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Swans on a reflecting lake

Lakeland

With an array of parks and natural lands and a network of bike trails, Lakeland is a hub for outdoor recreation.

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Resources

Resources for exploring the area
Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover 50 Hikes in Central Florida Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover Paddlers Guide Florida  
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 Lakeland

As Polk County keeps adding to its array of natural lands and bike paths, recreation opportunities are on the rise throughout the region.

Lakeland is a hub for recreation along the central Lake Wales Ridge and into the Green Swamp as well as along the nearby Hillsborough and Alafia Rivers.

Blue river from bluff with blue skies
Withlacoochee River at Green Swamp West

Historic parks and loop trails around its major lakes provide green space in the urban downtown like Barnett Family Park and Hollis Garden on Lake Mirror, and nearby Bonnet Springs Park.

Lakeland would not be what it is without its swans, which have a direct connection to the royal family in England. They are primarily seen along Lake Morton.

Hollis Garden Lakeland
Hollis Garden

Bike paths connect both communities and parks and natural lands in the region, such as the Fort Fraser Trail between Lakeland and the county seat of Bartow.

It provides access to one of Florida’s best wildlife watching destinations, Circle B Bar Reserve.

Wetlands at Circle B Bar Reserve
Wetlands at Circle B Bar Reserve near Lakeland


Trails and Parks Near Lakeland

Trail through pine forest Alafia River State Park Alafia River State Park lets you launch on a Florida downhill while mountain biking the rugged terrain of a reforested open pit mine.
Tannic river in a forest Alderman’s Ford Conservation Park Straddling the confluence of the North and South Prong of the Alafia River, Alderman's Ford Conservation Park provides immersion into lush riverine forests.
River rapids in tannic water Alderman’s Ford Preserve Discover a surprising play of whitewater across the Alafia River where the river churns as it winds through a deeply eroded channel.
Red blazed trail in lush riverine forest Alderman’s Ford Trails Weaving though a lush floodplain forest in the Alafia River floodplain, a paved loop provides access to a network of natural pathways, boardwalks, and primitive campsites.
Auburndale TECO Trail Auburndale TECO Trail Connecting Auburndale with Polk City and the Van Fleet Trail, this linear bike path is a greenway through a growing community along the Polk Parkway east of Lakeland
Grassy mowed trail in pines Blackwater Creek Nature Preserve A pair of loop trails provide access to wide-open pine flatwoods interspersed with a mosaic of prairie, cypress domes, oak hammocks, and a quiet spot alongside the namesake creek.
Reflecting pool with palms Bok Tower Gardens Art, architecture, and nature intersect among fifty acres of gardens first planted a century ago atop Iron Mountain at Lake Wales.
Boardwalk looping along lakeshore as seen from above Bonnet Springs Park Offering a bounty of outdoor and nature activities along with museums and public spaces, Bonnet Springs Park is an urban gem in the city of Lakeland, a top destination statewide for family nature fun.
White blazed tree and trail into forest 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
Prairie basin with tall orange grasses 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
Rolling hills at Catfish Creek Preserve 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
Wetlands at Circle B Bar Reserve Circle B Bar Reserve For fabulous birding and more alligators than you can count, roam the marshy edge of Lake Hancock on miles of causeways through Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland
Fishing pier on lake Colt Creek State Park Camping beneath the twinkling stars at Colt Creek State Park, enjoy a getaway from the busy bustle of the Interstate 4 corridor between Lakeland and Tampa
Cyclist on paved Flatwoods Loop Flatwoods Park In addition to the 6.9 mile paved bike path loop at its core, Flatwoods Park at Lower Hillsborough Wilderness provides many different routes for outdoor exploration
Deeply shaded trail under sand live oaks Florida Trail, Green Swamp West Traversing scenic oak hammock, sandhills, and pine flatwood habitats, the southernmost six miles of the Florida Trail in Green Swamp West offers spectacular day hike and backpacking experiences.
Peeking over the walls of a wooden fort Fort Foster State Historic Site Part of Hillsborough River State Park, Fort Foster State Historic Site takes you back to the era of Florida's earliest pioneer settlers and their clashes with the native Seminoles.
