Lakeland

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.

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.

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.

Trails and Parks Near Lakeland

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.

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.

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.

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 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

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.

Bok Tower Gardens Art, architecture, and nature intersect among fifty acres of gardens first planted a century ago atop Iron Mountain at Lake Wales.

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.

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.

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

Colt Creek Flatwoods Trail Miles of beautifully managed pine forests and cypress domes are on display alongside large areas of habitat restoration on the Colt Creek State Park Flatwoods Trail.

Colt Creek State Park For a getaway from the busy bustle of the Interstate 4 corridor between Lakeland and Tampa, wander an extensive trail system and camp beneath the twinkling stars at Colt Creek State Park.

Colt Creek Yellow Trail At the south end of Colt Creek State Park, the Yellow Trail circumnavigates mesic flatwoods and cypress domes surrounding a primitive group campground.

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.

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.

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 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 Reserve A dip into a corner of the Green Swamp, Gator Creek Preserve north of Lakeland offers over 3 miles of easy loop trails for the whole family to explore.

Green Swamp East Weekend Loop Connect the Florida Trail with a side loop through vast pine savannas, floodplain swamps, and cypress domes for a 15.5 mile loop to camp at Tillman Hammock in Green Swamp East.

Hillsborough River State Park With footpaths and picnic grounds built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, this park delights with miles of scenic trails, a swinging bridge, and the froth of river rapids.

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 Conservation Park Part of Lower Hillsborough River Wilderness Preserve, John B. Sargeant Conservation Park has a put-in for paddlers and a short boardwalk into the river floodplain.

Lake Kissimmee 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

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 On nearly 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.

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.

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.

Mac Lake Nature 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

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.

McIntosh Preserve A tall observation tower is the centerpiece of this tucked-away preserve featuring miles of well-marked, family-friendly, ADA accessible trails.

Mosaic Peace River Park On the site of a former phosphate mine, worn footpaths top a windswept hilltop above the cypress swamps of the Peace River where a once-fabulous boardwalk to the river is in disrepair.

Paynes Creek Historic State Park Straddling the former treaty boundary of Seminole lands, this interpretive site along the Peace River features a network of trails tied together by a swinging footbridge.

Saddle Creek Park East of downtown Lakeland, this urban county park makes use of old mine pits as lakes, with a campground and a 2.5 mile birding trail providing occasional panoramas.

Tenoroc Explore a blend of peculiar landscapes and challenging terrain along a lengthy loop trail maintained by the Heartland Chapter of the Florida Trail Association.

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.

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

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.

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.