• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Florida Hikes logo

Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

  • Trails
  • Maps
  • Guidebooks
  • Search
  • Hike
    • Scenic Hikes
    • Loop Trails
    • Dog-friendly Hikes
    • Hikes for Kids
    • National Parks in Florida
    • Florida State Parks
  • Bike
    • Major Bike Trails
    • Paved Bike Trails
    • Off Road Biking
    • Biking Articles
  • Paddle
    • Canoe & Kayak Rentals
    • Paddling Destinations
    • Paddling Articles
  • Camp
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Car Camping
    • Primitive Camping
  • Florida Trail
    • Plan your Hike
    • Best Scenic Hikes
    • Best Backpacking
    • Section Hiking
    • Thru-Hiking
    • Trail Updates
  • Travel
  • Hike
    • Scenic Hikes
    • Loop Trails
    • Dog-friendly Hikes
    • Hikes for Kids
    • National Parks in Florida
    • Florida State Parks
  • Bike
    • Major Bike Trails
    • Paved Bike Trails
    • Off Road Biking
    • Biking Articles
  • Paddle
    • Canoe & Kayak Rentals
    • Paddling Destinations
    • Paddling Articles
  • Camp
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Car Camping
    • Primitive Camping
  • Florida Trail
    • Plan your Hike
    • Best Scenic Hikes
    • Best Backpacking
    • Section Hiking
    • Thru-Hiking
    • Trail Updates
  • Travel
Reflecting pool with palms

Bok Tower Gardens

Art, architecture, and nature intersect among fifty acres of gardens first planted a century ago atop Iron Mountain at Lake Wales.

Lake Wales      ( 27.91773, -81.56598 )      3.8 miles

683 shares

A place of pilgrimage and restoration, Bok Tower Gardens were Edward Bok’s gift to America in his retirement.

A Dutch immigrant, Bok enjoyed the classic “American success story.” In The Americanization of Edward Bok, he recounts his rise from office boy to publisher.

View under live oaks The view from Iron Mountain


While a columnist, Bok sought out and interviewed prominent men, making contacts and friends. Taking on The Ladies’ Home Journal in 1889, he grew it to a million subscribers.

Bok was friends with Colonel Roosevelt before Teddy became President. They shared the same sensibilities about preserving landscapes and urging the public outdoors.

Prairie grasses with Bok Tower in distance Native landscapes are restored below the gardens


But where Bok was his happiest was his garden. Purchasing this promontory and other land around Lake Wales, he directed a group of architects and artisans to create this sanctuary.

Landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. was integral to the project. The Olmstead Gardens provide a gentle flow uphill to the Singing Tower, revealing it slowly.

Paved path through forest Plantings are set among native trees


Plantings began in 1923. Opened to the public on February 1, 1929, Mountain Lake Sanctuary was dedicated by President Calvin Coolidge.

Edward Bok died the next year. But the legacy he left reverberates to our time, from the tones of the carillon carrying across the hills to the lush gardens in place today.

Museum display about Bok The Visitor Center recounts the gardens’ history


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: Lake Wales
Length: More than four miles of paths and trails
Trailhead: 27.93721, -81.57556
Address: 1151 Tower Blvd, Lake Wales
Fees: $17 adult, $5 ages 5-12. Reciprocal admission for participating garden passholders honored. Annual passes available.
Restroom: At the main entrance pavilion complex
Land manager: Bok Tower Gardens
Phone: 863-676-1408

Open 8 AM to 6 PM with last admission at 5. Opens noon on Christmas day. Visitor center, shops and cafe open 9-5.

Leashed dogs welcome except during certain public events.

The base of Bok Tower


Directions

 
From US 27 heading south towards Lake Wales, take Chalet Suzanne Rd east to meet Scenic 17. Turn right and drive 3.4 miles. Turn left on Burns Ave, passing Spook Hill, a “gravity challenge” attraction from yesteryear. In 1.8 miles, Tower Blvd is on the left, leading up Iron Mountain to Bok Tower Gardens.

About the Gardens

Inspired after a visit to Highlands Hammock in Sebring, Bok commissioned Olmstead to create a garden that fit the landscape above Mountain Lake Colony in Lake Wales.

Atop the highest point in the Florida peninsula, the gardens emerged under a careful master plan designed by Olmstead and approved by Bok.

Crow marker on walking route In a garden understory atop the mountain


Groups of plantings – including spectacular old George Tabor azaleas from Glen St. Mary – guide visitors up the hill to the breathtaking view.

The gardens have re-interpreted Olmstead’s original vision for a languid, natural approach to the tower along the “Main Trail” route.

Interpretive sign in prairie The Olmstead Walking Tour starts in natural landscapes


The path leads slowly and gently to the peak of the second highest elevation in the Florida Peninsula, a major promontory on the Lake Wales Ridge.

