Nine days, 109 miles: that’s the circuit around Lake Okeechobee to complete a walk around the second largest lake inside American borders on the Big O Hike.
Day One: Kickoff!
Day 1 of the 2007 Big O Hike around Lake Okeechobee starts off with sunshine and a walk to Port Mayaca along the glistening lake waters.
Day Two: On Vacation
Discovering that the Big O Hike can be a vacation immersed in the beauty of Lake Okeechobee, I take the time to slow down and enjoy nature at my own pace.
Florida Trail, Ocean to Lake: DuPuis Reserve
On this western end of the Ocean-to-Lake section of the Florida Trail, the trail leads you to the heart of DuPuis Reserve, zigzagging through pine forests and cypress domes
Florida Trail, Pahokee to Port Mayaca
The sweep of Lake Okeechobee curves away from your perch on the Herbert Hoover Dike as you walk this section of the Florida Trail along the eastern side of the lake between Pahokee and Port Mayaca.
Florida Trail, Port Mayaca to Henry Creek
One of the segments of the Florida Trail that are paved around Lake Okeechobee, the 13.7-mile walk between Port Mayaca and Henry Creek offers unparalleled vistas of both open water and the marshes
Lake Okeechobee
The second largest lake entirely within the United States, Lake Okeechobee is a very unique outdoor recreation destination, circled by 110 miles of the Florida Trail.
Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail
An overlay on the Florida Trail around Lake Okeechobee, the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail provides a mostly paved cycling and walking route around the second largest lake entirely within the borders of the United States.
Ocean to Lake Greenway
Also known as the Northeast Everglades Natural Area, the Ocean to Lake Greenway spans from Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge in Hobe Sound across portions of Martin and Palm Beach Counties to Lake Okeechobee.
Okeechobee’s Last Wild Shore
Hiking Lake Okeechobee’s ancient shoreline is a surprise and a delight. The trail bobs. It weaves. It curves around naturally scoured waterways, and tunnels deeply through a tropical understory.