Tiger Creek Preserve is the only location in Polk County on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. Polk’s protected areas also offer a range of distinct experiences: longleaf pines and oaks, sandy trails, wetlands and special wildlife sightings each shape a different way to enjoy nature.
Trails Through Diverse Habitats
At Bok Tower Gardens, two trails are easy to distinguish by length and focus. The Pine Ridge Nature Trail is three-quarters of a mile long and 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 second trail is twice as long; its focus is on education, while the shorter trail’s habitat is described in especially specific terms.
Crooked Lake Prairie also combines trail length with landscape diversity: the preserve covers 525 acres and has two miles of sandy trails. Its four ecosystems include scrub, scrubby flatwoods, wet prairie and baygall. Native wildlife includes shorebirds, Florida scrub-jays, ospreys, turkeys and gopher tortoises.
Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park covers more than 8,000 acres of scrub, sandhill and flatwoods. Its six miles of hiking trails are distinct from its seven miles of horseback riding trails. Rare plants and protected wildlife are also among the park’s highlights, including Florida scrub-jays, bald eagles, gopher tortoises and Florida scrub lizards.
Choosing Trails and Spotting Wildlife
At Gator Creek Reserve, about seven miles of well-maintained trails wind through shady pine, cypress and oak forests, as well as across streams and wetlands. These include a paved trail. The reserve lies within the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern, a designation for a resource of great statewide significance. You can also spot butterflies in the Green Swamp’s diverse habitats; they may be less common in other parts of Polk County.
Circle B Bar Reserve offers up to six miles of trails for hiking and biking. The Alligator Alley trail runs along Lake Hancock, where alligators can be spotted from the shore or from several piers. Free guided tram tours are also offered several times a month. So, in addition to trails, the reserve offers guided nature experiences.
Lakes, Rivers and Birdlife
The 750-acre Saddle Creek Park offers a different landscape: most of it consists of former phosphate mines that are now lakes. For walks, there is the 1.2-mile Nature Trail and the 2.3-mile Tenoroc Trails. Five boat ramps provide access to waterways suitable for motorboats and canoes. The trail distances and on-the-water activities give the park two distinct focuses.
At Mosaic Peace River Park, a boardwalk passes through the floodplain’s bottomland forest to the Peace River. The park is known for its diverse birdlife. Species found here include limpkins, green-winged and blue-winged teal, hooded mergansers, American white pelicans and red-shouldered hawks.
The 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 nearby Lake Arbuckle. This combines a forest stay with activities on the water, without making either the main focus of both.
History in Museums and Buildings
The Lake Wales History Museum dedicates permanent exhibits to the history of Lake Wales and local industries. There is also a model railroad with a caboose and seasonal exhibits. A standout object is the 21-foot-long prehistoric dugout canoe, which is more than 1,020 years old.
The Polk County History Center is located in the former 1908 Polk County Courthouse and houses a history museum and a library. It includes 11 permanent galleries and four temporary galleries, and gives visitors access to more than 175 historic sites throughout Polk County. Architecture enthusiasts may also be interested in Florida Southern College in Lakeland, which includes 13 buildings by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Art and regional interpretation complement these history topics. The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art offers educational programs, a variety of exhibitions and events. At Bonnet Springs Park, you can explore the 168-acre grounds on foot, by bicycle or using wheeled mobility aids. The Nature Center features interactive exhibits about native animals and Florida wildlife; the Watson Clinic Gallery presents Central Florida’s railroad and citrus history.
For trip planning, the region’s road connections are also a useful point of reference: Polk County is well connected via Interstate 4, US Highway 27 and State Road 60.
Discover more destinations: Davenport, Haines City, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Lake Wales, Auburndale, Bartow, Cypress Gardens, Polk City, Mulberry, Fort Meade.
For the broader travel overview: Florida.
