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Mown path thrown scrubby palmetto

Florida Trail, Three Lakes South

8.5 miles. Winding through picturesque prairies and primordial oak hammocks, the Florida Trail showcases the best of Three Lakes WMA south of the Prairie Lakes Unit.

Florida Trail, Kissimmee  |  Kenansville
( 27.807153, -81.129093 )      8.5 miles

Encompassing a portion of one of the biggest areas of dry prairie in the East, the lands now managed as Three Lakes WMA were historically used as a large ranch for cattle grazing.

Owing to its large size and open-range style of ranching, much of the landscape has retained its natural qualities.

vast palmetto prairie Palmetto prairie at Three Lakes South


Crossing the south end of Three Lakes WMA, this section of the Florida Trail traverses prairie, slough, and oak hammock.

In the middle of it all is a gorgeous official campsite nestled between two highly distinct environments.

Oak hammock with palms and citrus trees Godwin Hammock is a lush island in the vast prairie


Resources

Resources for exploring the area

Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover Florida Trail small coffee table book Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide 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: Kenansville
Length: 8.5 mile linear
Trailhead: 27.807153, -81.129093
Fees: $3 per person
Restrooms: Vault toilet at south trailhead
Land manager: Florida Fish & Wildlife
Phone: 352-732-1225

Open sunrise to sunset unless camping. Leashed dogs permitted.

This is a popular destination for deer and turkey hunters with many deer stands visible along the trail. Check on hunt dates before planning your hike and wear bright orange during hunts.

Trail between twin palms


Directions

 
The south trailhead is at a hunt check station. From the intersection of US 441 and SR 60 in Yeehaw Junction, head west on SR 60 for 14.7 miles. Turn right onto an unmarked dirt road. At the entrance, a Florida Trail sign stands next to a sign that indicates the road does not go through to Canoe Creek Road. Continue north on the unpaved road for 2 miles, and the parking area will be on the right immediately after passing the campground.
 
The north access point is within the Prairie Lakes Unit of Three Lakes WMA. From US 441 and SR 60 in Yeehaw Junction, follow US 441 north 14.1 miles to Kenansville. Turn left on Canoe Creek Rd at the Kenansville Country Store. Continue 9.5 miles north, passing Lake Marian Paradise and Sunset Ranch, to reach the main entrance to the Prairie Lakes Unit. Follow the entrance road past the main Florida Trail trailhead for 4.7 miles, passing several turnoffs, including one to Lake Jackson. The Road 16 crossing at the end of this hike is at a stile. Drive another half mile to reach the Lake Jackson Tower trailhead, which sits along a levee.

Hike

Starting at a small parking area adjacent to the check station and hunt camp, head east down a mowed pathway before reaching the Florida Trail in a tenth of a mile.

Turn left, following orange-blazed posts of a fence line northward into a vast open landscape.

Orange blaze on fence through grassy prairie Prairie fence


Paralleling a fence at the edge of the property, the path travels along a rugged fire break for one mile before turning towards a panoramic sea of palmettos.

The terrain is generally flat while the trail follows tall orange-blazed posts across an unshaded mosaic of dry and wet prairie for the next two miles.

Landscape of palmetto prairie Sea of palmettos


Vegetation becomes taller and more diverse as the trail approaches a stand of oaks in the distance.

As the trail enters Godwin Hammock, the habitat changes dramatically under a shaded canopy of live oaks and cabbage palms.

Shade provided by oak trees along trail Godwin Hammock


Countless epiphytes cling to heavy oak branches in this dense, sub-tropical jungle, including butterfly orchids, resurrection ferns and ball moss.

The trail continues to the north, staying within a sliver of oak hammock with prairie views slightly visible through the thick undergrowth on both sides.

Orchid leaves in live oak Butterfly orchid


Reaching an end of the oak stand in 1.3 miles, an inviting trailside site known as Godwin Hammock Camp sits at the edge of a beautiful dry prairie.

An excellent spot to view spectacular sunsets over the prairie, this primitive campsite offers a picnic table, campfire ring with benches, a raised tent platform, and a well pump.

Camping area sign and picnic bench in clearing Godwin Hammock Camp


Leaving Godwin Hammock, the trail slices through a wide expanse of golden grasses dotted with sporadic oaks and cabbage palms.

The habitat changes slightly while approaching Fodderstack Slough, a large marsh connecting Lake Marian to Lake Kissimmee, two of the namesake “Three Lakes.”

Open Grassy prairie with blazed post  Grassy prairie


Elements of pine flatwoods slowly transition to mesic hammock as paw paws, blueberries, and fetterbush lyonia give way to large oaks draped with Spanish moss.

To cross Fodderstack Slough, the trail joins a dirt road and its causeway across the marsh for almost a half mile before returning to the woods.

Swamp crossing on pavement Fodderstack Slough


Following a well-defined path through a spotty canopy, the trail winds past clusters of ancient saw palmettos, charred cabbage palms, and bone-white remnants of oak trees.

The overstory gradually increases, providing more shade as the trail approaches the end of this segment at Road 16.

Blackened trunks on cabbage palms Scorched palms


Finish your hike with a climb up a stile over the fence between Three Lakes South and the Prairie Lakes Unit, formerly a Florida State Park.

A minimal amount of roadside day use parking is possible. If you leave a car at the Lake Jackson Tower parking area, turn left and walk the road a half mile to the parking area.