Paths both accessible and wild access portals along the mirror pool that reflects the carillon tower known as the Singing Tower.

Large tower with pond at base
Approaching the base of Bok Tower from the southeast corner

A masterful and functional piece of landscape art, the tower is sculpted of 4 million tons of Georgia marble and topped with statuary.

Faced with ceramics from Enfield Pottery, the tower contains 60 bells weighing 61.5 tons. Masterful carilloners perform daily.

Perspective from below the tower The tower is an imposing piece of art up close


On the lower slopes of Iron Mountain is El Retiro, a restored 1930s Mediterranean mansion built in Mountain Lakes Sanctuary for an executive of Bethlehem Steel.

Called Pinewood for many years, it is distinctive architecturally and contains period furnishings and an art collection. Guided tours are a separate fee from the gardens.

Historic home in garden
El Retiro

Beyond the Olmstead Gardens legacy, modern conservation efforts led to Director of Horticulture David Price establishing the Endangered Plant Program in 1986.

Part of the National Collection of Endangered Plants, it utilizes the sanctuary’s location on the biodiverse Lake Wales Ridge to conserve, propagate, and re-establish rare species.

pitcher plants A perched bog is home to rare carnivorous plants


Among the many species propogated are Lakela’s Mint (Dicerandra immaculate) and Four-petal Pawpaw (Asimina tetramera), which can be seen in the Endangered Plant Garden.

While the Kitchen Garden and the Hammock Hollow Children’s Garden are popular draws, hikers will appreciate two trails into the surrounding Pine Ridge Preserve.

Sign and long view of pine savanna Sweeping landscape in the Pine Ridge Preserve


Both can be accessed from the opposite side of the parking lot from the visitor center, but the Pine Ridge Trail also branches off the paved Main Trail of the Garden.

A mile loop along the rim of the ridge, it provides scenic views and is home to listed species like wide-leaf pinelandcress (Warea amplexifolia) and Lewton’s polygala (Polygala lewtonii).

View from a pine ridge
Looking into the orange groves below from the Pine Ridge Trail

Branching off the Pine Ridge Trail just west of the flagpole along the entrance road is the Preserve Trail.

It rambles down the mountain through a patchwork of longleaf pine savanna restoration, a 1.5 mile linear route to a small trailhead inside the entrance gate.

Path through pine savanna

The Preserve Trail is a broad path with occasional benches and great views of the tower on the return trip

Trail Map

Bok Tower Gardens Trail Map
Green: gardens loop. Yellow: Pine Ridge Trail. Red: Preserve Trail.

Explore More!

Video

A walk through the historic gardens

Slideshow

See our photos of Bok Tower Gardens


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

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.

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

Prairie basin with tall orange grasses

Catfish Creek Preserve State Park

At Catfish Creek Preserve State Park, the steep ridges of blinding white sand are some of Florida’s most ancient landscapes, an unusual and unique natural area for Central Florida

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.

Gardens Map (PDF) Official Website

Category: Central Florida, Gardens, Hikes, Museums, Natural Attractions, Nature Trails, Parks, TrailsTag: Accessible, Big Trees, Botanical, Cultural Sites, Favorites, Hilly, Historic Sites, Lake Wales, Lake Wales Ridge, Lakeland, Scenic Hikes

Reader Interactions

Have an update? Contact us.

Primary Sidebar

CENTRAL FLORIDA

CENTRAL FLORIDA OVERVIEW
East Coast Greenway. Florida Trail

Brooksville. Coast to Coast Trail. Cocoa Beach. Cross Florida Greenway. Crystal River. Dade City. Daytona Beach. Kissimmee. Lakeland. Leesburg. Ocala. Ocala National Forest. Orlando. Sanford. St. Petersburg. Tampa.

Our Newest Books

The Florida Trail Guide

The Florida Trail GuideOur definitive guidebook to planning backpacking trips on the Florida National Scenic Trail, now in its fourth edition. Full data charts and maps. B&W, 356 pages. $19.95 + tax & shipping.

Order Now


Florida Trail Hikes

Florida Trail Hikes 2nd edition coverFifty of the best day hikes, overnights, and weekend trips on the Florida Trail. Full hike descriptions and maps, full color. 376 pages. $24.95 + tax & shipping.

Order Now


Discovering the Florida Trail

Florida Trail mini coffee table book cover of trail into palm hammock
A visual journey the length of the Florida Trail, covering more than 1,500 miles from the Everglades to Pensacola Beach. Hardcover, 196 pages. $24.95 + tax & shipping.
Order Now


50 Hikes in Central Florida 3rd edition
Five Star Trails Orlando guidebook
Explorer's Guide North Florida & The Panhandle guidebook

Florida Trail Apps

Farout GuidesFarout Guides Comprehensive logistics and offline maps for the
Florida National Scenic Trail (1,500 miles), the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail (108 miles), and the ECT Florida Connector (92 miles).

