The forest's Richloam Tract has 33 miles of hiking paths reaching through pine flatwoods, hardwood hammocks and cypress swamps. The park has a 1,200-foot run to the river, making it a scuba divers' and snorkelers' favorite. The spring was described by William Bartram in his 1774 writings. The property has cypress, gum, maple, ash and sandhill. Otters, raccoons, wading birds and other small mammals live here.
Manatees make occasional appearances, too.
Yes, most places call it a flood retention area. Detention sounds like you're being made to stay after school. That aside, there are 30 miles of trails waiting, so maybe you don't mind being kept after. The trails move through flatwoods, swampy stands of cypress, bayheads and hammocks in a spring region that is a vital recharge zone for the Floridan aquifer, the main drinking water supplier for folks who live in Central Florida. The trails are within 20,000 acres of land owned by the district.