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Oaks, saw palmetto, and pines

Flatwoods Pond Trail

The sole interpretive trail at Lake Kissimmee State Park, the Flatwoods Pond Trail shows off habitats and history in a short loop not far from the campground

Lake Kissimmee State Park  |  Lake Wales
( 27.9440, -81.3548 )      0.4 miles

119 shares

It’s not a long walk, but it’s an interesting one. Since the Flatwoods Pond Trail is squeezed between the campground, picnic area, and marina, deer tend to ramble through here.

While less than a half mile in length, this loop shows off several habitats surrounding the pond while speaking to historic uses of this land that is now preserved as a state park.


Resources

Our resources for exploring the area. A full writeup of this hike and others in this park can be found in 50 Hikes in Central Florida

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: 0.4 mile loop
Trailhead: 27.9440, -81.3548
Address: 14248 Camp Mack Rd, Lake Wales
Fees: $4-5 per vehicle
Restroom: At the marina trailhead
Land manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 863-696-1112

Open 8 AM to sunset. Hours may change, check ahead. Leashed pets welcome.

Deer looking at camera


Directions

 
From the junction of US 27 and SR 60 in Lake Wales, head east on SR 60 for 9.7 miles to Boy Scout Camp Road. Turn left and drive 3.5 miles to Camp Mack Road. Turn right, following this road 5.4 miles to the park entrance on the right. After you enter through the ranger station, the park road twists and winds through the oak hammocks for more than 3.5 miles. Pass Cow Camp Road and turn into the next parking area past it, at the marina.

Hike

Like the Buster Island Loop and the North Loop, you must follow the beaten path from the marina up along the Zipprer Canal towards Cow Camp Road.

At the large kiosk with the hiker symbol next to it, turn right and look across the park road. You’ll see the sign for the start of the Flatwoods Pond Trail on the opposite side.

Sign to start the trail Start of the Flatwoods Pond Trail


Baby blue blazes lead you into an oak hammock with a dense understory of saw palmetto, some of which are rather old and stand tall like cabbage palms.

Spanish moss drapes thickly from the oaks above. Emerge into a clearing with pines up ahead to see the first interpretive sign, on the ecotone between oak hammock and pine flatwoods.

blue blazes and pines Beginning of the loop with pond beyond


The open area behind the pines is the pond. A double blaze on an old snag guides you right or left at the start of the loop.

Turn right to follow the worn path through the pine needles. Some of the campsites are visible through the screen of forest to the east.

An interpretive sign calls your attention to clues of the history of the turpentine industry in this pine forest.

Pine flatwoods and sign Passing an interpretive sign


The pond is at the interior of the loop. It is especially obvious where the understory is clear around an ancient live oak covered in resurrection fern.

Once crowded in on both sides of saw palmetto, the trail is especially obvious through the forest.

It loops around the pond and returns to the clearing with the first sign. Turn right to exit.

White tailed deer Deer browsing through the pine flatwoods


Trail Map

Flatwoods Pond Trail Map The trail is north of the park drive



Explore More!

Learn more about Lake Kissimmee State Park and its trails

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

Oaks and palms along the path

Gobbler Ridge Trail

From its showy start with a climb up an observation tower to its breezy loop along Lake Kissimmee, the Gobbler Ridge Trail offers scenic views all along its length

Trail leading to ancient live oak trees

North Loop

Crossing the Lake Kissimmee State Park park drive multiple times, the 6.8-mile North Loop is the easiest trail to access within the park, offering excellent birding

White blazed tree and trail into forest

Buster Island Loop

The 6.9-mile Buster Island Loop at Lake Kissimmee State Park is a favorite for both day hikers and backpackers, as it shows off a variety of habitats along the open prairies

Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

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.

Trails at Ridge Audubon Center

Ridge Audubon Trails

Atop the Lake Wales Ridge, the nature trails at the Ridge Audubon Center in Babson Park do a fabulous job of interpreting the unique flora and fauna of this island of biodiversity.

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.

Crooked Lake Prairie

Crooked Lake Prairie

With an interlinking network of loop trails, Crooked Lake Prairie is a refreshing excursion into habitats found on the high hills of the Lake Wales Ridge

Trail Map (PDF) Reserve Campsite Official Website

Category: Central Florida, Hikes, Loop Hikes, Nature Trails, TrailsTag: Dog-friendly, Easy Hikes, Family-Friendly, Florida State Parks, Lake Kissimmee State Park, Lake Wales, Wildlife Viewing

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