East Lake Jesup Tract: Another Mysterious Chapter in the Lake Jesup Conservation Area Trails

(Part II of II in the Lake Jesup Conservation Area Series)

The East Lake Jesup Tract of the Lake Jesup Conservation Area in Seminole County is a lonely place to run. The location is remote as compared to Orlando but only ten minutes from the intersection of 426 and 419 in Oviedo, which is only ten minutes from Red Bug Lake Road in Casselberry. The parking area is next to the AquaFiber Technologies facility and across from an orange grove at the end of Elm Street, which provides the quintessential rural fruit grove setting of Central Florida past, surrounded by nothing but citrus trees and wetlands.

The St. Johns River Water Management District (SJR), which manages the tract, has temporarily closed the trail although it is still passable, and no warning signs alert visitors of the closing. It is not a pretty location, per se, but it does contain hidden beauty. The trail is daring for off-road runners like few others in that one better keep running or be overtaken by the wildlife and vegetation. This is no gentle warning to be wary of mosquitoes, as much more serious threats exist here including horse flies, spiders, ticks, snakes and thick, jagged brush. The area is not currently maintained, hence the closing of the trail.

No signs point to the conservation area entrance and only occasional, faint white spots on trees mark the trail. A map or GPS is essential to maintain location, as it is not readily apparent that the trail is leading anywhere, and in fact, it is not. The main attraction is the observation tower at the midway point of the 1.4-mile circular trail, which provides a far distant view of Lake Jesup - so far that it doesn't look like a lake but a marsh.

The sturdy tower is about 20 feet-high and the victim of graffiti, which makes one wonder why someone went through the trouble of lugging cans of paint through the brush only to swash illegible names along handrails and inside the observation deck. It almost appears as though someone was living in the upper deck of the tower judging by squelched fire pits and cut trees surrounding it.

The walk through the forest to get to the tower is beautiful, completely shrouded from the sun by moss-covered oaks, and the walk across the foot bridge immediately before it displays wildlife bolting from the area, frightened from the passing visitors, including deer, gator, otter and large birds. This is the only stretch of the trail currently of any interest other than the observation tower and the remnants of old campgrounds near the parking area.

The trail is overgrown to the point that it is not advisable to run or even hike this area, even if wearing proper clothing. The ticks are so numerous that it is downright dangerous. Unless in an all-terrain vehicle, stay away until the area is cleared and open to the public.

The 6,000 acres of preserved land surrounding Lake Jesup are managed by the SJR and owned by it and local municipalities. The properties were acquired for conservation purposes, and as part of the Central Florida Beltway Project beginning in 1990.

The East Lake Jesup Tract, as with all off-road trails profiled in this column, is worth visiting for its environmental value, and because the folks at the SJR have protected it and made it available to the public, whether for running, hiking or horseback riding. On any given visit, one might see something never seen before. To get in a good run while doing so is icing on the cake.

According to an SJR representative, the trail is closed because there is not yet proper supervision of the property in place, therefore putting visitors' safety into question. It is a short trail loop and not much of a challenge to runners, however, running in an exotic locale and learning a bit more about the area is often worth the time spent to find it. Such is the case with the East Lake Jesup Tract, but the time to find it is not now. Check back with the SJR and fit it into the schedule at a better time, preferably in winter or early spring.