds and snakes. My only complaint of this area is the parking situation is terrible. The parking lot is small and you have to wait for someone to leave because there is nowhere to park close by.
Written 16 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Debra C
Kissimmee, FL810 contributions
Apr 2021 • Couples
We arrived to hike this 7.1 mile loop trail at 8:30am. The small parking area already had several cars. The trail winds through marsh & floodplains with an abundance of hardwoods & foliage which borders several miles of St Johns River. We started the loop counter clockwise & glad we did. We enjoyed this direction better as the last couple miles were the least visually appealing & less strenuous. The trail was narrow with numerous tree roots, drop offs & required careful footing. Glad we wore proper hiking shoes. We were surprised to see people running by. The many boardwalks & peekaboo views of St Johns River along the way are nice. The trail is mostly shaded by the many trees & foliage. There are park benches occasionally along the way. We saw a deer, alligators, butterflies & many birds. Approximately 3.5 miles in there is a primitive camp site with a bbq & picnic bench one of which is covered. There are no restroom facilities anywhere on site. To hike the entire trail with stopping for pictures & nourishment took us 3.5 hours.
Written 23 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Spt2323
Orlando, FL162 contributions
Jan 2023 • Solo
This was a fantastic hike. I did it backwards which I thought was much better. If you do, you finish along the river for 4.5 miles of gorgeous scenery. The first 2.5 (technically the last if you go the normal way) are very cool through the forest but finishing along that river is amazing. Definitely a rooty hike half of the time so be careful. I did the 7 miles in 1:42, brisk pace that almost made the terrain easier.
Written 15 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Megan C
Chelmsford, UK68 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
We did the full walk on the Saturday of the Labour Day weekend, it was surprisingly quiet. It was warm out and very humid, so we 'felt' the 7miles. But, it was a very interesting and varied walk. Well maintained boardwalk sections, and paths good. The beginning out towards the boardwalk is full of roots you need to navigate but we had a great time.
Written 7 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewn4U
21 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
I am a Florida native and the swamp lands do not really excite me; however, I do love an adventure and decided to give this place a try. It took my family with teens 3.5 hours to hike the 7 miles. I wish I could have enjoyed the scenery more but was constantly looking where I walked to avoid tripping on a tree root. We did see a baby gator, eggs or some sort, and tons of large snail shells along the river. The weather was cool but the mosquitoes were out in full force. I was also stung by a wasp. Overall, a decent hike but a little long for the teenagers to walk - they were wiped at the 5 miles mark.
Written 2 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BearFacts
United States321 contributions
Feb 2020
We have been wanting to visit this site for a while. It is primitive with narrow trails, tree roots galore, and some steep drop-offs but we enjoyed it. We walked to the St Johns and back and then went about a half mile in the other direction from the boardwalk. We wanted to enjoy the diversity. It is a bit of a rough walk but no worse than mountain hiking. We went on a cool day and we luckily did not experience mosquitoes. Due to the cool temperature, we saw water birds and that's it. But we still enjoyed being out there.
There are no bathrooms and parking is unpaved,
There are no bathrooms and parking is unpaved,
Written 24 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joe Getsabout
Lancaster, PA61 contributions
Aug 2020 • Solo
This trail is usually not crowded, and mostly in shade. BUT, bring water and comfortable, sturdy shoes. Best in mornings while it's a little cooler. A perfect trail to get away for a couple hours, and right in our own neighborhood. Hogs, Deer, Gators, and many species of birds. There's also a small picnic area about half way. Nice trail.
Written 22 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DiMauro72
92 contributions
Apr 2020 • Couples
Its a great 7.1 hike. Able to see animals. The path can be a little rough at times if you are unsteady. Bring water and snacks as it can take 3-4 hours. Follows the river in places. Nice day getaway
Written 25 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Darrin
Wellington, New Zealand22 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
Walks in Florida can be hit or miss, but this one was surprisingly good. Plenty of wildlife in attendance, although no bears or alligators this time around. The walk is easy, with lots of scenery to take in. Highly recommended.
Written 6 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dan T
Daytona Beach, FL131 contributions
Feb 2020
Hitting Central Florida trails and parks. Stop 4. Came here with my wife. Looking for a good hiking trail and found it here. Feeling adventurous we did the 7 mile loop. Suggest hiking boots for this. The first half of the trail (go right) is great with some tight climbs, narrow paths and deep foliage and trees & St johns river. Be careful walking as there are lots of tree roots to navigate.This might be tough for young kids. There were several types of birds throughout from woodpeckers to egrets and herons. Caught a good view of an alligator wading off the side in a marshy area. The second half of the trail, after the small camp site,is flatter and more open. Not much to see there. would go back for the first half of trail and turn around.
Written 19 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is it safe despite the alligators, bears and snakes?
Written 2 December 2018
Yes! We personally only saw a small gator in the distance. If you do see one of the names creatures, most wont mess with you if you don’t mess with them. Wouldn’t bring my dog though just in case. Also, watch your step while on the trail to make she you don’t step on a snake.
Written 9 December 2018
Is the Black Wilderness currently closed? The Seminole County website says so, but it has said so for a very long time.
Thanks.
Written 7 October 2018
It is open. There are times it will close if there has been a recent storm.
Written 5 February 2019
I would love to see bears in the wild! Have people had much luck seeing them?
What is the safest thing to do if you do encounter them?
Thanks!
Written 4 August 2018
I see them pretty regularly around my neighborhood. I have seen them a few times in the Black Bear Wilderness area. The safest thing to do is make noise when you are walking in the woods so that you don’t sneak up on them. I have only ever seen a bear being cautious about me, it will stare and then walk away. If it is a mother bear she will be more aggressive but only by giving you plenty of warning that she thinks you are too close. She may make huffing noises and stomp her foot. They are beautiful animals and it is always a pleasure to see one.
Written 5 February 2019
I would love to see bears in the wild! Have people had much luck seeing them?
What is the safest thing to do if you do encounter them?
Thanks!
Written 4 August 2018
adknighthawk
Saranac Lake, New York
Is this hike good for a 12 year old and is there ample parking? thanks!
Written 24 February 2017
Yes, it is appropriate for a 12 year old. During our dry period the park was shut down, but it has been raining now so should be OK to go. Wear comfortable walking shoes.
Written 13 June 2017
I do all the time but I'm a dude. For women, I would say yes cause I've never seen any creepers here. I would still bring mace or other protection just cause we're so close to Orlando and there are a lot of freaks in Orlando.
Written 23 December 2016
Is it possible to do this trail on a mountain bike?
Written 5 May 2016
We saw bike tracks as well and my husband and I both thought it would be a bit crazy to try to ride a bike there - some parts seemed impossible, I guess you can walk the bike. Then again - we are walkers (not like in TWD), not bikers.
Written 9 May 2016
Showing results 1-7 of 7
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing