• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Florida Hikes logo

Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

  • Trails
  • Maps
  • Guidebooks
  • Search
  • Hike
    • Scenic Hikes
    • Loop Trails
    • Dog-friendly Hikes
    • Hikes for Kids
    • National Parks in Florida
    • Florida State Parks
  • Bike
    • Major Bike Trails
    • Paved Bike Trails
    • Off Road Biking
    • Biking Articles
  • Paddle
    • Canoe & Kayak Rentals
    • Paddling Destinations
    • Paddling Articles
  • Camp
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Car Camping
    • Primitive Camping
  • Florida Trail
    • Plan your Hike
    • Best Scenic Hikes
    • Best Backpacking
    • Section Hiking
    • Thru-Hiking
    • Trail Updates
  • Travel
  • Hike
    • Scenic Hikes
    • Loop Trails
    • Dog-friendly Hikes
    • Hikes for Kids
    • National Parks in Florida
    • Florida State Parks
  • Bike
    • Major Bike Trails
    • Paved Bike Trails
    • Off Road Biking
    • Biking Articles
  • Paddle
    • Canoe & Kayak Rentals
    • Paddling Destinations
    • Paddling Articles
  • Camp
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Car Camping
    • Primitive Camping
  • Florida Trail
    • Plan your Hike
    • Best Scenic Hikes
    • Best Backpacking
    • Section Hiking
    • Thru-Hiking
    • Trail Updates
  • Travel

Florida Trail along the Kissimmee River

November 12, 2014    Sandra Friend

277 shares

The move of the Florida Trail to the east side of the Kissimmee River is the longest and most significant trail relocation seen in many years. As it changed in December 2013, the new route is not included in The Florida Trail Guide, so please print these details to replace what is in your book for this section between US 98 at Micco Landing and KICCO. The Florida Trail App contains this new route.

Do NOT use the western Kissimmee River route shown in the guidebook, since it is no longer maintained. Blazes have been removed from portions of the western side of the Kissimmee River along US 98 in order to not lead hikers to the former section of the trail.

Section Description
28.2 US 98. *Start roadwalk to Starvation Slough* Micco Landing trailhead 0.2W and Micco Landing campsite 0.6N (permit required)
28.6 US 98 & Micco Landing Rd (CR 68). Basinger Community Center w spigot. Cracker Trail Store 1.3E
28.7 Walker Rd straight ahead. Turn west
29.5 highway bridge over stream
30.4 entrance to Basinger Farm
30.7 ditch with water
31.7 farm road to E
33.7 flat dry spot W side of road
34.4 ranch gate to E flanked by palm trees
34.7 orange grove to W
35.5 ranch entrance to E
36.3 Oak Creek trailhead campsite 1.0W at river. Permit required.
36.5 Oak Creek. Access near monitor station
36.6 blue blaze W to oak hammock on public land
36.7 ranch gate to E
37.8 Starvation Slough WMA entrance gate
38.2 culverts over deep inaccessible slough
38.3 Turn north at gate with campsite sign. 0.1W Starvation Slough trailhead with large shelter over picnic tables. No water.
38.7 Starvation Slough campsite. permit required. Picnic shelter. Water 0.5N
39.1 cross sand road
39.2 Starvation Slough. Water crossing
39.6 prairie rim
39.8 live oaks
39.9 pond
40.2 oak hammock
40.5 levee. Gate to E
41.5 beautiful oak hammock
41.9 water-filled depression under palms
42.1 beautiful oak hammock
42.5 Cathedral of Palms South
42.7 S-65B Tieback Levee. Campsite (proposed) 0.3W; water from river 0.8W
43.1 natural drainage
43.2 willow marsh to E
43.6 natural drainage under palms
43.7 water from river/slough to W
43.9 follow ranch fence
44.2 cross slough
44.5 narrow ledge between slough and fence
45.0 large live oaks
45.3 broad natural drainage from ranch
45.7 River View campsite (proposed). Water from river 0.2W
46.0 Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park south boundary fence *park rules apply*
46.0 Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park sign
46.6 crossroads of sand roads. Water from river 0.1 NW
49.5 south end 0.9N high water route
50.9 north end 0.9S high water route
51.2 MM junction. Water from Duck Slough 100' straight where trail turns right
51.3 Hammock Campsite (designated campsite)
51.4 Edge of Duck Slough
51.6 Boardwalk over Duck Slough in cypress dome
51.9 junction N/S firebreak
52.0 LL junction with Duck Slough Prairie Trail to S
52.5 NN junction with Grasshopper Sparrow Trail to E
52.5 EE junction with Long Hammock Trail to W
52.6 FF junction with River Trail to NW
54.3 HH junction. Join Military Trail heading E
54.5 II junction with McGuire Prairie Trail to N. Continue E.
55.8 rain gauge
57.4 junction JJ: Palmetto Loop. Campsites 0.7S. No water.
59.0 west gate
59.2 Kissimmee Prairie equestrian campground
59.4 Kissimmee Prairie Preserve office. Campground 0.2E
59.7 cross Sevenmile Slough
59.9 junction South Pasture Trail to E. Continue N.
61.1 junction with trail to NE. Continue NW.
61.5 ephemeral pond to E
61.8 junction Five Mile Slough Trail. Cross Fivemile Slough
61.9 palm hammock at Five Mile Slough
64.1 junction Gum Slough and Gum Slough Prairie Trails
64.1 cross Gum Slough on tall culvert
64.2 railroad ties with trail map
64.3 junction Pine Island Slough Trail. Pine Island campsite (proposed) to NE
64.5 cross Pine Island Slough. Seasonally deep water: protect your gear
69.2 Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park north boundary gate
70.6 S-65A lock *lock crossing procedure applies*
71.4 KICCO Grade. Camp Hammock campsite 0.4S. Permit required.
72.3 KICCO Town campsite. Permit required. Water from river

