Lake Kissimmee State Park

Lake Kissimmee State Park
IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area)
Location	Polk County, Florida, USA
Nearest city	Lake Wales, Florida
Coordinates	27°57′29″N 81°22′30″W
Area	5,930 acres (24.0 km2)
Governing body	Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Lake Kissimmee State Park s a 5,930 acre (24 km²) Florida State Park located on State Road 60, 15 miles (24 km) east of Lake Wales. It contains floodplain, forest, prairie, hammock, flatwoods and Lakes Kissimmee, Tiger, and Rosalie. The park is home to 50 species of plants and animals that are either threatened, of special concern or endangered.

Activities include boating, canoeing, kayaking and fishing as well as camping, hiking, horseback riding, and nature viewing. Among the wildlife of the park include two hundred species of birds, among them the bald eagle, snail kite and whooping crane. Other animals are bobcat, grey fox and wild turkey, as well as white-tailed deer, sandhill crane, fox squirrel and otter.

Amenities include thirteen miles (19 km) of hiking trails and six miles (10 km) of horse trails and fishing docks. The park's sixty full facility campsites are located in an oak hammock. There are two primitive campsites and a youth camping area. More than 30,000 acres (120 km²) of lakes are accessible from the park. The park is open from 8:00 am till sundown year round. The cow camp is open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

Cow Camp

Cow Camp is a living history site that depicts an 1876 cattle camp, including Florida scrub cattle. Local cattlemen were commonly referred to as Cracker cowboys. Cow Camp is open on weekends and holidays from October through May 1.

Gallery

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  Sandhill cranes in the campground.

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  A campsite in the park.

References

• Lake Kissimmee State Park - official site
• Lake Kissimmee State Park at State Parks
• Lake Kissimmee State Park at Absolutely Florida
• Lake Kissimmee State Park at Wildernet