South of downtown Lake Metropolis, the huge marshy expanse of Alligator Lake extends past open water to swamps logged for old-growth cypress over a century in the past.
Opened in 2002, Alligator Lake Park reveals off restoration of those ecosystems on a community of trails alongside former logging tramways and levees.
Alligator LakeIts haunting hall outlined by swaying Spanish moss draping from tall cypress and oaks line a virtually three mile arc by an unlimited floodplain.
The not-to-be-missed James H. Montgomery Path is the park’s showpiece, a loop by the lake with perpetual panoramas from its excessive levee.
Cypresses alongside the Montgomery PathAssets
Overview
Location: Lake CityLength: As much as 8.7 milesTrailhead: 30.166803, -82.615452Address: 420 SE Alligator Glen, Lake CityFees: FreeRestroom: On the trailheadLand supervisor: Columbia CountyPhone: 386-719-7545
Closed Mon. Open Tue-Solar at 8 AM, closing 7 PM throughout Daylight Financial savings Time, 5:30 PM in any other case. Trails open to cyclists.
No canine permitted. Alligator warnings abound with good purpose; don’t let babies close to the water.
Instructions
Hike
Going through the screened picnic pavilion with the lake past a ribbon of marsh, make a left. A kiosk adjoins the restrooms with an summary map.
Stroll previous the playground to the dust street resulting in treeline, the place a Deer Path signal pointing into the woods confirms you’re on the fitting path.
Deer PathPine needles cushion a brief shaded stroll to the primary junction, a tenth of a mile from the trailhead.
The South Trails lie south of this junction. Making a proper places you on the Montgomery Path instantly.
South Trails junctionA straightforward-to-follow entry street slips previous a murky swamp of cypress and tupelo, reaching the Possum Trot Path in a tenth of a mile.
Previous that junction with the South Trails, there are not any exit factors from the Montgomery Path till it ends.
Trailside cypress pondsCypresses laden with fluttering Spanish moss flank either side of the marginally raised causeway, rising from a swamp lower by ditches dug for the fabric to create this tramway.
In winter, the marshy basin of Alligator Lake is clear past the timber to the north.
Since many guests take the Montgomery Path counterclockwise, the three mile distance of this loop is marked by a countdown of marker posts again to zero.
We selected this counterclockwise method for a tie-in to the South Trails and in addition to information you to a showy vacation spot close to the beginning of this loop.
Open sky to the northBecause the levee turns into extra elevated, giant stay oaks share the bonanza of swaying Spanish moss. From their measurement, this berm needs to be greater than sixty years previous.
Extra views of the huge marshy basin of Alligator Lake open up, echoed by a big prairie-like marsh on the other aspect of the trail.
Prairie marshUncommon patches of open water are revealed by their reflections of the sky. Curving, the levee gives a parade of views of this southerly cypress-lined marsh.
A broad ditch turns into a notable function near the levee. In the meantime, the expanse of Alligator Lake provides extra open water for rafts of coots to ply.
Open water seems within the Alligator Lake marshNow grassy, the levee continues curving gently in direction of inky black reflections of cypresses in a dense strand swamp, a compelling vacation spot for a stroll of any size on this park.
That is what’s known as the Rogers Dike Space on the map. From their bases, these are the oldest of the pond cypresses remaining from the logging period.
Historic cypressesA boardwalk extends into this swamp 0.7 mile into the hike on the Montgomery Path, a half mile west of the Possum Trot junction.
Spanning a canal separating the levee from the majority of this cypress swamp, it makes a tenth of a mile round-trip to an statement platform.
Cypress boardwalkTake your time alongside it to marvel at this pure marvel, the tiniest of remnants of the grand cypresses faraway from this swamp by timber corporations.
From each a satellite tv for pc view and the Heron Loop Path, the scars of the levees used to extract the traditional cypress instantly south of this strand nonetheless stay.
Returning to the Montgomery PathAgain on the Montgomery Path, water now flanks either side: a large cypress-lined channel on the strand aspect and the expanse of Alligator Lake to the north.