Several 2015 updates regarding the route:

Micco Landing: SFWMD has acquired the land necessary to eliminate the 10 mile Micco Landing roadwalk. Watch for an update to signage and blazing this year near US 98 in Basinger as the new section of trail gets developed.

Starvation Slough: Reroute of beginning of Starvation Slough section onto the access road to the campsite makes it necessary to scale a 6′ locked gate. Section leader says this will be replaced with either a pass-thru or reroute later this year.

There is now a designated Starvation Slough campsite in the Cathedral South area, with picnic table and benches. No water. There is a water source past it down a blue-blaze on the Tieback Levee to the Kissimmee River, about a mile round-trip. Like all campsites along the Kissimmee, a free permit is needed from SFWMD for use.

Some specific notes about this route:

Campsites north and south of Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park are governed by South Florida Water Management District. A free permit is required for camping at all of the campsites listed. Obtain online from South Florida Water Management District or call 561-924-5310, ext. 3333 weekdays 9-4 and ask for Kim Willis.

At Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, it is very easy to get lost thanks to the network of forest roads throughout the park and a lack of signage. Signposts do not exist because they attract raptors, and one of the missions of the park is to prevent the endangered grasshopper sparrow from going extinct. So watch for paver blocks with blazes and instructions along the route, use the detailed data list above, and carry a map. Filtering water from the swamps along Military Trail is not recommended due to the very heavy population of very large alligators.

No random camping is permitted within the state park. Use designated sites only. Check in at the park office to pay for camping ($5 per person primitive camping) and entrance fees ($2) as you pass by that point. Use only the designated campsites of Hammock Campsite, Palmetto Loop, Equestrian Campsite, and the campground ($10 for thru-hikers in designated tenting area), which has laundry facilities (bring your own soap) and hot showers.

You must follow these specific procedures to cross the S-65A lock:
1) Contact Kim Willis at SFWMD in advance of your estimated arrival date at 561-924-5310, ext. 3333 or by email at kwillis@sfwmd.gov, weekdays 9-4. Ask about current lock operating hours, as there is nowhere to camp on the east side of the lock if you arrive at the lock at a time when the lock tender is not on duty.

2) When you arrive at the lock, sound the buzzer to alert the lock tender. There are signs directing what to do once the buzzer is sounded; eg. hiker will wait at the crossing for lock tender to come and unchain the crossing. Lock tender will re-chain once the hiker is through.

