On 130 acres of uplands between SR 44 and the marshy expanse of Lake Okahumpa, this county park has a fully-accessible, largely shaded path community as a centerpiece.
Intertwined inside it’s a disc golf course and off-road bike path. Open areas host a volleyball court docket and horseshoe pits and a playground.
A picnic space sits beneath the oaks nearby of the boat ramp, which presents the one clear view of this well-hidden lake.
Boat ramp to Lake OkahumpaAssets
Overview
Location: WildwoodLength: As much as 1.4 milesTrailhead: 28.832969, -82.005024Address: 6085 SR 44 E, WildwoodFees: FreeRestroom: On the trailheadLand Supervisor: Sumter CountyPhone: 352-793-3624
Open dawn to sundown. Leashed canines welcome; choose up after your pet.
Canoe leases are free; name the Sumter County Library at 352-689-4567 to order.
Instructions
Hike
Beginning on the signposted trailhead with its massive map, observe the paved path uphill beneath stay oaks laden with Spanish moss.
Bear proper on the junction the place the quick Inexperienced Path peels off to the left. Cross a bridge laid out throughout the grass.
Start lineOn the subsequent junction, the Purple Path turns off. Adjoined by the “World Path,” a sequence of trailside health tools, it provides one other 0.2 miles to this stroll.
Nonetheless, it doesn’t keep within the forest however emerges on the far parking space to circle the canine park. Bear left as an alternative to observe the Blue Path.
Purple Path junctionCross a quantity 9 marker pointing to a footpath. It’s a dead-end; numbers posted on indicators check with disc golf targets, metallic baskets tucked into the woods.
On the subsequent Y intersection beneath the oaks, bear left; the path to the best goes to a parking space and picnic pavilion.
Quantity 9 markerStroll a properly shaded hall within the oak hammock. Blue markers are posted with path mileages in tenths of a mile.
Rising right into a sunny clearing, the path straight forward is the Purple Path coming again in.
Bear left because the signal reveals, passing a bench and an indication for an off highway bike path. Proceed beneath the dappled shade of older oaks.
Bench close to Purple Path junctionDaylight glints off shiny magnolia leaves. Railings delineate a low space the place tannic water trickles by way of the forest in direction of Okahumpa Marsh.
Cross a catfaced pine because the habitat shifts in direction of sandhills, with slash pines and noticed palmettos becoming a member of the oaks and magnolias.
Path in direction of boundary fenceAfter a straightaway beneath curtains of Spanish moss, make a pointy left, paralleling the boundary fence of the park beside SR 44. Cross the park entrance highway at 0.3 miles.
Curving beneath the stay oaks, move a number of health stops and a bench earlier than returning to the shade of an oak hammock.
Park entrance crossingAt an oddly-shaped crossbar, take the paved path descending behind it in direction of a boardwalk.
Rising from the forest, it’s evident this marsh adjoins SR 44 as if it have been a retention pond. The levee round it’s topped with a paved loop within the sunshine
The marshStrolling this loop could also be fruitful for birding however it’s proper subsequent to the freeway. It provides 0.4 miles to the hike.
A boardwalk extends into the marsh to a coated remark deck the place benches overlook lily-dotted waters.
Statement deckStroll out to this viewpoint after which observe the close to fringe of the pond alongside treeline. Bear left to return to the Blue Path, 0.6 miles into its loop.
Beneath the oaks, the pathway curves, Lake Okahumpa revealing itself past the bushes.
Curve beneath the oaksThe internal Inexperienced Path joins from the left because the asphalt path curves beneath an unlimited stay oak in direction of a sun-splashed inexperienced area.
Following the curve of the path previous tall pines, attain the boat ramp
Inexperienced Path junctionStroll to the floating dock for a glimpse of this huge marshy lake. One clear passage makes a pathway by way of dense aquatic vegetation.
Loop previous the canoes and picnic space. Return to the trailhead after 0.8 miles, 1 mile in case you added the Purple Path, and 1.4 miles in case you additionally did the Marsh Loop
A passage for boats into the lakePath Map
Discover Extra!
Video
Climbing Lake Okahumpa Park
Slideshow
See our pictures from Lake Okahumpa Park
Close by Adventures
Official Web site
Writer of 45 books, Sandra Buddy established FloridaHikes.com in 2006 to broaden on the sector analysis she’d accomplished for her first six mountain climbing guides. She has been honored with lifetime achievement awards from the Florida Path Affiliation and the Florida Out of doors Writers Affiliation.