Cypresses nonetheless jut from the levee, their streamers of wind-blown Spanish moss casting dappled shade.
Glimpse Lake Metropolis’s water tower past the far shore of the lake earlier than crossing a broad wood bridge at a mile. Simply previous it, a sheltered bench faces the lake.
Picket bridgeNow the levee is surrounded by Alligator Lake, carving it into two concentric circles because it makes a pointy curve north.
Don’t be stunned to listen to the hum of airboats. The levee feels narrower due to the open water, nevertheless it isn’t. It’s extra open and breezy.
The are extra breaks within the timber lining either side of the trail, the timber nonetheless closely laden in swaying Spanish moss.
Lengthy straightawayAttain a second sheltered bench 1.3 miles into the Montgomery Path. This one is throughout from a levee extending into the lake, marked because the Previous Canal Path on the map.
A bench is seen on the finish of that round-trip path, which begins close to the tip of this loop.
Sheltered benchCormorants cluster in a quartet of younger cypresses anchoring an island. Cross a 1.5 mile marker on the midway level of this loop.
With extra islands and floating patches of aquatic vegetation, this northern arc of the lake attracts extra birds on either side of the levee.
Cormorants roostingOccasional gaps within the vegetation make it attainable to scan for alligators sunning or resting within the shallows. A parade of excellent panoramas continues.
By 1.7 miles, staircases adjoined by a ramp result in the water on either side, forming a portage level. A bench appears throughout open water proper earlier than a pointy westerly flip of the levee.
Portage stairsOn the populated northern shore of the lake, homes are beneath a cover of timber. With extra rafts of vegetation, the internal basin seems shallower.
The shade and roots of the water lilies present shelter for fish, which is why you’ll see anglers of their jonboats on this nook of the lake.
Angler trolling the shallowsAgain to its light curves, the levee now not provides an extended distance view of what’s forward.
Though there are nonetheless quite a few giant cypresses, the moss-draped timber additionally embody pink maples. Many are smaller and youthful.
A treeless stretch reveals the extent of the marshes on the north rim of the lake. At 2.2 miles, a sheltered bench faces open water to the south.
MarshesThis closing section of the levee attracts extra informal round-trip walkers from a trailhead on the finish of the park street.
An historical cypress has a thicket of cypress knees at its base. Marshes crowd the bottom of the levee, with open water past.
Cross a closing bridge at 2.4 miles, the levee turning south and broadening earlier than curving once more for its closing stretch.
Closing bridge on the Montgomery PathOaks line the passageway as levee meets shoreline adjoining to a cove the place wading birds collect, selecting by the bounty of muddy shallows.
Arrows level out a pointy proper at 2.7 miles. This relaxed sandy pathway beneath the oaks stays inside view of the lake however nicely away from its shore.
A tall mound topped with timber defines the western fringe of the park.
Leaving the leveeAt 2.9 miles, the pathway ends in entrance of an method street to a ship ramp. Cross to the kiosk past it to stroll the grassy fringe of the street.
Cross the boat basin and skinny blue line of a canal straight out into the lake. The Previous Canal Path parallels its south aspect, an elective 1.4 mile round-trip.
Kiosk by the boat rampStroll alongside the park street, rounding fenced-in Ponderosa Pond to return to the trailhead after 3 miles.
Hike as much as 8.7 miles whole by including on the Previous Canal Path and the South Trails.
Alligator Lake Park South Trails Observe a puzzle of levees and berms between cypress strands within the southern reaches of Alligator Lake Park on a collection of named trails.
The Previous CanalPath Map
Discover Extra!
Video
Climbing the Montgomery Path at Alligator Lake Park
Slideshow
See our pictures from Alligator Lake Park
Close by Adventures
Path Map (PDF) Official Web site
Articles collectively researched, written, and photographed by Sandra Good friend & John Keatley, Florida authors and publishers of FloridaHikes.com.
