A major website for interpretation of the Seminole Wars, Paynes Creek Historic State Park is crisscrossed by a community of 4.6 miles of trails.
Tracing the circulate of Paynes Creek to its confluence with the Peace River, this straightforward stroll gives waterway views alongside a lot of its size. It’s marked with pink triangles on posts.
Paynes CreekReturning on bluffs alongside a sequence of oxbow ponds, there are locations to pause and take within the wildlife beneath.
Regardless of the straightforward entry to the waterways in lots of locations, this isn’t a park for swimming. There’s a motive for the numerous alligator warning indicators.
Mama and infants in an oxbow pondAssets
Overview
Location: Bowling GreenLength: 1.1 milesTrailhead: 27.618373, -81.807830Address: 888 Lake Department Rd, Bowling GreenFees: $3 per vehicleRestroom: On the picnic areaLand supervisor: Florida State ParksPhone: 863-375-4717
Open 8 AM to sundown. Leashed canines welcome.
Instructions
Hike
The Peace River Path begins proper by the picnic space reverse the Historic Path.
Stroll a tenth of a mile from the day use parking to the signposted begin of the path adjoining an overlook above Paynes Creek.
Trailhead signalComply with the sandy forest street behind the signal right into a shady hall of oaks and palms, pausing at breaks within the vegetation for views of the tannic waterway beneath.
Virginia willow grows profusely alongside one set of shallows. Passing a bench, look ahead to the tell-tale tea-colored ribbon of the creek by way of the timber.
Paynes CreekRipples are evident within the shallows close to the bottom of an historical cypress. At 0.3 miles, the sand street diverges in entrance of a Peace River Path signal pointing proper.
Take the proper fork to proceed paralleling Paynes Creek. Cross a grand outdated reside oak with thick limbs enveloped by resurrection fern and laden in Spanish moss.
Loop junctionCurving gently, the two-track goes previous extra giant oaks and enters an avenue of palms. An alligator warning signal offers a heads-up in your proximity to the creek.
Of the entire trails at this state park, that is the one the place you’re most probably to see alligators sunning. Hold your distance should you spot one.
Nearing the confluenceA clump of Virginia willow calls consideration to the outflow of Paynes Creek into the Peace River, a barely broader however a lot deeper waterway.
A favourite of paddlers, it rises from marshes feeding Lake Hancock in Lakeland and flows south to Charlotte Harbor, broadening considerably as extra streams and is derived feed it.
Paynes Creek is considered one of its bigger tributaries. Withdrawal of water for phosphate mine dewatering in uplands alongside its higher reaches impacts water ranges within the Peace River profoundly.
The place Paynes Creek meets the Peace RiverThe river fully dries out at occasions. That’s when the fossil hunters come out, because the Peace River flows by way of what’s referred to as Bone Valley.
This basin comprises a wealthy deposit of historical fossils that drew the curiosity of phosphate miners over a century in the past.
Signal letting paddlers know in regards to the parkAt a half mile, the sand street makes a loop within reach of the confluence. Stroll all the way down to the bench for the very best view of Paynes Creek assembly the Peace River.
Proceed upriver alongside the sandy bluffs, making your manner again to the street because it follows the river. Count on to see alligators within the river and alongside its sandbars or sandy banks.
The river from a bluffThe 2-track diverges from the Peace River into the luxurious river bluff forest, coming to a pair of benches on a excessive level overlooking a swamp.
That is one finish of a former oxbow of the river. Proceed alongside the path to an open view from the bluff above the oxbow pond at 0.7 miles.
Benches above the oxbow swampOn our earlier go to, an remark deck prolonged behind the alligator warning signal.
Since then, floodwaters from Hurricane Ian lifted the deck and dropped it into the pond intact. Alligators solar on it now.
Unintentionally relocated remark platformProceed alongside the two-track by way of the woods as the encircling habitat shifts to timber and shrubs prefering drier uplands.
Not lengthy after passing a bench, come to a T intersection with a gate to the proper.
Flip off the 2 monitor earlier than the gateThe street past it’s a prolonged one resulting in the park’s canoe launch and touchdown. It’s higher to drive than stroll.
The Peace River Path turns left on the T. A number of moments later, end the loop portion of this path.
Sealing the loopFlip proper, following Paynes Creek upstream the way in which you got here. Path’s finish is on the overlook within the clearing with a path main in direction of the Historic Path.
Both sort out that path subsequent or flip proper to exit by way of the picnic space, reaching the car parking zone to finish this 1.1 mile hike.
Overlook on the trailhead signalPath Map
Discover Extra!
Be taught extra about Paynes Creek Historic State Park
Paynes Creek Historic State Park Straddling the previous treaty boundary of Seminole lands, this interpretive website alongside the Peace River encompasses a community of trails tied collectively by a swinging footbridge. Video
Mountain climbing the Peace River Path at Paynes Creek
Slideshow
See our pictures of the Peace River Path
Close by Adventures
Path Map (PDF) Official Web site
Creator of 45 books, Sandra Pal established FloridaHikes.com in 2006 to develop on the sphere 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.
