Polk: Nature Trails, Lakes and History

A 2023 description by The Nature Conservancy lists Tiger Creek Preserve as the only site in Polk County on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. Nature trails, preserves and museums reveal very different sides of Polk: you can explore routes through a variety of habitats, observe wildlife or learn about the region’s history.

Nature Trails and Habitats

At Bok Tower Gardens, you can choose between two trails with different focuses. The three-quarter-mile Pine Ridge Nature Trail passes through a habitat of longleaf pines and turkey oaks. The 1.5-mile Preserve Trail in Pine Ridge Preserve provides insight into one of Florida’s most endangered ecosystems. The trail lengths can help you plan your time; the longer route focuses on environmental education.

Crooked Lake Prairie combines a compact landscape with a variety of habitats: the preserve covers 525 acres and has two miles of sandy trails. Its ecosystems include scrub, scrubby flatwoods, wet prairie and basin swamp. Its native wildlife is also diverse, including wading birds, Florida scrub-jays, ospreys, bald eagles, turkeys, coachwhip snakes and gopher tortoises. If you’re looking for longer routes, Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park has six miles of hiking trails and seven miles of equestrian trails. The park, which covers more than 8,000 acres, includes scrub as well as sandhill and flatwoods areas; rare plants and protected wildlife there include Florida scrub-jays, bald eagles, gopher tortoises and Florida scrub lizards.

At Circle B Bar Reserve, you can use up to six miles of trails for hiking and biking. Alligator Alley runs along Lake Hancock; you can watch alligators from the shore or from several piers. Free guided tram tours are offered several times a month. For a different landscape, visit Gator Creek Reserve, where about seven miles of well-maintained trails, including a paved trail, pass through shady pine, cypress and oak forests, as well as along streams and through wetlands. The reserve is in the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern, a designation for a resource of major statewide significance. Its diverse habitats also offer opportunities to observe butterflies that may be less commonly seen elsewhere in Polk County.

Water, Recreation and Excursions

Saddle Creek Park brings together trails and water sports across 750 acres. Most of the park consists of former phosphate mines that are now lakes. For walks, there’s the 1.2-mile Nature Trail and the 2.3-mile Tenoroc Trails. Five boat ramps and waterways suitable for motorboats and canoes round out the options. When planning, you can choose between short, named trails and activities on the water.

For longer outings, Hampton Tract offers 28 miles of trails for hiking, biking and birding; wildlife viewing, fishing and camping are also available. Arbuckle Tract in Lake Wales Ridge State Forest offers opportunities for extended hikes, horseback riding and camping. Fishing and canoeing are available year-round at the adjacent Lake Arbuckle. The two areas appeal to different interests: Hampton Tract offers opportunities for birding and wildlife viewing as well as recreation, while Lake Arbuckle adds year-round fishing and canoeing.

Museums, Architecture and Regional History

Lake Wales History Museum has permanent exhibits on the history of Lake Wales and local industries, including cattle ranching, citrus growing, the turpentine industry and tourism. Exhibits include a model railroad with a caboose and a prehistoric dugout canoe that is 21 feet long and more than 1,020 years old. Seasonal exhibits are also on display. Polk County History Center, housed in the former Polk County Courthouse, built in 1908, includes a history museum and a library. The center has 11 permanent galleries and 4 temporary galleries and gives visitors access to more than 175 historic sites throughout Polk County.

Architecture and art also add to the area’s historical offerings. Florida Southern College in Lakeland has 13 buildings by Frank Lloyd Wright. Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art offers educational programs, a variety of exhibitions and events. At the 168-acre Bonnet Springs Park, you can explore the grounds on foot, by bike or with wheeled mobility aids. The Nature Center features interactive exhibits about native animals and Florida’s wildlife; the Watson Clinic Gallery presents the railroad and citrus history of Central Florida.

Polk as a Starting Point for Your Trip

Polk County is connected by Interstate 4, US Highway 27 and State Road 60, and is less than an hour from Tampa and Orlando. When choosing where to stay, it may help to first decide what your trip will focus on: longer trails, wildlife viewing, water activities or museums.

Discover more destinations: Lakeland, Lake Wales, Auburndale, Bartow, Cypress Gardens, Polk City, Mulberry, Fort Meade, Haines City, Winter Haven, Davenport

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