Map Legend

• The light yellow lines on the map show the location of wide multi-use sidewalks.

• All the trailheads for unpaved trails are indicated by small square green icons labeled “TH” on the map. Within the park, they’re marked by tall 4x4 posts. Also note: Each trailhead marker post is adjacent to a parking area or a sidewalk.

• The wide unpaved trails mowed by Orange County Parks and Recreation are represented on the map by bold lines, colored in shades of green, blue, or purple. Within the park, major trail crossings are marked by 4x4 posts. Some narrower pathways are also marked by shorter stakes topped with blaze orange paint.

●  Large circular brown icons with white symbols: Park amenities and points of interest.

◆  Small red diamonds: Locations of nearly 200 active gopher tortoise burrows. Within the park, the burrow locations are marked with red flags or short red posts. Avoid approaching trailside burrows closely—the tunnels are dug in sandy soil, and they’re easily collapsed by hikers. If you spot a burrow marker off the trail, don’t leave the trail to get a closer look! A burrow not being used by a tortoise often houses other creatures, including unfriendly critters such as hornets or snakes.

  ●  Large circular black icons with white animal silhouettes indicate areas where other wildlife is most likely to be seen—but please note that it’s possible to see wildlife nearly anywhere within the park’s boundaries.

 ▼  Blue inverted triangles, and light blue shaded areas, indicate places where blue wildflowers may be seen. During February–April, for example, blue sandhill lupines can be seen along the oak forest trail. The small shrubs are marked with turquoise satin ribbons tied to short wood stakes in the field. Other blue flower locations are marked with darker blue satin ribbons.

▼  Orange inverted triangles: Orange wildflowers, which may seen along the trails during Florida’s warm season. Some of the orange wildflowers along the trails are marked with orange satin ribbons tied to short wood stakes.

▲  Purple triangles and light purple shaded areas: American beautyberry shrubs. Clumps of beautyberries begin ripening to their vivid purple hue in August, and can often be seen on the shrubs until the end of the year. The beautyberry shrubs along the major trails are marked with purple satin ribbons tied to short wood stakes. The ribbons help trail volunteers locate the leafless, dormant shrubs early in the year—the best time for pruning the shrubs.

▼  Scarlet red inverted triangles: Coral bean shrubs. Coral bean flowers are seen briefly during spring. Their seeds grow in pods, like oversized string beans. Later in the year, as the pods begin to break open, bright red beans can be seen in the pods and on the ground nearby. The shrubs are marked with burgundy-colored satin ribbons tied to short wood stakes. At present, these are the shrubs least likely to be noticed during a hike. Only about a dozen shrubs have been located and marked near the trails.

▲  Lime green triangles indicate places where citrus trees or pawpaw shrubs have been found near trails. Locations with multiple citrus trees are marked on the map with “orange tree” symbols.

When walking along the trails, visitors will notice that tree seedlings and saplings under special care are identified by green satin ribbons tied to short stakes.

Tips for Mountain Bikers:

• NO motorized cycles are permitted off hard-surfaced driveways and sidewalks in the park.

• Note: Not all of the park’s unpaved trails are suited for mountain biking. Most of the three major “perimeter trails” in the park are what mountain bikers are advised to use.

• Cyclists should avoid using the north and east sections of the oak forest perimeter trails. They have a surface of loose, deep sand which is difficult for cyclists to navigate. Also, those trail sections are entry points for horseback riders entering the park from the library.

Tips for Equestrians:

• To get to the equestrian parking area (large gravel-surfaced parking lot), use the Orange County Library entrance on 4657 Hamlin Groves Trail—not the Horizon West Regional Park entrance!

• If you use the park entrance by mistake, you can make a U-turn at the roundabout ¼-mile south of the entrance gates, then turn right when you get back to Hamlin Groves Trail.

• Equestrians can enter Horizon West Regional Park directly from the gravel-surfaced parking area at the library. 

• Equestrians are advised to use wide trails (Most of the park’s trails are mowed to vehicle width). Avoid narrow pathways in forested areas.

• Please stay on the trails to avoid injury—there are concealed gopher tortoise burrows and other hazards off-trail.

Trail Safety Guidelines

The guidelines listed below are posted at most of the trailheads:

• Visitors using the park’s unpaved trails should stay on the marked / mowed trails. Walking or cycling off-trail is hazardous.

• Pedestrians walking dogs must leash their pets.

• If you see wildlife, do not approach or feed animals.

• Keep a mobile phone with you. Some trail routes lead ½ mile or more from the nearest parking area. In case of emergency, phone 911.

NOTE: The guidelines listed below aren’t posted at the trails, but they’re based on similar guidance for county and state parks:

• Visitors using the park’s unpaved trails should wear high-top shoes, preferably hiking shoes. The trails are mowed, but not groomed like a lawn! Visitors wearing inadequate footwear risk encountering concealed cactus needles and prickly weed seeds.

• More reasons for leashing dogs in the park: Frequent visitors are likely to see gopher tortoises and various species of snakes on the park’s trails. On rare occasions, coyotes may be seen in the park.

• Avoid sitting on the ground, because ants are active throughout the year. Only three trailside park benches were installed in 2025, but volunteer crews have built many log park benches alongside the unpaved trails.

• If horses and riders are approaching on an unpaved trail, both pedestrians and cyclists should yield and move aside until the equestrians have passed.

• Cyclists and scooters must yield to pedestrians on the trail.

• Encounters with wild animals such as American alligators are rare, but they do occur. Any visitor who spots an alligator on the trail is encouraged to report the sighting to Orange County Parks and Recreation.