Yellow Trail

Dogs Unknown

Features Birding · Wildlife

Rainbow Springs State Park charges a $3 per person entry fee. Swimming in the beautiful, clear waters of Rainbow Springs is a great way to cool off after a hike.

The trailhead for this yellow-blazed trail is accessed at the back of the butterfly garden in Rainbow Springs State Park. As you hike the short path from the trailhead, you'll be directed to the right to start this 1.8 mile loop counter-clockwise. As the hike begins, you are greeted with an initial view of one of the ravines or pits that are left over from phosphate mining that took place in the area many years ago.

The trail slowly meanders through rolling terrain shaded by pine and scrub oak trees, running for a short time along a sandy access road bordered by cleared land. Around the 1 mile point, the trail once gain gives you a view of another large, deep mining pit, with large limestone rocks visible along the steep walls. The trail circumnavigates the pit, offering different views into the tree tops and scenery below, before turning and heading back to the trailhead.

Pine, scrub oak, holly, native wildflowers and other species commonly found in the Florida scrub.