Skip to Content

Tiger Creek Preserve helps make Lake Wales Ridge a hiker’s heaven

lupines at tiger creek preserve
Lupines along the trail at Tiger Creek Preserve on the Lake Wales Ridge.

We don’t have mountains in Florida, but we do have a few hills that can add interest to Florida trails.

That’s why Lake Wales Ridge is one of the best places in Florida to spend a few hours hiking. And there is no better place to hike than Tiger Creek Preserve.

Though it is not well-known, Lakes Wales Ridge and Tiger Creek Preserve are real Florida treasures.

Tiger Creek Preserve Trail
Trail along Tiger Creek Preserve Photo by Bonnie Gross

Lake Wales Ridge once was an island poking up through a shallow sea. It’s 150 miles long and, at its highest point, reaches 312 feet above sea level. It is Florida’s oldest and highest landmass. The ridge stretches from I-4 on the north to Lake Placid on the south, roughly along US 27.

The Nature Conservancy’s Tiger Creek Preserve is one of several good hiking locations here. It’s on the east side of the ridge and the Nature Conservancy preserves it because it holds “one of the highest concentrations of threatened and endangered plants and animals in the country. “ Plants grow here that are not found anywhere else; its defenders like to call this region America’s equivalent of the Galapagos Islands.

Located about 5 miles north of the little town of Frostproof, Tiger Creek Preserve is 4,869 acres with about 10 miles of trails. There are no restrooms, no water and no picnic tables. Admission is free.

Tiger Creek Preserve offers an excellent trail map  and well-marked trails that are kept in good condition, with boards placed alongside mucky spots to provide a dryer route.

In hours of hiking, you will not encounter a building or a paved road. Tiger Creek Preserve is absolutely quiet. Occasional hills offer sweeping views of the forest and prairie and down into small ponds.

We hiked the 7.2-mile-long Highlands Trail and then took a short spur to Patrick Creek, where we dangled our feet in the duckweed-covered stream.

Bridge over Patrick Creek in Tiger Creek Preserve
Bridge over Patrick Creek in Tiger Creek Preserve Photo by Bonnie Gross

On our hike, we were thrilled to see six swallow- tailed kites swooping overhead. We spotted deer twice – one group of two and one group of three. There were wild flowers and many scenes of lovely pine forest.

If you’re looking for a long hike, at 7.2 miles, the Highland Trail is a good choice. We decided the first two miles were the prettiest and, unless your goal is length, we would recommend branching off  from the Highlands Trail for the Heron Pond Loop trail (2 miles) and the Patrick Loop Trail (.9 miles) instead of walking the longer Highlands Trail loop.

View along Tiger Creek Preserve Trail
Tiger Creek Preserve: How Florida used to look  (Photo by Bonnie Gross)

Much of the way is through an open pinewood forest along sandy trails, an area called the central highlands. It’s a sunny trail – wear hats, sunscreen, bring water and choose a cool, breezy or cloudy day.

The two shorter loops explore different habitats. We loved the Patrick Creek Trail, where a narrow bridge crosses the creek. We sat on the bridge and cooled our tired feet in the water. This loop continues beyond the creek into a forest wetland.

View along Palmetto frond at Tiger Creek Preserve Trail
Palmetto frond at Tiger Creek Preserve Trail. Photo by Bonnie Gross

We had hiked too many miles to explore Heron Pond Loop Trail, but it sounds great:  Seven of the 10 plants listed as endangered can be spotted here. The trail circles one pond and brings you to the edge of another, where water fowl are often seen. This trail offers elevation changes and some of the highest “peaks” in the preserve.

If you go to Tiger Creek Preserve, be sure to get a trail map and watch the blaze markings – the trails take some turns and are crossed by some dirt maintenance roads, so there are spots where you might get off your trail.

Oak leaves at Tiger Creek Preserve Trail
Turkey oak leaves at Tiger Creek Preserve (Photo by Bonnie Gross)

More hiking destinations on the Lake Wales Ridge

As we drove through this scenic rural countryside, we passed several other spots that look promising for hikers.

We had previously hiked in the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest. Here’s the story about the state forest on Florida Rambler.  There are several hikes here of various lengths in the state forest. Next time we visit, I want to hike the Reedy Creek Trail because it brings you along lovely Lake Arbuckle. You could spend several days just hiking within this state forest.  Here’s a map of trails in the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest.

Crooked Lake in Babson Park
Crooked Lake in Babson Park

We also passed a  promising county facility, Crooked Lake Prairie in Babson Park. Crooked Lake is designated as an Outstanding Florida Water, which means it is “worthy of special protection because of its natural attributes.”

Crooked Lake has two trails – a short Lake View Trail, which leads to a boardwalk across a scenic marsh along the edge of Crooked Lake, and the Scrub Trail, which a 1.6 mile loop through an open scrub flatwood habitat.

For a truly unusual destination, consider the Avon Park Air Force Range.  Located along the Lake Wales Ridge, Avon Park bombing range is huge – 106,000 acres – and when they’re not practicing shooting bad guys, it’s open for lots of recreational use including extensive hiking trails and camping.

Tired feet take a dip in Patrick Creek at Tiger Creek Preserve. (Photo: David Blasco)
Tired feet take a dip in Patrick Creek at Tiger Creek Preserve. (Photo: David Blasco)

There are a number of state parks along the Lake Wales Ridge, all of which offer hiking trails:

Camping and lodging along the Lake Wales Ridge

There are excellent campgrounds at Highland Hammocks State Park,  Lake Kissimmee State Park and Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park.

There is an attractive little-known county campground located on the northern end of Lake Arbuckle next to the state forest . It’s close to Tiger Creek Preserve and adjoins the state forest. It has a picnic shelter and tables, restrooms and a boat ramp. The camping sites are widely spaced and shaded, some overlooking the lake. Rates for RVs are $23 per night for up to four persons with electric and water. Tents with up to four persons (without electric and water hookup) are $10.

Lake Arbuckle County Campground
2600 Lake Arbuckle Road
Frostproof, Fl 33843

Within the state forest, there are several areas designated for primitive camping. You need to bring water and register in advance.

For camping permits, visit the forest office:

Florida Forest Service
851 County Road 630 East
Frostproof, FL 33843
863/ 635-8589

There are primitive campgrounds within Avon Park Air Force Range.

Not a camper? Here’s a nearby vintage hotel that is affordable and full of character. The 1926 Hotel Jacaranda in Avon Park.

Others things to do along Lake Wales Ridge


All articles on FloridaRambler.com are original, produced exclusively for our readers and protected by U.S. Copyright law. Any use or re-publication without written permission is against the law.

This page contains affiliate links from which Florida Rambler may earn a sall commission when a purchase is made. This revenue supports our mission to produce quality stories about Florida at no cost to you.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.