3 Best Hiking Trails in Lakeland, FL

“The Circle B Bar Reserve is protected land in Polk County, Florida, United States. The Reserve features a wide variety of plants and animals in several distinct ecosystems in this reserve of 1,267 acres. The trail is loop-type, and the length of the trail is 4.8 miles. The trail is generally considered an easy route. The elevation gain of the trail is 36 feet. The total time to complete the trail is 1 hour and 24 minutes. The trail is great for hiking, biking, and birding. Visitors can be guaranteed to see alligators in Lake Hancock, often considered the headwaters of the Peace River, which flows more than a hundred miles from Polk County southwest to the Gulf of Mexico. The Reserve has a series of maintained, marked trails of varying lengths. The trail system offers many opportunities for photographers and painters who wants to capture the beauty of nature. The Reserve has picnic shelters, restrooms, trails, freshwater wetlands, and banana creek marsh.

UNIQUE FACTS:
• Restroom Amenities
• Parking Available
• Wheelchair Accessible.”

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“Colt Creek State Park is a popular trail destination in Central Florida. This 5,067-acre park is nestled within the Green Swamp Wilderness Area and named after one of the tributaries that flow through the property. Colt Creek State Park includes more than 5,000 acres of neighborhood Central Florida habitat, an area to discover the herbal groups, flora, and fauna that make their park special. The park offers over 15 miles of beautiful, multi-use trails, which make for great horseback riding, hiking, and biking opportunities. These trails meander through the pine flatwoods, cypress domes, bottomland forest, and open pastures. The park offers fishing, canoeing, and kayaking at one of its lakes. The Park includes other recreational opportunities include picnic pavilions, ranger-led programs, and primitive and full-facility camping options. The park expanded its amenities to include a large screened pavilion with attached restrooms and a paved parking area overlooking Mac Lake. A 75' accessible fishing/observation dock was installed at Mac Lake.

UNIQUE FACTS:
• Picnic Tables Available
• Has Barbecue Grill
• Dogs Allowed.”

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“Saddle Creek Park is a well-maintained hiking trail that gives an excellent experience. The Park is a 740-acre park between Winter Haven and Lakeland in Polk County, Florida. The complete length of the trail is 2.2 miles, and the trail type is out and back type. The elevation gain of the trail is 55 feet. The trail is considered an easy trail route, and the time taken to complete the total trail is approximately 41 minutes. The trail is great for hiking, walking, and jogging. The trail has a great view of different species of plants and trees. During the trail, you can watch wildflowers and wildlife. Saddle Creek Park has features like hiking, birding, forest lake, mountain biking, wildflowers, walking, nature trips, and trail running. The trail must be on a leash for Dogs.

UNIQUE FACTS:
• Swings Available
• Picnic Tables Available
• Dogs Allowed.”

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