Cross Seminole Trail - Big Tree Park

I wish I would have known of this glorious place before The General was burned down. Would have been such a privilege & honor to see him in his full glory. Lady Liberty was a breathtaking beauty, brought tears to my eyes and Joy to my♡. Plus I had the freedom of hugging all the old trees in front. Best belated bday gift ever!!

Nice little walk. Great spot to park if you are going on the trail.

Shaded parking and restrooms. Great park and great place to get on the bike trail.

Clean, paved trail to walk or bike. We enjoy coming here. There is also plenty of parking.

This is a lovely park, with very long trails. Be prepared to walk a lot, dress properly, sneakers, wear shades, and bring water. I think a bike ride is better for this park. Had fun though..

Well kept and clean. Bathroom and deck need some cleaning

It was shorter than I was expecting, but it was beautiful nonetheless. Lot of history and nature there.

If you want some peace and quiet. Go and take a walk to see big trees remnants and its sister liberty. Nice play place for kids and barbecue spots.

Although the big tree was burned down buy some lady that went inside a hollow part of the tree and lit some debris on fire so she could see what drugs she wanted to do, true story, its still a nice relaxing walk and a great place to have a picnic and the kiddos have a park to play around in.

Great place to take your dog for a walk, a lot of places offer the same atmosphere so i guess its natural that this place didnt surprise me that much.

Big Tree Park has restrooms, picnic tables and a playground for the kids. The boardwalk in the park leads you to the The Lady Liberty tree.It used to lead you to The Senator Tree- which was the biggest and oldest bald cypress tree in the world. It stood at 125 feet tall. It was over 3,500 years old, making it the 5th oldest tree in the world. Sadly, in 2012 - local resident(Sara Barnes)set fire to this historical landmark while smoking meth inside the tree.Luckily, Lady Liberty still stands tall and proud within the park grounds. It is 89 feet tall. It’s estimated that it’s over 2,000 years old. This makes it one of the oldest trees in the world as well.I wish I could have seen The Senator. It was supposedly a landmark for The Seminoles and other Native Americans. Many people throughout the world came to Central Florida to visit one of nature’s gifts. Even Presidents of the United States paid tribute to this miraculous tree throughout history.This is a perfect spot to walk, hike, picnic and ride bikes. During this pandemic it’s an ideal place to go because it’s easy to practice social distancing. The park is pet friendly - and our dog Chloe truly enjoyed her long nature walk.

Seriously? No water fountain anywhere on the property? Astonishing.The bathrooms were disgraceful. Both sink faucets were broken, though one sort of worked. Toilet stall was so tiny I had to straddle the toilet to open/close the door. Of course the big attraction, Lady Liberty, was great to see. Sad to read the history of the original big tree. Signage was good, liked the 160 measurement on the boardwalk. But cmon, Seminole County, the facilities are just beyond poor. Please attend to rectifying this.

Small park, but surprisingly nice and peaceful. There is good parking, and adequate bathroom facilities. Nice boardwalk through wetlands to the location of a 3500yr old tree (has since burned down). Good signage of history of area and tree located throughout park. Nice playground for the kids. Also, a nice jumping off point for the Cross Seminole Trail, biking or walking/running.

My first time on the trail. I went with a couple more friends. Pictures attached were not shot by me. The trail is awesome. Its a good bike challenge.

So sad that the Senator got burned down. They have added a big tree trunk to the playground. It is pretty cool. You can get inside and lool out. It is a really nice walk to Lady Liberty and whats left of The Senator.

Saw the big tree and my daughter was amazed by it. She’s 5 turning 6. She loved the park, the trail, the tree. And didn’t want to leave lol had to fight with her to get her to leave. Kids you know how they are :p but clean and awesome updated park. Def recommend to people. Have a table area for parties and benches all around and nice new garbage cans and clean bathrooms.

Another hidden gem to visit thats not a theme park. affordable. safe. Not crowded. Clean. Maintained. Bring water though, its Florida and its hot!

Great little park to have lunch a picnic or go on a nature walk. Covered picnic areas, and restrooms are available. I also saw that they have a nice little play area for kids. I stop here every once in awhile to have a quite outdoor lunch at times. This time of year its nice to enjoy the outdoors, and maybe take a nap for a few ...

By far the best place to jog to and admire the nature. The memorial for the Big Tree that was burned a few years back is cool to see still. So many memories were made at this park.

