Longleaf Pine Preserve - Caution!

We wrote up a six mile hiking trail for this preserve in our recent book. And that writeup is still good. http://rogerfulton.com/ecotours/FLBooks/hikeflorida.htm. But, on the same preserve there is also a BLUE Trail that purports to be an 11 mile hiking/biking loop trail from the east entrance off Pioneer Trail to the west entrance off Route 44 near Deland, FL. DON'T do it! About 6.7 miles out it becomes impassable due to water, even in this drought season. It's not even mowed and, even if you could make it past the water, there is the danger of losing the trail. So stick with our 6 mile recommended hike or bike trail.