Hiking Lake Wales Ridge Scrub Jay Loop

Situated atop some of the highest points in peninsular Florida, the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest protects over 26,000 acres of unique ecosystems.

The ancient scrub habitats house species found nowhere else, shaped by millions of years of sea level changes.

The Scrub Jay Loop allows access to the primordial landscapes within the Walk-in-the-Water tract, one of several tracts within the forest.

View into a prairie

Resources

Resources for exploring the area

Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover

Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover

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Overview

Location: Frostproof
Length: 2.5 mile loop
Trailhead: 27.762533, -81.453035
Address: Hwy 630 E, Frostproof, FL 33843
Fees: $2 per person
Restroom: None
Land manager: Florida Forestry Service
Phone: 863-589-0545

Open sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome.

Trails are off-limits to cyclists. Check hunting season dates before you hike.

A 0.8-mile linear connector trail leads to Walk-in-Water Campground, largely used by equestrians. Campsites must be reserved online.

Directions

From US 27 south of Lake Wales, head east on CR 630A for 1.4 miles through Frostproof, continuing forward onto CR 630. In 6.9 miles, the trailhead will be located to the left side of the road.

Hike

Starting at the trailhead, be sure to stop at the informational kiosk to view a map of the property and pay the entrance fee.

Brochures are available in the attached bin, including maps and information regarding the Florida State Forest’s Trailwalker program. This trail is part of the program.

Forest sign and kiosk

Following blue blazes into the woods, turn right in a hundred feet to begin a counterclockwise trek on the loop.

Initially, a sandy pathway carves through dense walls of scrub oaks before opening to an expansive dry scrub habitat.

double light blue blaze to path in woods

Scrub Jay Loop sign

Clusters of saw palmettos line the trail, interspersed with wire grasses, reindeer moss, and occasional turkey oaks.

Because this habitat is mostly canopy free, shade is limited to scattered spots under sand pines and live oaks.

Trailside sand pine

The thick shrubby characteristics of scrub oaks combined with a lack of taller trees create a critical environment for this trail’s namesake bird, the Florida scrub-jay.

To maintain this habitat, the forest service regularly uses prescribed burns and mechanical means to keep the trees at a low height.

Maintained scrub habitat

Prairie clovers sport lavender-tinted blossoms alongside the pathway as the trail turns westward at the one-mile mark.

In a quarter mile, the forest opens to a panoramic view along the edge of a prairie pond.

Prairie clovers

Golden grasses border the seasonal body of water, swaying in the breeze.

Blue-blazed posts mark the trail as it traces the northern end of the pond before crossing a sandy service road and heading back into the woods.

Prairie pond through the trees

Spanish moss adorns the arched branches of large oak trees overhead as the trail enters a small oak hammock.

Benches offer a spot to rest in shady spots alongside the trail, often alongside a particularly scenic spot.

Oak hammock

At 1.5 miles, a post marked with three different colors marks the junction where the Red and Blue equestrian trails meet this trail. Dark blue leads northeast to the campground.

Continue following the appropriately colored light blue blazes southward to remain on the Scrub Jay Trail.