Resources
Resources for exploring the area
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Exploring St. Cloud
Once the heart of frontier Florida and home to the Silver Spurs rodeo, St. Cloud is a bustling community to the east of Kissimmee and south of metro Orlando.
Driving US 192 today, it’s almost impossible to determine where Kissimmee ends and St. Cloud begins. But each are independent cities with their own historic downtowns along a lakefront.
For St. Cloud, East Lake Tohopekaliga is the waterfront, where Lakefront Park affords a waterfront walk and a pier.
Southwest of downtown, natural lands cluster along the marshy shores of Lake Tohopekaliga, near where the Florida Trail follows the Bill Johnston Memorial Bike path north to Kissimmee.
East of the city, more lakefront conservation lands like Lake Lizzie Conservation Area, Triple N Ranch WMA, and Bull Creek WMA provide extensive hiking, biking, and equestrian opportunities.
Small motor courts and older motels provide accommodations along US 192. One of our favorite stops on any visit is The Catfish Place, a long-established eatery serving up big portions of seafood.
Trails and Parks near St. Cloud
Cherokee Point Conservation Area Protecting a marshy peninsula on the eastern shore of Lake Tohopekaliga, this remote preserve provides a panorama of natural wetlands from its boardwalk.
Florida Trail, Bull Creek WMA Following a significant tributary to the St. Johns River, the Florida Trail through Bull Creek WMA showcases history and botanical beauty.
Florida Trail, Orlando Between the prairies of Osceola County and the Ocala National Forest, this 150 mile section of the Florida Trail slips through suburbs of the Orlando metro.
Florida Trail, Prairie Lakes 8.1 miles. Traversing the heart of the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, the Florida Trail at Prairie Lakes is one of Central Florida's oldest and most scenic hiking destinations. 
Florida Trail, Three Lakes WMA At Three Lakes WMA / Prairie Lakes Unit, the Florida Trail traverses one of the largest expanses of open prairie in the Southeast, the Kissimmee Prairie. 
Florida Trail, Western Corridor Linking Withlacoochee State Forest and the Cross Florida Greenway, the 241 mile Western Corridor of the Florida Trail accesses wild spaces between Tampa and Ocala. 
Lake Jackson Tower Trail A short but scenic hike, the ramble to the Lake Jackson Tower at Prairie Lakes pays off with panoramic views from atop a three-story tower.
Lake Lizzie Conservation Area Hugging the eastern shore of Lake Lizzie, Lake Lizzie Conservation Area encompasses more than a thousand acres, a vast mosaic of prairies, pine flatwoods, and scrub forest. 
Lake Lizzie Marsh Loop In the most accessible corner of the thousand acres that make up Lake Lizzie Conservation Area in St. Cloud, the Marsh Loop is an easy 1.7 mile hiking-only loop.
Lake Runnymede Conservation Area Ancient live oaks provide a tightly knit canopy over the 0.9-mile trail system at Lake Runnymede Conservation Area, a 43 acre urban preserve. 
Peghorn Nature Park A replica of a pioneer settlement and set of loop trails blend history with nature at this family-friendly city park in St. Cloud. 
Prairie Lakes Loop Enjoy the counterpoint of moss-draped oak hammocks and expansive prairies at Prairie Lakes along one of the older and more beloved pieces of the Florida Trail.
Split Oak Forest WEA A live oak tree more than 200 years old is the centerpiece of Split Oak Forest, a 2,000-acre prairie and scrub preserve near Orlando, home to families of sandhill cranes
Sunset Ranch Trail A well-marked path showcases various habitats found at Three Lakes WMA as it winds across a cypress slough and shady oak hammocks to the shoreline of Lake Marian. 
Three Lakes WMA Protecting nearly 64,000 acres south of the Orlando metro along the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area is a delight for birders and hikers.
Triple N Ranch One of the most rugged trails in Central Florida, the 7.1 mile Blue Loop at Triple N Ranch traverses open pine flatwoods and deeply shaded hardwood hammocks.
Twin Oaks Conservation Area Named for two ancient live oaks that have long guided anglers to their favorite fishing hole, Twin Oaks Conservation Area protects nearly 400 acres along Lake Tohopekaliga.Articles
Fall in the floodplain (1/13/2012) Don't believe people when they say there are no seasons in Florida. We always look forward to the change of color in Florida's floodplains, even if they happen in December.