Trount Lake Nature Center

The mission of the Trout Lake Nature Center is to connect people with nature through education and conservation.

The Trout Lake Nature Center strives to be the premier nature center providing nature-based environmental education to all.

The Trout Lake Nature Center is a wonderful place to experience natural Florida and learn about this unique region of the state.

Visitors enjoy walking the many trails, seeing our Animal Ambassadors (turtles and snakes), exploring our exhibits in the Education Building and Natural History Museum, and strolling the peaceful boardwalk to our observation/education dock on Trout Lake.

The 230-acre property also features educational displays along our trails and several picnic spots. These include a screened-in picnic shelter that can be rented for birthdays or events otherwise its use is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Don’t miss our stunning Grandfather Oak! The property has several other large oaks such as the Hidden Oak and Celebration Oak. Staff and volunteers are often available to enhance your knowledge and experience with ‘pop-up’ presentations to small groups.

All admission funds go to support our programs, facilities, habitat, and staff. We are an independent nonprofit organization and depend on your support.

Although our trails are short and mostly shaded, they take you through a variety of habitats. Some trails have foot bridges to help you traverse wet areas and, of course, our boardwalk takes you over the marsh to the edge of Trout Lake and our Education Dock. 

If you walk quietly on our wide, mulched trails, you may see turtles, raccoons, or sometimes bobcats. Also, look along the trails for our hidden statues (six in all) of raccoons and foxes. These statues are regularly moved and you will need to explore all of our trails to find all six. During different parts of the year, we offer activities along our trails including scavenger hunts or even fairy houses to find.

Trail maps are found in each building and on kiosks located near the main parking lot and Grandfather Oak.