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Boardwalk through cattails

Cherokee Point Conservation Area

Protecting a marshy peninsula on the eastern shore of Lake Tohopekaliga, this remote preserve provides a panorama of natural wetlands from its boardwalk.

St. Cloud      ( 28.22891, -81.36687 )      1.0 miles

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Established in 2012, Cherokee Point Conservation Area is all about the wetlands. More than 180 acres of former wet pasture are conserved within this former ranch.

Renovated from a horse stable, a massive pavilion dominates the trailhead, with plenty of covered space for picnics as well as an adjacent playground.

Pond and pavilion Former residential grounds now provide gentle recreation


It startled us, of course, to find a house and stable on our first visit to the preserve. However, per the county management plan for this preserve, the stable is now a covered picnic area.

A caretaker lives in the house, with eventual plans for upstairs public exhibit space on habitats found in the region.

Picnic pavilion The stables, repurposed as a picnic shelter


Since our initial visit in 2015, habitat restoration has taken root around a pond established as a catch-and-release destination, and invasives have been tackled in the marshes.

Most significantly for hikers, a lengthy boardwalk now provides a scenic hike out to a levee on the rim of Lake Tohopekaliga, the marshes and shoreline excellent for birding.

Boardwalk and open water Boardwalk in the cattail marsh


Resources

Resources for exploring the area

50 Hikes in Central Florida Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover 5 Star Trails Orlando

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Overview

Location: St. Cloud
Length: 1 mile round trip and loop
Trailhead: 28.22891, -81.36687
Address: 2501 Cherokee Rd, St. Cloud
Fees: Free
Restroom: At the picnic pavilion
Land manager: Osceola County
Phone: 407-742-0200

The boardwalk is fully accessible to its end, as is access to the pavilion. Natural surface trails are not. Paddlers will need to wheel their craft to the put-in.

A large picnic pavilion provides an excellent destination for lunch, with a naturally-themed playground beyond it and a horseshoe pit.

Anglers with an FWC freshwater fishing licenses are welcome to catch-and-release in the prominent pond.

Boardwalk and cattail marsh


Directions

 
From the north or south, Florida’s Turnpike exit 240 takes you directly to Kissimmee Park Rd. From the east or west, follow US 192 to Old Canoe Creek Rd. Drive south 2.2 miles to Kissimmee Park Rd and cross the Turnpike. Continue 4.7 miles, passing through a 90-degree turn. Keep alert when passing a nursery for the turn onto Cherokee Rd. Warning signs for “road ends” and the lake up ahead are obvious at that turn. Follow Cherokee Rd for 2 miles to its end. The park entrance is on the right.

Hike

From the parking area, walk up to the map in front of the house for an overview of the landscape. Turn left.

This accessible walkway leads to a kiosk at the start of the boardwalk. Named for Frank Attkisson, a champion of the environment for Osceola County, it is both a hiking route and the way to the canoe launch.

Kiosk and boardwalk The Frank Attkisson Boardwalk and Trail


Flanked by native plantings, the boardwalk acquires railings as soon as it starts crossing the marsh, making an arc through Goblet’s Cove.

This sheltered marsh along Lake Tohopekaliga surrounds the boardwalk with a gradient of grasses, their hues distinct.

Marsh grasses and boardwalk Gradient of marsh along the boardwalk


From the prairie edge, transition into denser grasses along the wooden walkway. Before a quarter mile, an aluminum walkway leads to the dock.

Firmly in the cattail marsh, it provides access for paddlers to Twin Oaks Conservation Area, the next preserve along this side of the lakeshore.

Hiker taking photo on dock The oaks on the far right horizon are at Twin Oaks Conservation Area


While the open water belies airboat visits, this platform between the cattails is strictly for paddlers.

Back on the boardwalk, follow its curves as it draws ever closer to a strip of land topped with palms and cypresses.

Boardwalk and palms beyond Approaching the spit of Cherokee Point


As the railings vanish, the boardwalk crosses prairie again before depositing you on the levee-like spit.

Turn right and follow the open, grassy path among the native plantings to the pavilion in the distance.

Grassy path Natural surface trail at Cherokee Point


The trail ends here at 0.4 mile, at a fence marking the edge of the recreational portion of the preserve.

The covered pavilion has a picnic table, a prime perch for watching the marshy islands of Lake Toho for bird life.

Lake marshes Bring binoculars to examine the marshy islands in Lake Toho


Return alon the same route, back to the boardwalk and along it to where you began, reaching the parking area.

Head towards the stable-shaped picnic pavilion to go around the fence for the second piece of the hike.

Pond Trail sign and cypresses The Pond Trail loops a man-made pond


A 0.2-mile loop around a catch-and-release pond, it’s an easy walk. Native plantings hug the shoreline.

Wood storks and ibis often gather in this open area, as well as sandhill cranes. Follow the broad grassy trail around the pond.

Pond and pavilion and house Finishing up the Pond Trail


After it ends, walk back through the picnic pavilion or around the side of it to return to the parking lot.

Total mileage is a mile for walking the two trails of Cherokee Point Conservation Area.

Ibis and wood storks on a fence Lineup of wading birds at the pond


Trail Map

Cherokee Point Trail Map


Explore More!

Video


Slideshow

See our photos of Cherokee Point


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Twin Oaks Conservation Area

Named for two ancient live oaks that have long guided anglers to their favorite fishing hole, Twin Oaks Conservation Area protects nearly 400 acres along Lake Tohopekaliga.

Live oak canopy over hiking trail

Lake Runnymede Conservation Area

Ancient live oaks provide a tightly knit canopy over the 0.9-mile trail system at Lake Runnymede Conservation Area, a 43 acre urban preserve.

Lake Lizzie's marshes from the overlook

Lake Lizzie Marsh Loop

In the most accessible corner of the thousand acres that make up Lake Lizzie Conservation Area in St. Cloud, the Marsh Loop is an easy 1.7 mile hiking-only loop

Large oak in shady forest

Sunset Ranch Trail

The 2.2-mile Sunset Ranch Trail at the Prairie Lakes Unit of Three Lakes WMA provides an easy day hike for birding near Lake Marian.

Trail Map (PDF) Official Website

Category: Access by water, Central Florida, County Parks, Hikes, Launch Points, Natural Lands, Nature Trails, Paddling, TrailsTag: Accessible, Best Birding, Birding, Boardwalks, Kissimmee, Orlando, Picnic, Playgrounds, St. Cloud

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Our recent park & trail updates in this region

Lengthy boardwalk heading towards mangrove flats

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Boardwalk framed by live oaks and saw palmetto

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George McGough Nature Park
Leaning sand pines in scrub

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