Big Tree Park
Written by Sandra Friend
It’s a short trail, but it’s tall on scenery…when you look up at the tallest cypress in the Southeast at Big Tree Park near Longwood.
As old Florida postcards can attest, Big Tree Park has been a major tourist attraction for decades. It’s “The Senator,” of course, that keeps them coming. Named for Senator M.O. Overstreet, who donated this massive cypress and the land around it to the people of Seminole County, the tree towers more than 129 feet tall, and that’s only 2/3 of the height it stood when it was a regional landmark for Indians and settlers passing through the region. Like most big trees, its top came off during a hurricane — the 1925 hurricane that spilled Lake Okeechobee into the towns that surrounded it.
Guidebooks
Hiker's Guide to the Sunshine State
Orlando & Central Florida: An Explorer's Guide
Locator
Directions & LocationFrom US 17-92 in Winter Springs, take General Hutchinson Parkway west for 1 mile to the park entrance on the left. The park is between US 17-92 and SR 427 in Longwood.
Overview
OverviewLocation: Longwood
Length: 0.3 mile
Lat-Long: 28.720417, -81.331533
Type: Round-trip
Fees / Permits: none
Good for: big trees, children, dogs, wheelchairs
Difficulty: 1 of 5
Bug factor: 2 of 5
Restroom: Yes
This small park has restrooms, picnic tables, and a boardwalk through the floodplain forest to showcase the spectacular cypresses. The park is open 8 AM to 6 PM daily, and yes, they do lock the gates—so don’t stick around too late.
Details
Hike DetailsAs you walk the 0.3 mile round-trip, notice how large all of the trees are here. Both “The Senator” and “Lady Liberty” are large enough that only a panoramic camera can capture their stature—and you’ll be craning your neck to see the tops of the trees. The park is a part of the larger Spring Hammock Preserve, where there are more ancient cypress hidden in the woods along their trail system. The Florida Trail passes by the entrance to Big Tree Park, making this a good place to leave a car while day hiking this segment, or a nice stop for long distance hikers.
Mileages
Mileages0.1 Observation deck in front of The Senator
0.2 Observation deck in front of Lady Liberty
0.3 Return to trailhead