Blazed arching oak limb in forest Blazed oak in a shady hammock


NORTHBOUND: Prairie Lakes
SOUTHBOUND: SR 60 roadwalk to KICCO WMA

The 7.2 mile SR 60 roadwalk between KICCO North and Three Lakes South is by far the most dangerous piece of the Florida Trail. Non-thru-hikers are advised to skip it.

If you tackle it, you need to be north of the highway when you reach the Kissimmee River Bridge. The lanes are narrow, the traffic high-speed, distracted, and heavy on semis.

This video gives a rapid walk-through of the roadwalk hiked west to east.


Trail Map

Florida Trail Three Lakes South Trail Map
Red: route described. Orange: connecting Florida Trail. Blue: side trails.

Explore More!

Learn more about the full route of the Florida Trail through Three Lakes

Vast expanse of prairie with blaze post

Florida Trail, Three Lakes WMA

At Three Lakes WMA / Prairie Lakes Unit, the Florida Trail traverses one of the largest expanses of open prairie in the Southeast, the Kissimmee Prairie.

Video

A virtual hike through Three Lakes South


Slideshow

See our photos of the Florida Trail, Three Lakes South


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

White blazed post in pine savanna

Prairie Lakes Loop

Enjoy the counterpoint of moss-draped oak hammocks and expansive prairies at Prairie Lakes along one of the older and more beloved pieces of the Florida Trail.

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.

FT KICCO North curve

Florida Trail, KICCO North

3.4 miles. Take in a panorama of marshes busy with birds in the Kissimmee River floodplain at River Ranch along the northernmost reaches of the Kissimmee River

Long Hammock at KICCO

Florida Trail, KICCO South

10.1 miles. Ancient live oaks break up the expanse of cattle pastures and prairies along the Florida Trail adjoining the Kissimmee River in KICCO

Trail Map (PDF) Hunt Dates Official Website

Category: Backpacking, Central Florida, Day Hikes, Florida Trail, Hikes, TrailsTag: Birding, Dog-friendly, Florida Trail, FT Kissimmee, Kenansville, Primitive Camping, Three Lakes WMA, Wildflowers, Yeehaw Junction

Have an update? Contact us.

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Our Florida Trail Books

The Florida Trail Guide

The Florida Trail GuideThe comprehensive mile-by-mile guidebook to planning section and thru-hikes along the entire length of the Florida Trail. 356 pages, $19.95 + tax and shipping.

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Florida Trail Hikes

Florida Trail HikesFifty of the best day hikes, overnights, and weekend trips on the Florida Trail, plus nine of the best section hikes. Full hike descriptions and maps, full color. 376 pages. $24.95 + tax and shipping.

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Discovering the Florida Trail

Florida Trail mini coffee table book cover of trail into palm hammock
Our virtual walk along the length of the Florida Trail, covering more than 1,500 miles from the Everglades to Pensacola Beach. Hardcover, 196 pages. $24.95 + tax and shipping.

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The Florida Trail

Florida Trail large coffee table book cover of trail down swamp causeway under ancient pines

Our history of the first 50 years of the Florida Trail, from its founding in 1966 to becoming a National Scenic Trail to volunteer efforts today.

Learn More

The Florida Trail App

Comprehensive logistics and offline maps all in one: The Florida Trail Guide is now also an interactive map-based mile-by-mile app by Guthook Guides.

Get the App!

Florida Trail Updates


Get periodic recaps of changes to the Florida Trail, which we accumulate between editions of our guidebook. Find all official Trail Closures & Notices here.

Hiking the Florida Trail

  • Florida Trail Overview
  • Plan your Hike
  • Choose the Right Gear
  • Best Scenic Hikes
  • Best Backpacking Trips
  • Section Hiking
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  • Eastern Continental Trail
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  • Florida Trail for Scouting
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  • Florida Trail Updates

Florida Trail by Section

Porter Lake, Apalachicola National Forest

Florida Trail, Apalachicola

Florida Trail, Apalachicola
Florida Trail Big Bend view

Florida Trail, Big Bend

Florida Trail, Big Bend
Florida Trail Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Blackwater

Florida Trail, Blackwater
Florida Trail Nokuse

Florida Trail, Central Panhandle

Florida Trail, Central Panhandle
Eglin Weaver Creek

Florida Trail, Eglin

Florida Trail, Eglin
Florida Trail Kissimmee

Florida Trail, Kissimmee

Florida Trail, Kissimmee
Florida Trail at Rice Creek

Florida Trail, Northeast Florida

Florida Trail, Northeast Florida
Juniper Prairie Wilderness

Florida Trail, Ocala

Florida Trail, Ocala
Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail

Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail

Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail
Florida Trail, Okeechobee

Florida Trail, Okeechobee

Florida Trail, Okeechobee
Florida Trail at Forever Florida

Florida Trail, Orlando

Florida Trail, Orlando
Florida Trail Seashore Dunes

Florida Trail, Seashore

Florida Trail, Seashore
Florida Trail along a canal south of Clewiston

Florida Trail, Seminole

Florida Trail, Seminole
No Name Creek

Florida Trail, Suwannee

Florida Trail, Suwannee
Cypress Lakes Preserve

Florida Trail, Western Corridor

Florida Trail, Western Corridor

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