The lock can only be crossed during posted operating hours.


For additional information on this route, contact Section Leader Tom Clements, 772-463-1448 or 772-486-2816. Most importantly: under no circumstances should a hiker try to cross the lock during non-operating hours or hike out of the lock access area via the lock access road. This road is on private property and the hiker is subject to arrest for trespassing.

See the full overview & map of the Florida Trail Kissimmee section

Category: Articles, HikingTag: Basinger, Florida Trail, Frostproof, FT Kissimmee, Lake Wales, Yeehaw Junction

Reader Interactions

Have an update? Contact us.

Primary Sidebar

Our Florida Trail Books

The Florida Trail Guide

The Florida Trail GuideThe comprehensive mile-by-mile guidebook to planning section and thru-hikes along the entire length of the Florida Trail. 356 pages, $19.95 + tax and shipping.

Order Now


Florida Trail Hikes

Florida Trail HikesFifty of the best day hikes, overnights, and weekend trips on the Florida Trail, plus nine of the best section hikes. Full hike descriptions and maps, full color. 376 pages. $24.95 + tax and shipping.

Order Now
 


Discovering the Florida Trail

Florida Trail mini coffee table book cover of trail into palm hammock
Our virtual walk along the length of the Florida Trail, covering more than 1,500 miles from the Everglades to Pensacola Beach. Hardcover, 196 pages. $24.95 + tax and shipping.

Order Now


The Florida Trail

Florida Trail large coffee table book cover of trail down swamp causeway under ancient pines

Our history of the first 50 years of the Florida Trail, from its founding in 1966 to becoming a National Scenic Trail to volunteer efforts today.

Learn More

The Florida Trail App

Comprehensive logistics and offline maps all in one: The Florida Trail Guide is now also an interactive map-based mile-by-mile app by Guthook Guides.

Get the App!

Florida Trail Updates


Get periodic recaps of changes to the Florida Trail, which we accumulate between editions of our guidebook. Find all official Trail Closures & Notices here.

Hiking the Florida Trail

  • Florida Trail Overview
  • Plan your Hike
  • Choose the Right Gear
  • Best Scenic Hikes
  • Best Backpacking Trips
  • Section Hiking
  • Thru-Hiking
  • Eastern Continental Trail
  • Florida Trail in South Florida
  • Florida Trail in Central Florida
  • Florida Trail in North Florida
  • Florida Trail in Northwest Florida
  • Florida Trail for Scouting
  • Florida Trail Adventures
  • Florida Trail Updates

Florida Trail by Section

Porter Lake, Apalachicola National Forest

Florida Trail, Apalachicola

Florida Trail, Apalachicola
Florida Trail Big Bend view

Florida Trail, Big Bend

Florida Trail, Big Bend
Florida Trail Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Blackwater

Florida Trail, Blackwater
Florida Trail Nokuse

Florida Trail, Central Panhandle

Florida Trail, Central Panhandle
Eglin Weaver Creek

Florida Trail, Eglin

Florida Trail, Eglin
Florida Trail Kissimmee

Florida Trail, Kissimmee

Florida Trail, Kissimmee
Florida Trail at Rice Creek

Florida Trail, Northeast Florida

Florida Trail, Northeast Florida
Juniper Prairie Wilderness

Florida Trail, Ocala

Florida Trail, Ocala
Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail

Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail

Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail
Florida Trail, Okeechobee

Florida Trail, Okeechobee

Florida Trail, Okeechobee
Florida Trail at Forever Florida

Florida Trail, Orlando

Florida Trail, Orlando
Florida Trail Seashore Dunes

Florida Trail, Seashore

Florida Trail, Seashore
Florida Trail along a canal south of Clewiston

Florida Trail, Seminole

Florida Trail, Seminole
No Name Creek

Florida Trail, Suwannee

Florida Trail, Suwannee
Cypress Lakes Preserve

Florida Trail, Western Corridor

Florida Trail, Western Corridor

Footer

FIND A TRAIL OR PARK

NORTHWEST FLORIDA
Apalachicola. Apalachicola National Forest. Blackwater River State Forest. Blountstown. Bonifay. Bristol. Cape San Blas. Carrabelle. Chattahoochee. Chipley. Crawfordville. Crestview. DeFuniak Springs. Destin. Ebro. Eglin Air Force Base. Fort Walton Beach. Freeport. Gulf Islands National Seashore. Madison. Marianna. Milton. Monticello. Mossy Head. Navarre Beach . Niceville. Panama City Beach. Pensacola. Ponce De Leon. Port St. Joe. Quincy. Sopchoppy. South Walton. St. Marks. St. Marks NWR. Tallahassee. Vernon. Wakulla. Wewahitchka

