Outdoor Adventures..................................................................................... Parks
Green Swamp East
Five rivers, cycling trails and natural beauty is abundant in
this vast preserve
Directions: Take U.S. 98 north of Lakeland. Turn right on Rock
Ridge Road. Go ten miles, entrance is on left.
Contact: 800-423-1476, www.swfwmd.state.fl.us. Map grid C-3
Tip from the Local s …
Hampton Tract
While hiking in Lake Kissimmee State Park,
Well-marked equestrian trails and group camping
there’s a good chance you’ll spot one of more
Directions: Take U.S. 98 north of Lakeland. Turn right on
Rock Ridge Road. Go ten miles, entrance is on left.
than 50 species of endangered, threatened
Contact: 800-423-1476, www.swfwmd.state.fl.us. Map grid C-3
or rare animals along the 13 miles of trails.
Hickory Lake Scrub
Short trails for viewing many rare plants and animals
Lake Wales Ridge State Forest –
Directions: From U.S. 27 south of Frostproof, travel northeast on
Walk-in-Water Tract
S.R. 17. Entrance is on left.
Home to rare plant species and scrub jays
Contact: 863-534-7377, www.polk-county.net and click on
Directions: From S.R. 60, turn south on Lake-Walk-in-the-Water Road.
Parks & Recreation. Map grid H-10
Contact: 863-635-8589, www.fl-dof.com/state_forests/index.html.
Map grid I-9
KICCO Wildlife Management Area
An eight-mile hiking trail borders the Kissimmee River
Lakeland Highlands Scrub
featuring deep oak hammocks
On the Lakeland Ridge where dwarf scrub oaks are abundant
Directions: Near the Polk-Osceola county line, the entrance is on the south
Directions: Off C.R. 540A turn south onto Lakeland Highlands Road.
side of S.R. 60 off River Ranch Boulevard.
Contact: 863-534-7377, www.polk-county.net and click on
Contact: 800-250-4250, www.sfwmd.gov. Map grid K-9
Parks & Recreation. Map grid D-7
Lake Kissimmee State Park
Hiking and cycling trails wind through the 5,930-acre park
with more than 50 species of rare animals
Gator Facts
Directions: From S.R. 60 in Lake Wales, turn north on Boy Scout Road,
then turn east on Camp Mack Road.
Alligators are an important part of Florida’s heritage.
Contact: 863-696-1112, www.floridastateparks.org. Map grid I-6
A good understanding of these fascinating creatures
will ensure that you can observe these reptiles while
Lake Marion Creek Wildlife Management Area
preserving their vital role in Florida’s ecology.
Hardwood swamps, flatwoods and cypress swamps thrive along
with 70 species of birds
See a gator in his natural habitat! Take an airboat tour in
Directions: About five miles east of Haines City off C.R. 580 (Cypress Parkway).
the Lake Wales area or observe them from the shore of
Call for directions to multiple parking areas that provide access to the property.
Lake Hancock at Circle B Bar Reserve.
Contact: 800-250-4250, www.sfwmd.gov. Map grid G-5
Despite their fearsome appearance, alligators are
Lake Rosalie Park
generally wary of people
Directions: From S.R. 60 east of Lake Wales turn north on Tiger Lake Road,
Male alligators can grow up to 14 feet long
then west on Rosalie Lake Road.
Alligators breed in early spring, and babies break out
Contact: 863-534-4340, www.polk-county.net and click on
Parks & Recreation. of their shells in August - September.
Map grid I-7
Gators’ diets include fish, turtles, birds and
Lake Wales Ridge State Forest – Arbuckle Tract
small mammals
Fish, canoe and hike along Lake Reedy.
Alligators are most active
Directions: From U.S. 27, turn east on C.R. 630, then south on Lake Reedy
Boulevard North. Turn southeast on Lake Arbuckle Road then south on Rucks
between dusk and dawn
Dairy Road. Turn southeast on School Bus Road.
Feeding alligators
Contact: 863-635-8589, www.fl-dof.com/state_forests/index.html.
is illegal
Map grid I-10
(and dangerous too)
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