Tucked between Tampa and Gainesville, the Flying Eagle Wildlife Preserve is one of central Florida's best-kept outdoor secrets. The 10,950-acre preserve — also known as the Flying Eagle Wildlife Management Area — sits within the Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes, a freshwater system stretching over 19,000 acres and made up of three main pools: Floral City, Inverness, and Hernando. That watery setting creates a richly varied landscape of marshes, swamps, open lakes, and wooded uplands.
Visitors can explore 26 miles of multi-use trails on foot, by bike, or on horseback. The signature Flying Eagle Preserve Loop covers 4 miles of wetlands, prairies, and wooded highlands, while the shorter Withlapopka Community Park Loop offers a quieter 0.9-mile option near Floral City. Equestrians have access to roughly 22 miles of designated riding trails, and free day-use reservations are available for horse-drawn buggy outings. Florida law requires riders under 16 to wear helmets. Public boat launches make the surrounding lakes accessible for boating and fishing as well.
Birdwatchers will find the preserve particularly rewarding. It holds a spot on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail — a statewide network of more than 500 sites spanning 2,000 miles — and it sits along the Atlantic Flyway, one of North America's four major bird migration corridors running from Greenland to Florida. Species spotted here include loggerhead shrikes, herons, woodpeckers, American kestrels, raptors, and swallow-tailed kites. Other wildlife residents include American alligators and gopher tortoises.
Entry to the preserve is free, and it's open year-round from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. There are no restrooms or potable water at the entrances, so plan to bring your own supply. Primitive campsites with picnic tables, fire pits, and portable toilets are available at no cost but require a reservation in advance. The nearest major airport is Tampa International (TPA), approximately 77 miles away, and lodging options can be found in the nearby city of Inverness.
This story was reported by Islands.