Fort Fraser Trail Fort Fraser Trail Paralleling US 98 between Bartow and Lakeland, the Fort Fraser Trail is along an urban greenway with connectivity to Circle B Bar Reserve
Gator Creek Preserve Gator Creek Reserve A dip into a corner of the Green Swamp, Gator Creek Preserve north of Lakeland offers 2.5 miles of easy loop trails for the whole family to explore
Foreground of cypress knees with rapids beyond Hillsborough River State Park With a trail system and picnic grounds built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, Hillsborough River State Park delights with miles of scenic trails, a swinging bridge, and the froth of river rapids.
Holloway Park Main Trail Holloway Park With day hiking and cross country trails, Holloway Park & Nature Preserve is a slice of nature inside the city limits of Lakeland, just off the Polk Parkway.
John B Sargeant Park John B Sargeant Park At the scenic confluence of Flint Creek with the Hillsborough River, John B Sargeant Park provides access to the Hillsborough River State Canoe Trail amid a lush cypress floodplain, with a boardwalk and footpath showcasing the views.
Wild irises at Huckleberry Island Lake Marion Huckleberry Island Providing an easy walk into 8,000 acres of uplands draining into Lake Marion Creek, the trail system on Huckleberry Island at Lake Marion Creek WMA leads 4.2 miles.
Lakeland Highlands Scrub Lakeland Highlands Scrub On more than 3 miles of trails, Lakeland Highlands Scrub offers a close-up look at the Lakeland Ridge, an ancient island when Florida was beneath the seas: parts of this 551-acre preserve are at 230 feet elevation.
View of the Little Manatee River from the trail Little Manatee River Trail Scenery, rugged landscape, and botanical diversity are all important factors for a great Florida hike. You'll find that on the 6.5-mile Little Manatee River Hiking Trail, one of our long-time favorites.
Open marshy plain with blue skies Lower Green Swamp Preserve Miles of mixed-use trail loops traverses riverine forests and pine savanna, offering views of vast wet prairies and cypress swamps.
Woodlands at Flatwoods Park Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve As the largest natural area in the Tampa Bay region, Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve is a major destination for recreation, with seven entrances across 16,000 acres
Sunlight dappled on Florida upland forest Mac Lake Trail An easy excursion into a dense hardwood forest along a natural floodplain, the Mac Lake Nature Trail at Colt Creek State Park is an interpretive walk in the woods
Oak hammock Marshall Hampton Reserve Marshall Hampton Reserve Sample a colorful corner of more than 1,100 acres of conservation land along the eastern shore of Lake Hancock on a hike combining oak hammocks and wetlands for birding
Picnic table under a live oak McIntosh Preserve A tall observation tower is the centerpiece of this tucked-away preserve featuring miles of well-marked, family-friendly, ADA accessible trails.
Boardwalk amid cypress trees Mosaic Peace River Park At the site of a former phosphate mine, a boardwalk slips through the cypress swamps of the Peace River floodplain at Mosaic Peace River Park near Fort Meade.
Trail leading to ancient live oak trees 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
Tannic creek beneath moss laden trees Peace River Trail Discover a scenic shoreline along the Peace River where Paynes Creek empties into the winding, narrow river's tannic flow.
Saddle Creek Park Saddle Creek Park Nature Trail An urban park with camping east of downtown Lakeland, Saddle Creek Park has a 2.4 mile round-trip birding trail and a connector to Tenoroc
Trout Creek Park Nature Trail Trout Creek Park Under a tight-knit canopy of live oaks, Trout Creek Park provides a pleasant place for a family picnic and a nature walk along the floodplain of the Hillsborough River
Cyclist Van Fleet Trail Van Fleet Trail Cruise up a wooded corridor through the Green Swamp along 29.2 miles of paved trail on an old rail corridor optimized for a long ride through the heart of rural Central Florida

Articles

50 Hikes Central Florida graphic 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.
Hikers in the Oak Ridge Tract Hiking Tampa’s Oak Ridge (2/6/2014) The Oak Ridge Tract of Lower Hillsborough River Wilderness Area is a beautiful area for a hike. We joined the Suncoast Chapter of the FTA for an exploration while in the region for a talk

More Articles More Parks


NEARBY: Auburndale, Bartow, Brandon, Clermont, Dade City, Kissimmee, Lake Wales, Orlando, Plant City, Tampa, Walt Disney World, Winter Haven, Zephyrhills | ALONG: Green Swamp, Peace River | PART OF: Central Florida

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