Resources
Resources for exploring the area
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Exploring Lake Wales
Home to both Bok Tower Gardens and Lake Kissimmee State Park, the sweep of public lands around Lake Wales spans both high points and the low, marsh-edged Kissimmee Chain of Lakes.
Surrounded by many natural lands, Lake Wales makes a good base camp for exploring southern Polk County since it has hotels and restaurants, unlike most smaller communities along the ridge.
Established in the 1920s during the Florida land boom, the city has a compact downtown with Spanish Mission architecture common in that period and a railroad museum in its old depot.
The Lake Wailes Trail, a paved bike path, parallels its namesake lake, and Spook Hill attracts the curious with its claim that a car in neutral will roll uphill.
Lake Wales thrived as a citrus growing and packing center, and still has a prominent packing house along US 27.
Enjoy the scent of blooming citrus on a drive down Scenic 17, the original highway of the region, that follows one of the highest ridges as it connects Haines City, Dundee, Lake Wales, Babson Park, and Frostproof.
Trails and Parks near Lake Wales
Big Bay Trail Traversing sandhill, pine flatwoods, and bayhead habitats, the Big Bay Trail offers a one mile loop with an optional 1.7-mile spur trail featuring two primitive campsites. 
Bok Tower Gardens Art, architecture, and nature intersect among fifty acres of gardens first planted a century ago atop Iron Mountain at Lake Wales.
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
Catfish Creek Preserve State Park At Catfish Creek Preserve State Park, the steep ridges of blinding white sand are some of Florida's most ancient landscapes, an unusual and unique natural area for Central Florida
Catfish Creek Preserve Trails Allan David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park isn’t just “a perfect example of Lake Wales Ridge Scrub,” it’s a landscape unlike any other you’ll find in Florida
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
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
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
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
Florida Trail, Kissimmee 111.3 miles. Following the Kissimmee River floodplain, this is a scenic section of the Florida Trail with a mix of levees, shady woods, river views, open prairies, and cattle ranches.
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
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
Lake Wales Ridge State Forest Atop the ancient sands of the Lake Wales Ridge, this massive state forest offers provides hikers and equestrians an expansive network of trails. 
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
Scrub Jay Loop An easy loop trail traverses scattered prairie ponds within a dry ecosystem suitable for one of the state’s most endangered birds, the Florida scrub-jay. 
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.
Tiger Creek Preserve Edward Bok's "Jungle," a deeply folded landscape between Tiger Creek and Patrick Creek south of Lake Wales, is protected by The Nature Conservancy as Tiger Creek Preserve. Related Articles
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