Explore More

Our recent park & trail updates in this region

Line of pines with shrubs and a grassy trail foreground

Pasture Reserve

Pasture Reserve
Boardwalk looping along lakeshore as seen from above

Bonnet Springs Park

Bonnet Springs Park
Waterway flowing through lush forest with path beyond

Dickson Azalea Park

Dickson Azalea Park
Florida rosemary growing in bright white sand

Shadow Bay Park

Shadow Bay Park

Footer

FIND A TRAIL OR PARK

NORTHWEST FLORIDA
Apalachicola. Apalachicola National Forest. Blackwater River State Forest. Blountstown. Bonifay. Bristol. Cape San Blas. Carrabelle. Chattahoochee. Chipley. Crawfordville. Crestview. DeFuniak Springs. Destin. Ebro. Eglin Air Force Base. Fort Walton Beach. Freeport. Gulf Islands National Seashore. Madison. Marianna. Milton. Monticello. Mossy Head. Navarre Beach . Niceville. Panama City Beach. Pensacola. Ponce De Leon. Port St. Joe. Quincy. Sopchoppy. South Walton. St. Marks. St. Marks NWR. Tallahassee. Vernon. Wakulla. Wewahitchka

NORTH FLORIDA
Alachua. Amelia Island. Baldwin. Branford. Bunnell. Cedar Key. Chiefland. Crescent City. Dowling Park. Ellaville. Fernandina Beach. Flagler Beach. Gainesville. Green Cove Springs. High Springs. Jacksonville. Keystone Heights. Lake Butler.Lake City. Live Oak. Mayo. Macclenny. Micanopy. Olustee. Orange Park. Osceola National Forest. Palatka. Palatka-Lake Butler Trail. Palm Coast. Perry. Salt Springs. St. Augustine. Starke. Steinhatchee. Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. Suwannee Springs. Talbot Islands. Timucuan Preserve. Trenton. Welaka. White Springs. Williston

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo

MULTI-REGION
Big Cypress Swamp. East Coast Greenway. Everglades National Park. Florida National Scenic Trail

CENTRAL FLORIDA
Apopka. Belleview. Brandon. Brooksville. Bushnell. Canaveral National Seashore. Christmas. Chuluota. Clearwater Beach. Clermont. Coast to Coast Trail. Cocoa Beach. Cross Florida Greenway. Crystal River. Dade City. Daytona Beach. De Leon Springs. DeBary. Deland. Deltona. Dunedin. Dunnellon. Frostproof. Geneva. Inverness. Kenansville. Kissimmee. Lake Mary. Lake Wales. Lakeland. Largo. Leesburg. Longwood. Melbourne. Melbourne Beach. Merritt Island. Merritt Island NWR. Mims. Mount Dora. New Port Richey. New Smyrna Beach. Ocala. Ocala National Forest. Ocklawaha. Orlando. Ormond Beach. Osteen. Oviedo. Palm Bay. Ridge Manor. Sanford. Silver Springs. Spring Hill. St. Cloud. St. Petersburg. Tampa. Tarpon Springs. Titusville . Walt Disney World. Weeki Wachee. Winter Springs. Withlacoochee State Forest. Withlacoochee State Trail. Yeehaw Junction

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Bradenton . Charlotte Harbor. Ding Darling NWR. Englewood. Estero. Fort Myers. Immokalee. Naples. Pine Island. Port Charlotte. Punta Gorda. Sanibel Island. Sarasota. Venice

SOUTH FLORIDA
Arcadia. Basinger. Big Cypress National Preserve. Big Cypress Seminole Reservation. Clewiston. Everglades City. Fisheating Creek. Lake Okeechobee. Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail. Lake Placid. LaBelle. Lakeport. Moore Haven. Okeechobee. Pahokee. Port Mayaca. Sebring. South Bay

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
Big Pine Key. Biscayne Bay. Biscayne National Park. Boca Raton. Boynton Beach. Coral Gables. Davie. Delray Beach. Northeast Everglades Natural Area. Florida Keys. Fort Lauderdale. Fort Pierce. Hobe Sound. Hollywood. Homestead. Islamorada. Jensen Beach. Jupiter. Juno Beach. Key Biscayne. Key Largo. Key West. Marathon. Miami. Ocean to Lake Greenway. Overseas Heritage Trail. Palm Beach. Port St. Lucie. Redland. Sebastian. Stuart. Vero Beach. West Palm Beach

  • Trails
  • Parks
  • Beaches
  • Gardens
  • Springs
  • Ecotours
  • Attractions
©2006-2023, Sandra Friend & John Keatley | Disclosure | Site Index | Work with Us | Advertise with Us
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy | Florida Hikes PO Box 93 Mims FL 32754| Contact