With a big, beautiful nature center and trails that are perfectly groomed or swept, Tibet-Butler Preserve offers a spot of wilderness in the dense urban mass to the west of Orlando.
The trail system loops through many of the major habitats found in this region, including longleaf pine forest and scrub, bayhead swamp and cypress-lined lakeshore. These are gentle interpretive walks, perfect for families to get their kids outdoors and listen to the hoot of a barred owl or the cry of an osprey within earshot of the train at the Magic Kingdom.
Resources
 |
 |
 |
Overview
Location: Windermere
Length: 2.5 miles
Lat-Long: 28.442688, -81.541774
Type: Loop and round-trip
Fees / Permits: none
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Bug factor: moderate to annoying
Restroom: yes
Since I first visited Tibet-Butler for “50 Hikes,” the trail system has shrunk. The Palmetto Passage – the one wild trail in the complex – is nearly perpetually closed due to flooding, and if you zoom out on the map, you’ll see why. The flow of water has changed across this landscape, to the detriment of habitat and hikers—those houses weren’t there when the trail system was built.
The preserve includes a picnic area, butterfly garden, and wheelchair-accessible sandbox, all at the nature center. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Please check their website for hours, as they change seasonally.
Directions
From I-4 exit 68, drive north on SR 535, passing the entrance to Walt Disney World at the first light before you turn left at the second light onto CR 535. Drive 5.3 miles to the park entrance on the right. The entrance road loops around to parking in front of the environmental center.
