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Orange trees

Lake Wales

Sitting atop the ancient dunes of the Lake Wales Ridge, Lake Wales is rich with outdoor recreation opportunities with panoramic views

INTERACTIVE MAP

Bok Tower Gardens

Atop Iron Mountain at Bok Tower Gardens

Lake Wales      ( 27.917345,-81.565998 )      

Atop one of the highest hills in the Florida Peninsula, Bok Tower Gardens is one of Florida’s most spectacular landscaped gardens, “something to appeal to both man and animal, a meditative place,” as envisioned by Edward William Bok in the 1920s.

Buster Island Loop

White blazed tree and trail into forest

Lake Kissimmee State Park  |  Lake Wales
( 27.9401, -81.3586 )      6.9 miles

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

Prairie basin with tall orange grasses

Lake Wales      ( 27.984103,-81.497243 )      10.2 miles

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

Rolling hills at Catfish Creek Preserve

Catfish Creek Preserve   |  Lake Wales
( 27.9838, -81.4969 )      3.5 miles

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

Crooked Lake Prairie

Crooked Lake Prairie

Frostproof      ( 27.806483, -81.559483 )      3.6 miles

With an interlinking network of loop trails, Crooked Lake Prairie is a refreshing excursion into habitats found on the high hills of the Lake Wales Ridge

Flatwoods Pond Trail

Oaks, saw palmetto, and pines

Lake Kissimmee State Park  |  Lake Wales
( 27.9440, -81.3548 )      0.4 miles

The sole interpretive trail at Lake Kissimmee State Park, the Flatwoods Pond Trail shows off habitats and history in a short loop not far from the campground

Florida Trail along the Kissimmee River

November 12, 2014    Sandra Friend

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 …

Florida Trail, KICCO North

FT KICCO North curve

Florida Trail, Kissimmee  |  KICCO WMA
( 27.792641,-81.217888 )      3.4 miles

3.4 miles. Take in a panorama of marshes busy with birds in the Kissimmee River floodplain at River Ranch along the northernmost reaches of the Kissimmee River

Florida Trail, KICCO South

Long Hammock at KICCO

Florida Trail, Kissimmee  |  KICCO WMA
( 27.760620, -81.191872 )      10.1 miles

10.1 miles. Ancient live oaks break up the expanse of cattle pastures and prairies along the Florida Trail adjoining the Kissimmee River in KICCO

Florida Trail, Kissimmee

Florida Trail Kissimmee

Florida National Scenic Trail  |  Basinger, Kenansville, Okeechobee
( 27.152740, -80.867500 )      111.3 miles

111.3 miles. Following the Kissimmee River floodplain, this is a scenic section of the Florida Trail with a mix of levees, shady woods, river views, open prairies, and cattle ranches.

Gobbler Ridge Trail

Oaks and palms along the path

Lake Kissimmee State Park  |  Lake Wales
( 27.9444, -81.3520 )      2.8 miles

From its showy start with a climb up an observation tower to its breezy loop along Lake Kissimmee, the Gobbler Ridge Trail offers scenic views all along its length

Lake Kissimmee State Park

View from the observation tower at Lake Kissimmee State Park

Lake Wales      ( 27.972226,-81.378925 )      16.0 miles

Discover the beauty of the land between the lakes east of Lake Wales while exploring the vast prairies and fern-laden hammocks of Lake Kissimmee State Park

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