Love going here with my son. The playground is generally not busy and is completely fenced in. The “trail” is only a quarter of a mile there and back but is awesome with a toddler. It’s sad to see the tree that was burned down but the Lady Liberty tree is still very impressive. They even planted a clone tree called the “Phoenix”.

Its got a nice playground and clean parking area. I explored a small path that they have l which was an informative walkway dedicated to an ancient and massive tree named the senator which tragically burned down around 5 years ago. The trail has seen better days but it was still interesting. We then went and walked up a bike trail that was nicely shaded by a tree canopy in some places. Its a nice place but its not really a must visit. Its a nice place to go if you live nearby.

Good for kids, short hike, missing tree.This is a good park for kids, it has a decent playground with swings (very important for my kids). The trail to the tree is very short but beautiful. However the biggest surprise is that the tree is gone! It burned down in 2012. With all the informative signs I must admit it was a letdown. However if you come with the expectation of a beautiful place to hang out, you wont be disappointed.As a side note, the bathrooms were a bit sketchy, so go before you come.

Nice little park. Can you imagine a 2500 year old tree?!

Great place to hang out with your family and barbecue and have a playground and restroom in the immediate facility!!!$$$

Miss that big old tree. Remember it when I was young.

Really good place. Great playground

Graat leisurely place to walk. Enjoy Gods beautiful world!

Well-kept playground and bathrooms. Access to Big Tree or Cross-Seminole Trail.

The Big Tree isnt there anymore so the trail is a let down.

I wish the one tree was still standing, but still a great park

My favorite spot in town

There is a decent amount of parking. You can find bathrooms but I didnt see water fountains. There is a childrens playground, picnic tables, covered pavilions and a boardwalk as well as easy access to the best part of the Cross Seminole Trail including the mountain bike trails.

Nice little park. 15 min walk. Bathrooms playground, picnic tables. Good info about forest trees.

I Love this

Hiked a short few miles,loved it. Will eventually hike it all..

Very relaxful and educational

This a great place off of Ronald Reagan Blvd. We love that the playground is fenced in and the main trail is wide enough for walkers and bikers to easily pass each other. Plus, theres the additional trail that goes to the biggest and oldest trees (though one was burned down). It makes for a nice afternoon.

For whatever reason, I was under the impression that this was going to be a long trail on a boardwalk. It’s not. There’s plaques along the way that tell about the Senator tree. There’s another enormous tree, Lady Liberty, but that’s it. The boardwalk ends there. Otherwise, without the preconceived notions, it was a simple and quiet place, peaceful. Shame that the tree was burned down.

Beautiful way to connect with nature. The Senator still stands as a reminder of human carelessness, very sad to see a legacy of 3500 years burned down. Lady liberty is awe inspiring. Will definitely visit again.

There is no shade over the playground so everything was hot.

Small but nice little park

Nice little park tucked away. Theres a playground and a boardwalk type trail. The information is very good all around. Its an absolute tragedy that some idiot burned down the Senator. The other tree at the end of the trail is still there and still very big. Good place to have an outdoor meal as there are tables and pavilions.

My family loves this place come on down and take a walk in nature it has a playground for children restrooms and nature

Beautiful park ... Just wish they would have more walk paths into the woods

Very nice park. Cool to see a 3,500+ year old tree and nice to get away from the Orlando I-Drive area for a while.

Gathering was cancelled!

Its so nice and peaceful. We go for my grandkids birthday partys. The playground is a big hit with the kids

Great little kids park and walking path to viewing area of these amazing trees with so much history. Take your little tykes over on their tricycles. Its a beautiful park.

Great place to visit

Great walk but being your big spray no matter what time of the year it is. So many gnats and other bugs to drive you nuts.

Great out of the way park with a great bike path. Used to house the tallest Cypress tree in Florida maliciously destroyed by arson. Lady liberty the sister tree is there still and they do have a clone of the big tree itself - which is growing up nicely.

Nice place to take your kids and to see a gigantic tree.

Transforms you back in time if only for a minute.

Beautiful bike trail

Nice quiet place

Went to see Lady Liberty, oh how I wish I could have seen the elder tree standing tall, the base is still there and you can see the size of it, eye opening experience

Super tranquil, Ive enjoyed this place for years.

Nice, enjoyable walk through nature on a well maintained walk way. The history plaques are very informative and fun to read, although the trail is not very long at all. Dont expect the trail to take you over 20 minuets. The kids playground area is very nice and has a lock on the gate to prevent the little ones from running too far out of sight, or into the parking lot. The equipment looks very new and well maintained. Its a very nice little park to take the kids to for a little bit and a nice piece of history to learn about.

