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Trail tunnel between sand live oaks

Big Bay Trail

Traversing sandhill, pine flatwoods, and bayhead habitats, the Big Bay Trail offers a one mile loop with an optional 1.7-mile spur trail featuring two primitive campsites.

Lake Wales Ridge State Forest  |  Frostproof
( 27.760020, -81.465255 )      4.5 miles

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Located atop the Lake Wales Ridge, the Walk in Water Tract of Lake Wales Ridge State Forest showcases undisturbed natural sandhill habitats.

The well-maintained Big Bay Trail provides access to biodiverse landscapes, including endangered species of flora and fauna.

Two backpacking campsites along the trail can be reserved for a quiet overnight stay under the stars.

Pine strewn path under oaks with yellow tipped marker Wooded corridor along the loop


Resources

Resources for exploring the area

50 Hikes in Central Florida Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover

Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.


Overview

Location: Frostproof
Length: 4.5 mile loop
Trailhead: 27.760020, -81.465255
Address: 1833 Co Rd 630, Frostproof, FL 33843
Fees: $2 per person
Restroom: None
Land manager: Florida Forestry Service
Phone: 863-589-0545

Open sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome.

Trails are off-limits to cyclists. Check hunting season dates before you hike.

This trail interconnects with the Scrub Jay Loop and has two primitive campsites along it. Reserve in advance online.

Trail beneath sand live oaks


Directions

 
From US 27 south of Lake Wales, head east on CR 630A for 1.4 miles through Frostproof, where it becomes CR 630. Continue straight for 6.1 miles, and the trailhead is located on the left side of the road.

Hike

Beginning at the parking area, be sure to stop at a large kiosk displaying information, maps of the property, and instructions to pay the entrance fee.

Beyond the kiosk, follow yellow blazes for about 50 feet to the start of the loop trail.

Kiosk with Big Bay name in sandhill forest Trailhead kiosk


Stay to the right, continuing down an access road before veering left, then crossing under powerlines, and passing through a pair of yellow-blazed posts.

Thick clusters of saw palmetto border a seasonal prairie pond to the west.

Yellow blazed posts by sand trail at prairie Prairie side palmettos


Sand live oaks border a stark white pathway meandering through dry, scrubby sandhill habitat teeming with vegetation adapted to arid conditions.

Reaching the far end of the loop at 0.4 mile, stay straight to remain on the northern spur of the Big Bay Trail.

Trail junction signage on sandy footpath Loop trail sign


The habitat quickly changes as the trail skirts alongside a sliver of wet flatwoods, characterized by fetterbush lyonia, gallberries, palmettos, and sporadic pines.

At 0.6 mile, a side trail leads to the Big Bear Campsite.

Young pines and dense gallberry understory Pine flatwoods


Continue following yellow blazes as the pine needle strewn pathway transitions to sand, lined with scrub oaks and an occasional turkey oak.

Sage colored leaves of garberia stand out from surrounding vegetation, their showy pinkish purple blooms emerging in late fall.

Footpath under sand live oaks Trailside garberia in a sand live oak corridor


At one mile, the yellow trail joins the red equestrian trail for 200 feet before returning to a low canopy of twisted oaks covered in Spanish moss, Christmas lichen, and ball moss.

Intriguingly large numbers of endangered giant airplants cling to trees and sit on the forest floor, distinguished by their long, light green pointed leaves.

Giant airplant at the base of a tree with wet prairie in background Giant airplant


Reaching the two-mile mark, a large wooden sign indicates the end of the trail, and an arrow pointing in the direction of the Wood Duck campsite.

An additional 0.2-mile spur to the west reveals this spectacularly scenic primitive site at the edge of a large prairie pond.

Tents set up with prairie view at campsite Wood Duck Campsite


Heading back towards the trailhead, turn after another 1.7 miles to explore the western side of the loop trail.

Descending slightly from sandhill habitats, the trail follows alongside a bayhead in a distinctively water environment covered in loblolly bay trees.

In another 0.6 mile, turn right at the end of the loop, returning to the parking area in 50 feet.

Footpath edged by bayhead Loblolly bay and pines


Trail Map

Lake Wales Ridge Walk in Water Trail Map
Lake Walk-in-the-Water Trails Map. Scrub Jay Loop in red, Big Bay Trail in Yellow, Equestrian Trails in blue.

Explore More!

Learn more about Lake Wales Ridge State Forest

View of prairie beyond trail post

Lake Wales Ridge State Forest

Atop the ancient sands of the Lake Wales Ridge, this massive state forest offers provides hikers and equestrians an expansive network of trails.

Video

A virtual walk in the woods on the Big Bay Trail

Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Tunnel through trees

Scrub Jay Loop

An easy loop trail traverses scattered prairie ponds within a dry ecosystem suitable for one of the state’s most endangered birds, the Florida scrub-jay.

Tiger Creek Preserve scrub ridge

Tiger Creek Preserve

Edward Bok’s “Jungle,” a deeply folded landscape between Tiger Creek and Patrick Creek south of Lake Wales, is protected by The Nature Conservancy as Tiger Creek Preserve.

Wet prairie at SUMICA

SUMICA

With up to 6.2 miles of trails – many of them a bit wet – SUMICA is one of the natural lands in Polk County where birding is especially superb.

View from the observation tower at Lake Kissimmee State Park

Lake Kissimmee State Park

Discover the beauty of the land between the lakes east of Lake Wales while exploring the vast prairies and fern-laden hammocks of Lake Kissimmee State Park

Trail Map (PDF) Reserve Campsite Official Website

Category: Central Florida, Day Hikes, Hikes, Loop Hikes, TrailsTag: Botanical, Dog-friendly, Florida State Forests, Frostproof, Lake Wales, Lake Wales Ridge, Lake Wales Ridge State Forest, Primitive Camping, Wildflowers

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Lengthy boardwalk heading towards mangrove flats

John R. Bonner Nature Park

John R. Bonner Nature Park
Boardwalk framed by live oaks and saw palmetto

George McGough Nature Park

George McGough Nature Park
Leaning sand pines in scrub

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Dock edged by mangroves

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