NORTH FLORIDA
Alachua. Amelia Island. Baldwin. Branford. Bunnell. Cedar Key. Chiefland. Crescent City. Dowling Park. Ellaville. Fernandina Beach. Flagler Beach. Gainesville. Green Cove Springs. High Springs. Jacksonville. Keystone Heights. Lake Butler.Lake City. Live Oak. Mayo. Macclenny. Micanopy. Olustee. Orange Park. Osceola National Forest. Palatka. Palatka-Lake Butler Trail. Palm Coast. Perry. Salt Springs. St. Augustine. Starke. Steinhatchee. Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. Suwannee Springs. Talbot Islands. Timucuan Preserve. Trenton. Welaka. White Springs. Williston

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo

MULTI-REGION
Big Cypress Swamp. East Coast Greenway. Everglades National Park. Florida National Scenic Trail

CENTRAL FLORIDA
Apopka. Belleview. Brandon. Brooksville. Bushnell. Canaveral National Seashore. Christmas. Chuluota. Clearwater Beach. Clermont. Coast to Coast Trail. Cocoa Beach. Cross Florida Greenway. Crystal River. Dade City. Daytona Beach. De Leon Springs. DeBary. Deland. Deltona. Dunedin. Dunnellon. Frostproof. Geneva. Inverness. Kenansville. Kissimmee. Lake Mary. Lake Wales. Lakeland. Largo. Leesburg. Longwood. Melbourne. Melbourne Beach. Merritt Island. Merritt Island NWR. Mims. Mount Dora. New Port Richey. New Smyrna Beach. Ocala. Ocala National Forest. Ocklawaha. Orlando. Ormond Beach. Osteen. Oviedo. Palm Bay. Ridge Manor. Sanford. Silver Springs. Spring Hill. St. Cloud. St. Petersburg. Tampa. Tarpon Springs. Titusville . Walt Disney World. Weeki Wachee. Winter Springs. Withlacoochee State Forest. Withlacoochee State Trail. Yeehaw Junction

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Bradenton . Charlotte Harbor. Ding Darling NWR. Englewood. Estero. Fort Myers. Immokalee. Naples. Pine Island. Port Charlotte. Punta Gorda. Sanibel Island. Sarasota. Venice

SOUTH FLORIDA
Arcadia. Basinger. Big Cypress National Preserve. Big Cypress Seminole Reservation. Clewiston. Everglades City. Fisheating Creek. Lake Okeechobee. Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail. Lake Placid. LaBelle. Lakeport. Moore Haven. Okeechobee. Pahokee. Port Mayaca. Sebring. South Bay

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
Big Pine Key. Biscayne Bay. Biscayne National Park. Boca Raton. Boynton Beach. Coral Gables. Davie. Delray Beach. Northeast Everglades Natural Area. Florida Keys. Fort Lauderdale. Fort Pierce. Hobe Sound. Hollywood. Homestead. Islamorada. Jensen Beach. Jupiter. Juno Beach. Key Biscayne. Key Largo. Key West. Marathon. Miami. Ocean to Lake Greenway. Overseas Heritage Trail. Palm Beach. Port St. Lucie. Redland. Sebastian. Stuart. Vero Beach. West Palm Beach

  • Trails
  • Parks
  • Beaches
  • Gardens
  • Springs
  • Ecotours
  • Attractions
©2006-2023, Sandra Friend & John Keatley | Disclosure | Site Index | Work with Us | Advertise with Us
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy | Florida Hikes PO Box 93 Mims FL 32754| Contact