I love the park very green and lush. Great. But not this time of the year! Its toi hot. I love the bells and whistles for the the bike riders and runners. I will come back, just not when it is July in FLORIDA

Nice picnic place. Good for the kids

It’s a short walk to get to the tree but it’s really worth the view. God creation is super beautiful and beyond words.

Very beautiful

Great out of the way park with a great bike path. Used to house the tallest Cypress tree in Florida maliciously destroyed by arson. Lady liberty the sister tree is there still and they do have a clone of the big tree itself - which is growing up nicely.

Enjoyed my walk but ever since the construction started shady people seem to walk the trail. I would advise bringing something to protect yourself from both wildlife and strange people.

Well maintained

Fun little playground. Locate along the cross Seminole trail so you can park and go running or biking. Plus the historic Big Tree Trail is there

Came here to see the remains of The Senator as well as the living Lady Liberty tree. The park was quiet and the boardwalk was enjoyable. Its unfortunate The Senator was irresponsibly burned down.

Great park years ago, but the change in traffic flow has bern a pain. Also, last time we went there were a tom of spider webs on the play structure

Its saddening what happened to the Senator but still a nice spot, just not the same.

My kids love this park. Very clean and great scenery

First place visited in Florida these trees are incredibly large and beautiful

I love this park! It is a trajedy that the main tree burned down but the remaining tree is still very impressive. I take the kids (toddlers) at least once a week. Great for young ones!

Nice little playground for young kids! It also has a trail next to it thats good for running or just walking on. Its quiet and secluded which means Id only go there with someone else, not just myself and my small kids.

When the park reopened early in 2013, they put in a new board walk that takes you to the remains of the Senator - you can see the charred inside of whats left of the tree, and the boardwalk takes you back to another magnificent tree Lady Liberty. It has a great playground area for small kids and covered picnic tables. It also connects to the Cross Seminole Trail and is not far from the bridge that crosses over 17/92.

Nice short trail with kids park. Amazing tree.

Nice trail, lots of road crossings, well marked. Lots of places to stop (food, water, bathrooms). Well maintained!!

Home of the remains of The Senator, which was the largest cypress tree in the state till it was burned down by arson. Lady Liberty is the other large cypress in the park and is a beautiful site to behold. You must walk a boardwalk to get to the trees that has information about the growth and history of the trees. There is a bike path that passes the entrance of the park and a playground and bathroom in the park, as well as picnic tables and parking.

Beautiful park and short walking trail

Beautiful trees and park to relax at.

A beautiful short walk to see the trees but so depressing.

The great outdoors

I liked the place but I was expecting more when I went to the place.

This park has a 2000 year old cypress tree. This park is small, but there are various other parks nearby that make it worth the trip.

One of my fave get away from it all spots. Had a nice lunch away from the office.

I love this park and the little nature walk. However the playground equipment needs to be cleaned.

I will start by saying if you dont rate this with 5 stars, you are probably disconnected from nature.This park is beautiful and educational. The swamp is full of cypress, live oak, sweet guns and numerous other species. But the most impressive of them all is now lady Liberty. As unfortunate as it is to have lost the senator, this area should be grateful to still have such a magnificent tree in its midst. It is literally a blast from the past seeing how large the tree is. Do yourself a favor and check the park out.

There is plenty of parking there is a nice playground for children you just need to keep your eye on them it has bathrooms as well no water fountains available

Its a shadow of its former self since the Senator (Big Tree) was burned to the ground in 2012. Still, a nice memorial and trailhead for the Cross Seminole Trail.

There isnt much to it, especially now that the Senator is gone. If youre in the area, its nice to stop by for a few minutes and see the trees. Sometimes I visit before walking the nearby trail.

Fun Place to Play.

Pretty small park for some pretty huge trees

Beautiful! Love the trail. Playground needs shade. Its far too hot with the dark ground cover attracting even more heat.

I love it. Nice little park

Well built and maintained accessible trail!

Worth all the time spent visiting this park.

This is a fantastic trail with so many roadside attractions and activities!

Dirty no-door bathrooms

It was shorter than I was expecting, but it was beautiful nonetheless. Lot of history and nature there.

Was overwhelmed by the size and age of the trees. Hard to imagine anything living for thousands of years. Lets hope it survives the age of fossil fuels.

Quick escape from the busy city, short trail and peace and quiet.