First hiked in the 1960s and developed as a loop in the Florida National Scenic Trail in the 1980s, the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail offers spectacular views.
Mainly atop the 35-foot-tall Herbert Hoover Dike built for flood control between the 1930s and 1960s, it offers unmatched perspectives on the lake for photographers and birders.
Resources
Resources for exploring the area
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Overview
Location: South Florida
Length: 109 miles
Fees: Free, with established campsites along the route
Restrooms: at community parks along the route
Bicycles and leashed pets welcome. Equestrians allowed between Port Mayaca and Nubbin Slough. Overnight camping permitted.
No hunting is permitted on the levee, but you will hear gunshots and see duck hunters in their boats in the near marshes during the fall waterfowl season.
Because of severe water quality issues in the Okeechobee basin, we strongly suggest avoiding all surface water sources. Use potable water sources only.
In addition, algal blooms can now cause respiratory issues in susceptible individuals. Before your visit, check the Army Corps of Engineers website regards posted warnings.
Directions
Please click on specific destinations above for directions to trailheads.
About the Trail
On the east side of the lake, views are primarily of islands and vast open waters. The west side of the lake is shallow and marshy.
Sunrises (best viewed from the western shore) and sunsets (from the northeastern shore) are especially gorgeous across the marshes and open waters.
The route was popularized for nearly 30 years by the Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association and their annual Big O Hike, which has been suspended.
With most of the route atop the dike paved, the 109-mile loop is a destination for century riders.
All segments are covered in our Florida Trail app (FarOut Guides) as well as The Florida Trail Guide.
These are specific segments we suggest for hiking and biking.
Florida Trail, Henry Creek to Okeechobee 8.6 miles. Along the north shoreline of Lake Okeechobee, this paved segment of the Florida Trail is one of its prettiest, offering sweeping views of the lake.
Florida Trail, Lakeport to Indian Prairie 11.9 miles. In the sweep of the Herbert Hoover Dike past Lakeport, the Florida Trail overlooks the vast western marshes of Lake Okeechobee.
Florida Trail, Okeechobee to Okee-Tantie 3.8 miles. On the sweep of Lake Okeechobee shoreline between Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River, expect some of the best birding along the lake as you walk along the dike.
Florida Trail, Port Mayaca to Henry Creek 14 miles. In an arc between ancient natural shoreline and expansive waters, this hike along Lake Okeechobee's eastern shore offers unparalleled vistas.Parks along Lake Okeechobee
While there are many trailheads and recreation areas along the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, these parks provide some of the best access points and views along the lake.
Clif J. Betts Jr. Lakeside Recreation Area Also known as Lake Okeechobee Lakeside Recreation Area, this waterfront park in Okeechobee offers expansive views of the big lake from its shoreline and pier.
Harney Pond Canal Recreation Area Discover uniquely wild panoramas along Lake Okeechobee with a walk on this paved trail in Lakeport
Okee-Tantie Recreation Area Where the Kissimmee River pours its waters into Lake Okeechobee, Okee-Tantie Recreation Area offers access to the river and a wild marshy stretch of lakeshore.Critical Gaps
Watching the evolution of this trail for more than two decades, it’s been a joy to see pedestrian bridges added at Chosen, John Stretch Park, and Harney Pond Canal.
According to the master plan unveiled in the early 2000s, Taylor Creek is eventually supposed to have a pedestrian bridge, too.
Serious gaps are at important navigational points: the locks at Port Mayaca and Moore Haven, and the open water of the Kissimmee River.
In all three of these locations, hikers and cyclists must leave the dike and utilize highway bridges to cross the waterways.
Only the Caloosahatchee River bridge in Moore Haven offers a pedestrian walkway separate from traffic.
Unfortunately, a fumble at Taylor Creek over land use documents resulted in a private landowner blocking public access to the public right-of-way.
This forces all recreational users out to busy US 441 between Nubbin Slough and Taylor Creek for a distance of more than two miles.
Related articles
Summiting Lake Okeechobee’s High Point (1/22/2014) Views from the top: this connector piece of the Florida Trail between the two sides of Port Mayaca across the highway bridge offers an excellent perspective on the lake.Explore More!
Slideshow
See our photos from the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail
Nearby Adventures
More worth exploring close to Lake Okeechobee
DuPuis WMA Explore nearly 22,000 acres of public land near Lake Okeechobee on extensive networks of trails for hikers, cyclists, and equestrians.
Fisheating Creek Beloved of paddlers and largely protected by Fisheating Creek WMA, South Florida's wildest waterway rises south of Lake Placid and flows towards Lake Okeechobee.
Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail A 61-mile spur of the Florida Trail from Port Mayaca on the east side of Lake Okeechobee through forested landscapes to Hobe Sound Beach on the Atlantic Ocean.
Fort Center Explore Fort Center, a pre-Colombian village lost in Florida’s past – and uncovered again by archaeologists – by following this trail in Fisheating Creek WMA. 
Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park Enjoy Florida's own big sky at the only state park in Florida where starry skies fill the horizon and an extensive network of trails - including the Florida Trail - provides access for exploration.
Rafael Sanchez Trail In a narrow slice of forest atop the relict shoreline of Lake Okeechobee, the Rafael Sanchez Trail stays in deep shade for its 5.7 mile linear traverse of the rocky Okeechobee Ridge.
- Hal Scott Red Trail - November 13, 2026
- Baseline Trails - November 7, 2026
- Hal Scott Yellow Trail - November 3, 2026