Howell Creek at the Cross Seminole Trail

Howell Creek is a Central Florida waterway that starts in Lake Maitland in Winter Park and runs into Lake Jessup in Winter Springs. It mainly runs through suburban neighborhoods, but there is a lovely natural area surrounding Howell Creek as it approaches lake Jessup. This can be seen along the Cross Seminole Trail, namely from the Howell Creek Trestle. This old railroad bridge provides nice views of the creek.

There is a trail that leads down to the waters edge. The water is slow moving and tanic. Unfortunately, it seems that there are so many shallow spots and downed trees that navigating by kayak seems troublesome.

Spring Hammock Preserve #1

I went for a bike ride through the Spring Hammock Preserve's Environmental Studies Center in Longwood, FL. The first point of interest was the Question Pond.



At one point in time, I remember the Question Pond having a bright coppery blue color. Now it's the same tannic color as the rest of the water in the swamp. I turned off onto one of the smaller trails and did some extreme biking, and then found myself at Soldier's Creek.

The path actually brought me to the creek right by the newest section of the Cross Seminole Trail. The bridge seen here is one of three places that I'm aware of where the trail crosses the Creek.


There were several small offshoots running into Soldier's Creek, creating these mini canyons.

I then returned to the main trail and rode as far as I could. I reached this point where the trail got very narrow, with the overflowing Lake Jessup surrounding me on three sides. It was very creepy, hearing nothing except for the occasional splash in the water and distant alligator bellows.