Resources
Resources for exploring the area
Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.
Exploring the Lake Wales Ridge
The peninsula of Florida is young, geologically speaking, built on sands of ancient oceans. But before a peninsula formed, a string of islands marked what is now the peninsula’s highest ridge.
The Lake Wales Ridge is a backbone in Central and South Florida, running nearly 150 miles from Clermont to south of Lake Placid.
Atop these former islands, the oldest land in the Florida peninsula, are some of North America’s most diverse and unusual biological communities.
Most notable are the scrubs, a desert-like habitat with the highest concentration of rare and endangered plants in the continental United States.
Their shining white quartz sands host diminutive species dating back to the Miocene Era.
Sadly, these soft white sands were quickly sought out for agriculture, since citrus grows well along the ridge. At the north end of the ridge, a sea of housing developments uprooted the citrus groves.
However, starting in the 1920s with Edward Bok’s Mountain Lake Sanctuary – now Bok Tower Gardens – protecting a peninsular high point of Iron Mountain (295 feet), efforts have been made to protect portions of the ridge with public lands and private foundations.
US 27 roughly follows the top of the ridge between Clermont and down towards Lake Okeechobee. A more enjoyable drive is to catch Scenic 17 from Haines City south to Sebring.
It parallels US 27, but showcases the region better, with more scenic views and hills as well as access to trailheads.
Trails and Parks along the Lake Wales Ridge
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
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
Crooked River Preserve On a 1.7-mile loop, Crooked River Preserve showcases a wide variety of habitats in a short hike on the northernmost extent of the Lake Wales Ridge in Clermont
Ferndale Preserve On Lake Apopka's western shore, Ferndale Preserve offers amazing panoramas of Florida's fourth largest lake, along with serious elevation changes on its four miles of multi-use trails
Hickory Lake Scrub Nestled along the eastern shore of Hickory Lake, Hickory Lake Scrub is a 57-acre preserve showcasing some of the unusual plants you can only find on the Lake Wales Ridge
Jack Creek Tract, Lake Wales Ridge WEA The remarkably unique Florida scrub habitat is on display at the Jack Creek Tract of Lake Wales Ridge WEA, home to rare endemic species.
Lake June-in-Winter Scrub Preserve State Park Protecting 845 acres of the whitest, brightest sand on the Lake Wales Ridge, Lake June-in-Winter Scrub Preserve State Park has one of the highest concentrations of rare plants in North America.
Lake June-in-Winter Scrub Trails A trio of trails following established firelines provides a challenging 3.5 mile walk in Florida's own desert for an up close look at uncommon species endemic to ancient scrub.
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 Louisa Hiking Trail Using the decades-old Lake Louisa Hiking Trail as its backbone, this 7.7-mile loop spans natural wetlands and rolling hills at Lake Louisa State Park.
Lake Louisa State Park As longleaf pine reaches for the sky, the rolling hills of Lake Louisa State Park near Clermont return to their forested roots
Lake Placid Scrub Home to Florida scrub-jays, this 3.5 mile loop in the Lake Wales Ridge Wildlife & Environmental Area provides views of the lake and a walk through ancient scrub.
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
Ridge Audubon Trails 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.
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. 
Tomoka Trail Following the tannic flow of Tomoka Run, this short nature trail traversing scrub and bayhead at Lake June-in-Winter Scrub Preserve is an introduction to the diverse nature of the Lake Wales Ridge. Articles
The new 50 Hikes in Central Florida (10/5/2018) We launched a new full-color edition of 50 Hikes in Central Florida at the National Trails Festival in Deland the first weekend of October. Take a peek inside.
On Iron Mountain (4/21/2008) Atop one of the highest points in Florida stands a monument to an immigrant who lived the American Dream and decided that his legacy would be to preserve this high point: Bok Tower Gardens