The first thing I did on arrival at Colt Creek State Park was hop on my bicycle and explore the backcountry of this relatively new addition to the Florida State Parks system.
A cattle ranch until it was purchased by the state in 2006, Colt Creek State Park is tucked into a corner of the sprawling Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve, east of Orlando.
With its open pastures and 15-mile network of off-road trails, the 5,000-acre park is easily accessible to hikers, bicyclists and equestrians.
The park has an RV campground with 27 sites with hookups, an primitive equestrian campground and backcountry primitive campsites. Following a trend in other state parks, there are three “Glamping” sites for those interested in a comfy, fully-furnished, ready-to-camp experience.
The park’s three lakes are reclaimed limestone mines, deep enough to be fed by the Floridan aquifer. Although relatively small at 25 acres, the park’s largest lake, Mac Lake, accommodates kayaks and canoes, and kayak rentals are available.
Mac Lake is popular for fishing from its 75-foot pier, located in the main day-use area. The kayak launch is next to the pier. The other two lakes are nearby, accessible from a nature trail that originates from the day-use area.
The Trails at Colt Creek
There are 15 miles of marked trails within Colt Creek State Park that traverse varied habitats, ducking in and out of pastures, pine flatwoods, cypress domes and hardwood hammocks. Wildlife is abundant, the most visible being birds sweeping across the lakes and pastures.
All of the park’s marked trails are multi-use and unpaved, allowing them to be shared by hikers, bicyclists and equestrians.
My first ride was around the three lakes, which are limestone quarries mined during the 1990s. The former mining roads are excellent trails to explore and take you back into the woods on several spurs.
The primitive equestrian campground, a little past the RV campground on the main park road, is an excellent starting point for exploring the park’s wetland prairies, formerly pasture lands connected by an off-road trail.
The day I rode this trail on my e-bike, there were many potholes and puddles, but the trail was otherwise easy to navigate. I imagine the difficulty increases significantly in summer’s rainy season. I rode it in the spring.
When you run out of trails within Colt Creek State Park, you can greatly expand your backcountry adventure in the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve next door.
The Green Swamp next door
Colt Creek State Park is on the southern foot of the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve’s East Tract, one of the preserve’s four sectors encompassing 110,000 acres of swamps, forests and more pastures.
Entrances to the preserve’s two main sectors, the East Tract (51,000 acres) and West Tract (37,000 acres) are within easy reach of Colt Creek State Park at the point where the Florida Scenic Trail crosses Route 471.
The East Tract features 71 miles of unpaved service roads, while the West Tract offers another 46 miles of multi-use trails. The Florida Trail slices through both tracts for 32 miles, most of which is designated for hikers only.
The Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve was cobbled together with federal and state preservation grants, and managed by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
Contrary to what the name implies, the Green Swamp is not just swamp. There are certainly marshes and wetlands throughout, but much of the preserve is on a plateau, 120 to 200 feet above sea level, cobbled together from ranches and farm land.
This elevation is the key to the preserve’s creation because of its critical role feeding the Floridan Aquifer, a major source of drinking water for Central Florida and the Tampa Bay area, and as the source of four major rivers, the Withlacoochee, Ockalawaha, Hillsborough and Peace rivers, which spill off the plateau in four directions.
One reason the Green Swamp plateau is so critical is that the elevation pressurizes the aquifer and keeps the aquifer moving.
Backcountry camping is available in the preserve most of the year, except during the fall hunting season.
The campground at Colt Creek
There are three ways to camp in Colt Creek State Park — the main campground for RVs and tents with electric and hookups, the equestrian campground with no hookups, the Youth Campground for organized groups with minimal facilities and backcountry primitive camping.
The main campground includes three “Glamping” tents with all the amenities of home.
When we arrived in our travel trailer, I was struck by how open it was. This is to be expected for a new campground. There is minimal low-lying vegetation for privacy, although the sites are widely spaced.
The campground includes both back-in and pull-through sites, as well as four sites that are handicap-accessible near restrooms.
All of the sites in the campground include water and electric hookups. A dump station is available at the exit to the main park road.
The three “Glamping” tents are tucked into their own little corner separated by low-level vegetation, each with a real queen bed for two people and event air-conditioning! There’s room in the tents for two additioinal campers, but you’ll have to bring your own sleeping pads.
The Glamping sites are $150 per night and can be reserved through a private concession at coltcreekstatepark.com or call 863-774-3541.
You can book the main campground for your RV through the Florida State Parks reservation system at reserve.floridastateparks.org for $24 per night plus a $7 daily utility fee. Discounts are available for Florida residents seniors.
It’s worth noting that Colt Creek State Park is off the beaten path and often has good campsite availability. Also be aware that there are few supplies available nearby, so bring everything you need.
Colt Creek State Park, 16000 State Road 471, Lakeland FL 33809. Phone: 863-815-6761. Camping fee: $24 per night plus tax, plus $7 daily utility fee and a nonrefundable $6.70 reservation fee. Primitive camping: $5 per person per night. Glamping (luxury tent): $150/night. Reservations for the main campground can be booked online at reserve.floridastateparks.org. For Glamping, contact the private concession at coltcreekstatepark.com or call 863-774-3541
Related stories:
- One night stand at Colt Creek State Park. An overnight camping experience with backpacker Kyle Albinus.
- Withlacoochee River Park, Green Swamp & dark skies by Bob Rountree
Bob Rountree is a beach bum and camper who has explored Florida for decades. Bob and his wife Kathy live in South Florida and roam the Sunshine State in their RV with kayaks and bicycles on board. A retired news editor for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Bob co-founded FloridaRambler.com with fellow journalist Bonnie Gross in 2010.