Florida Hikes

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

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

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

Resources for exploring the area
Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover 50 Hikes in Central Florida Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover Paddlers Guide Florida
 
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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

Lake Kissimmee State Park Hiking Trails Map
Red: Buster Island Loop. Yellow: North Loop. Green: Gobbler Ridge Trail. Light blue: Flatwoods Pond Trail.
Purple: North Loop-Gobbler connector. Orange: Cow Camp. Blue: connectors and spurs.

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 2.8 mile Gobbler Ridge Trail offers scenic views all along its length
Trail leading to ancient live oak trees Lake Kissimmee 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

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.
Scrub habitat with footpath Ridge Audubon Center 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.
Expanse of lake with grass foreground and ridge on far shore Crooked Lake Prairie At Crooked Lake Prairie, the dunes of the Lake Wales Ridge meet showy prairie grasslands along the eastern shore of Crooked Lake.

Trail Map (PDF) Reserve Campsite Official Website

Sandra Friend
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