As soon as the positioning of an in depth phosphate mining operation, the land that turned Tenoroc Public Use Space was turned over to the state in 1982.
The property takes its title from a backwards spelling of Coronet, an organization that started mining the world within the early 1900s.
Mine pondOver time, the diggings full of water and a brand new forest grew from the upturned soils.
As we speak, this in style public land gives alternatives for fishing, birding, paddling, climbing, horseback using, and taking pictures sports activities.
Birding spotThe Heartland Chapter of the Florida Path Affiliation maintains climbing trails all through the property, designated with totally different coloured blazes.
Along with a big 8.9 mile loop combining all three trails, the Blue Path kinds a smaller loop, and the Pink Path continues south, connecting to adjoining Saddle Creek Park.
Path signageAssets
Overview
Location: LakelandLength: 8.9 milesTrailhead: 28.107333, -81.865139Address: 3755 Tenoroc Mine Highway, LakelandFees: $3 per personRestrooms: On the trailheadLand supervisor: Florida Fish and Wildlife CommissionPhone: 863-606-0093
Open Fri – Mon 6 AM to eight PM Daylight Saving Time, and 6 AM to 7 PM Jap Commonplace Time.
Leashed canines welcome. Hog searching is allowed on choose dates, examine forward earlier than you make plans for outside recreation.
Instructions
Hike
Beginning on the Picnic Lake parking space, stroll to the boat ramp and search for a put up with blue, yellow, and pink blazes.
On prime of the put up, a steel field incorporates a laminated map of the path system.
Cross a brief bridge and observe the tri-colored blazes for 1 / 4 mile earlier than crossing a dust street to achieve the principle loop.
Map field on the trailheadFlip left at this junction, descending in the direction of a picket bridge with a steep climb on the opposite aspect.
The path takes a pointy left flip on the prime, tracing the steep rim of a mine pit lake.
Gaps in dense vegetation lining the path reveal glimpses of the water many ft beneath.
Excessive above the mine pitAt 1.3 miles, the Blue Path branches off to the north earlier than circling again to the trailhead.
Pink and yellow blazes proceed east as the trail leaves a man-made ridge, winding down sloping terrain whereas coming into a mixture of mesic hammock and planted pine forest.
Pink and Yellow PathRising from the densely wooded nook of the loop at 2.5 miles, a grassy hall leads into some of the pure habitats on the property.
Sand stay oaks and turkey oaks dot an open panorama of palmettos, wiregrass, and wildflowers in a sandhill group oddly devoid of pine timber.
Wildflowers within the sandhillsPines seem once more on the fringe of a successional hardwood forest, shortly earlier than reaching an vital path junction.
Flip left at 3 miles, following a large two-track across the japanese edge of a big mine pond.
At 4.2 miles, take one other left the place a yellow blazed pole signifies a flip to the south.
Fishing pondThe southern stretch of the loop follows a deeply shaded, raised street flanked by ferns and wild espresso.
Because the path begins to parallel one other mine lake, well-placed benches present spots to relaxation whereas looking forward to migrating and resident birds.
Wild espressoA double yellow blaze signifies a flip off the street, the place the path crosses a ditch on Eileen’s Bridge earlier than becoming a member of the Pink Path as soon as once more.
Flip proper, following a slender hiking-only hall northward. The path weaves throughout uneven terrain for the following 1.5 miles.
It traverses a forest that has grown from land that was scraped for phosphate a few years in the past.
Eileen’s BridgeOaks give approach to pines once more at 7.5 miles, the place the ultimate stretch crosses relict pine flatwoods earlier than closing the loop.
From this level, observe the strategy path for 1 / 4 mile again to the trailhead.
Pine forestPath Map
Discover Extra!
Video
Mountaineering Tenoroc
Close by Adventures
Path Map (PDF) Official Web site
