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

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Lake Okeechobee pier

Lake Okeechobee

Covering 730 square miles, Lake Okeechobee is the liquid heart of South Florida


Contents

  • 1 Resources
  • 2 Exploring Lake Okeechobee
  • 3 Featured Trails and Parks around Lake Okeechobee
    • 3.1 Okee-Tantie Recreation Area
    • 3.2 Harney Pond Canal Recreation Area
    • 3.3 Florida Trail, Port Mayaca to Henry Creek
    • 3.4 Florida Trail, Okeechobee
    • 3.5 Florida Trail, Pahokee to Port Mayaca
    • 3.6 Florida Trail, Clewiston to South Bay
    • 3.7 Florida Trail, Okee-tantie to Platts Bluff
    • 3.8 Rafael Sanchez Trail
    • 3.9 Ortona Mounds
  • 4 Articles
    • 4.1 East or West around Lake Okeechobee?
    • 4.2 Around Okeechobee
    • 4.3 Florida’s Waters
    • 4.4 Okeechobee Wind

Resources

Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover South Florida Explorers Guide book cover 50 Hikes in South Florida 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 continue to provide public information on this website.


Exploring Lake Okeechobee

As the second largest lake entirely within the United States, Lake Okeechobee is a very unique recreation destination.
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You won’t find anyone paddling on the lake – it’s thick with alligators – but nationally-renowned Fisheating Creek is nearby.

What you will find are lots of folks fishing, but also bicycling around the lake, hiking, and birding.

In addition to a major segment of the Florida Trail – a segment known as the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail to cyclists – circling the lake, there are quite a few other hiking trails nearby.

Adventures on the water can be arranged in Okechobee and Clewiston with fishing guides and airboat operators who know the lake and its many coves well.


Featured Trails and Parks around Lake Okeechobee

Okee-tantie Recreation Area

Okee-Tantie Recreation Area

Okee-Tantie Recreation Area
Harney Pond Canal Recreation Area

Harney Pond Canal Recreation Area

Harney Pond Canal Recreation Area
Florida Trail, Port Mayaca to Henry Creek

Florida Trail, Port Mayaca to Henry Creek

Florida Trail, Port Mayaca to Henry Creek
Florida Trail, Okeechobee

Florida Trail, Okeechobee

Florida Trail, Okeechobee
Florida Trail, Pahokee

Florida Trail, Pahokee to Port Mayaca

Florida Trail, Pahokee to Port Mayaca
Lake Okeechobee at John Stretch Park

Florida Trail, Clewiston to South Bay

Florida Trail, Clewiston to South Bay
Florida Trail Okee-Tantie

Florida Trail, Okee-tantie to Platts Bluff

Florida Trail, Okee-tantie to Platts Bluff
Rafael Sanchez Trail

Rafael Sanchez Trail

Rafael Sanchez Trail
Ortona Mounds

Ortona Mounds

Ortona Mounds
 
More Trails


Articles

Construction zone along Lake Okeechobee

East or West around Lake Okeechobee?

January 8, 2020//  by Sandra Friend & John Keatley

Making the decision to walk the Florida Trail east or west around Lake Okeechobee used to be easy. Now, with construction zones blocking access to much of the southern half of the lake, it isn’t. Here are the facts on each route’s strengths and weaknesses to help you decide the best route for you.

Dike reconstruction at Rardin Park

Around Okeechobee

January 8, 2020//  by Sandra Friend & John Keatley

Our 2020 update of the state of the Florida Trail around Lake Okeechobee. Thru-hikers should continue to use Okeechobee West as their route around the lake. We provide full details on why.

Lafayette Blue Spring

Florida’s Waters

June 13, 2016//  by Sandra Friend

In Florida, water is an ever-present part of our lives. A visit to the Rainbow River yesterday brought back memories of the past and concerns for the future of Florida’s waters.

Okeechobee Wind

November 26, 2015//  by Sandra Friend

Atop the Herbert Hoover Dike, looming nearly forty feet above Lake Okeechobee, you expect wind – headwinds and tailwinds – as you hike the Florida Trail. A shallow basin of 730 square miles, the lake plays with the weather.


INCLUDES: Clewiston, Lakeport, Moore Haven, Okeechobee, Pahokee, Port Mayaca, South Bay | NEARBY: Basinger, Big Cypress Seminole Reservation, Labelle, Lake Placid, Port St. Lucie, Sebring, Stuart, West Palm Beach | PART OF: South Florida

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Florida National Scenic Trail (1,500 miles), the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail (108 miles), and the ECT Florida Connector (92 miles).

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SOUTH FLORIDA
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