An city park simply on the perimeter of the economic space east of downtown Lakeland, Saddle Creek Park attracts a variety of consideration for its main attraction, fishing.
Like these at close by Tenoroc Fish Administration Space, the oddly formed lakes are remnants of phosphate mine pits.
The “lake” within the northeast nook of the parkCrammed with water, they’re stocked with sport fish like largemouth bass and speckled perch, interesting to anglers.
Open inexperienced area attracts canine walkers, and a shaded campground set in an oak hammock close to the again of the park retains busy all winter.
Tenting underneath the shade of the oaksWithin the park’s northeast nook, the Saddle Creek Nature Path roughly parallels the floodplain of Saddle Creek alongside the east aspect of the lakes.
Established by Boy Scout Troop 123 of Winter Haven, it was constructed for birding and has surprisingly steep grades in spots.
It follows a forested ridge of previous fill above the mine pit lakes and the pure floodplain which Saddle Creek drains in the direction of Lake Hancock.
Whereas unmarked, the trail is essentially broadThe statement tower that initially capped a excessive grassy knoll is not in place. As a substitute, there are benches at two pure overlooks.
From this similar trailhead, a longstanding path which related to adjoining Misplaced Lake at Tenoroc WMA has been formally deserted and blocked off.
Closed path to TenorocSources
Overview
Location: LakelandLength: As much as 2.5 milesTrailhead: 28.064207, -81.881445Address: 3716 Morgan Combee Rd, LakelandFees: NoneRestroom: Close to the trailheadLand supervisor: Polk CountyPhone: 863-534-4340
Open dawn to sundown. Leashed canines welcome.
Use mosquito safety: with all of the water, mosquitoes are at all times current, particularly on the prime instances to see the birds, nightfall and daybreak.
Instructions
Hike
Begin your hike on the previous wood kiosk with a routed approximation of the path route and a Nice Florida Birding Path signal.
Comply with the sweep of grass across the curve of the northernmost lake within the park. The forest on the left is throughout the Saddle Creek floodplain.
Begin of the hikeReaching the hill the place the statement tower stood, bear left to stroll a leafy path above a ditch dropping into the forest.
This drainage feeds the Saddle Creek floodplain. The place the trail sweeps to the suitable between the bushes past the hill, observe it.
Hill the place the tower stoodClose to some previous fence posts, a worn footpath drops down into the creek basin for a more in-depth inspection of its pure move.
It’s the one spot alongside this hike that feels actually pure. The encircling forest in any other case grew atop mine tailings and has a variety of invasives within the understory.
The aspect path ends at Saddle CreekComply with the graveled path up a steep hill. Descend underneath the forest cover, reaching a broad opening underneath the oaks at 0.4 miles.
At this T junction, the suitable flip loops again in the direction of the trailhead. Make a left to begin the round-trip portion of the hike.
Path junction for brief loopStroll the leafy path inside its forested hall, coming to a bench on a bluff inside a tenth of a mile.
A slender footpath leads from it downhill between the ferns to the glowing fringe of one of many mine pit lakes.
Bench on the bluffPast the bench, oaks arch over the footpath. Sizable specimens of oaks and cypress tower throughout the creek floodplain.
Previous a trash can in a clearing at 0.6 miles, the pathway curves annd climbs, with glimpses of murky water by means of the bushes on the lake aspect.
Murky sloughMounds of vines begin obscuring the creekside understory. Ascend a hill earlier than dropping nearly to lake degree, reflections apparent by means of the vegetation.
The pathway undulates, graveled on many slopes and hemmed in like a tunnel beneath bowing limbs.
Tunnel impactClimb a pointy slope and descend an extended straightaway earlier than tall bushes return alongside a curve.
On a excessive bluff at 0.9 miles, take pleasure in an extended view right into a cove off a big lake. On the other aspect of the trail, the floodplain is crowded with cypress.
Lake viewExtra sky opens up overhead because the floodplain exhibits off extra tall cypresses far beneath. The ridge is most evident right here.
Across the subsequent curve, preserve alert for black vultures perched in bushes on the bluffs above the lakeshore.
Saddle Creek floodplainThe subsequent curve swings in the direction of a bench at 1.2 miles. It overlooks the lake closest to the frontage of the park alongside US 92.
Vultures turn out to be commonplace, as if it is a roosting and breeding vacation spot. There are actually lots of within the bushes late within the day.
Vultures have claimed the bushes on this nookInside lower than a tenth of a mile, the pathway involves an ignominous finish in a semi-circular clearing behind thick vegetation alongside a lake. There are not any views.
Flip round and ascend again to that closing bench for a glimpse throughout the waters beneath. Late within the day, it confronted the solar.
Bench close to path’s finishReturn alongside the broad path, passing the opposite bluff bench earlier than reaching the loop path junction at 2.2 miles.
Proceed straight forward and downhill, the footpath curving to the suitable to parallel a cove on a lake.
Footpath alongside the coveSquawks of birds name consideration to spots the place you’ll be able to look out into the cove. Emerge from the shade onto a sunny grassy mound.
Comply with its sculpted ramp in the direction of the worn path forward to shut the loop. Proceed straight across the curve of the lake to the trailhead to complete this 2.5 mile hike.
Descending the moundPath Map
Discover Extra!
Video
Mountaineering Saddle Creek Park
Slideshow
See our photographs from Saddle Creek Park
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Reserve Campsite Official Web site
Writer of over 40 books, Sandra Buddy established FloridaHikes.com in 2006 to broaden on the sector analysis she’d accomplished for her first six mountaineering guides. She has been honored with lifetime achievement awards from the Florida Path Affiliation and the Florida Outside Writers Affiliation.
