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As quickly as we drove into Highlands Hammock State Park, I relaxed and felt linked. It was as if the enormous oak, pines, and palmettos whispered, “you’re right here now, you possibly can breathe once more.”
Once you go to Sebring in Florida, this state park is your alternative to nurture your self in nature away from the crowds.
The identify itself, “hammock” is the embodiment of leisure. However the phrase hammock right here refers to one thing else – it means forest of broad, shady hardwood timber that develop on an ecological island inside a wetland.
Inside this historical hammock is a fragile ecosystem, dwelling to a number of endangered species of animals, crops, and birdlife, in addition to 9 mountain climbing trails, a motorcycle path, elevated boardwalk, and historic tram.
On this information, we share all of the issues to do in Highlands Hammock State Park, and what you should know earlier than visiting.
About Highlands Hammock State Park
Highlands Hammock State Park is Florida’s first state park. On our tram tour, we discovered rather a lot in regards to the parks’ historical past and distinctive qualities that earned its safety rights.
In 1934, an area CCC camp started engaged on a botanical backyard undertaking adjoining to Highlands Hammock Park.
When Florida’s state park system was established in 1935, Highlands Hammock turned one of many state’s first parks. It’s certainly one of eight unique CCC parks in Florida, and encompasses an space of 9,000 acres.
Highlands Hammock has extra uncommon and endemic species than some other State Park in Florida.
Highlands Hammock represents Outdated Florida earlier than the glitz and glamor of Orlando and Tampa Bay confirmed up – it’s untouched and historical, a spot the place you’ll end up surrounded by thousand outdated oak timber as you progress alongside underneath shaded canopies of cypress and hardwood swamps, marshes, and evergreen flatwoods.
There’s loads of alternative for alligator recognizing and hen watching within the park.
You could get fortunate and see deer, a black bear, and even the elusive Florida Panther.
Highlands Hammock is a sufficiently small park that you may see rather a lot in only a few hours, however greater than sufficient so that you can stretch it out slightly longer.
Whereas it’s not of the swinging variety, hammock does invoke a picture of leisure and revitalization. It comes from the Native American phrase, “hamaca’ which implies “a shady place”.
Right this moment, hammock is utilized in Florida to explain forest habitats which can be usually larger in elevation and are characterised by hardwood forests of broad-leaved evergreens.
Tropical hardwood hammocks happen in south Florida and alongside the Florida coastlines the place hazard from frost is uncommon and tropical timber and shrubs frequent to the Caribbean islands (West Indian origin) can survive.
Issues to do in Highlands Hammock State Park
With 9 mountain climbing trails, an elevated boardwalk, a 3-mile bike path, and a tram to take all of it in from, these are the perfect points of interest in Highlands Hammock State Park…
1. Tram Tour of Highlands Hammock State Park
An awesome introduction to this unimaginable Florida State Park is the narrated tram tour.
This full-accessible tram passes slowly by means of 4 main ecosystems that embody hydric hammock, cypress swamp, pine flatwoods and baygall.
Our informative information, Ed stopped alongside the best way to show us the that means of phrases resembling hammock, epiphytes, and pods stating actual life examples as we went. This completely aligned with our schoolcation mission.
Days later, Savannah was in a position to clarify how the intercourse of an alligator child is decided relying on the place their egg lays within the nest.
Not solely did it train me, however sparked my curiosity to a query I can’t fairly grasp a solution to. I assume we put it right down to the unexplained Mom Nature.
Why do male alligators really feel the necessity to procreate if they only wish to eat all their infants on account of worry of competitors for assets?
All good excursions ought to have you ever ending within the pursuit of extra information!
Our tram tour took us down a again dusty street alongside the park’s borders.
The pine, oak and hardwood timber gave strategy to extra cypress timber, The palms and palmettos regular companions to all all through the park.
This much less thick space is the place a black bear and Florida panther had been lately noticed on the park cam!
We didn’t see these uncommon animals, however we did see the hog traps set as much as assist eradicate the out-of-control hog drawback.
We additionally discovered about one particular species in Highlands Hammock, the gopher tortoise.
This part of the park has timber depending on hearth for regrowth, so managed burning is finished.
After one hearth burning, about 300 species of animals had been discovered hiding within the big underground gap of the gopher tortoise – animals that usually don’t get alongside like snake and mice, huddled collectively within the security of the outlet with a silent truce to not damage each other.
There’s a Disney film ready for that story!
Our tour then adopted a creek behind the park’s borders.
That is the place we had been launched to a number of of the parks’ crocodiles, together with George the ferocious male patrolling the creek trying to see what infants he may eat and Paddy, Deborah and some different of the fierce defending moms watching over their infants.
The tour lasted 90-minutes and was value doing if you wish to chill and have somebody educate and level out probably the most fascinating options.
Now you’ll know what you wish to return and discover extra in-depth.
Facet observe: Our tram tour was hosted by Highland Hammocks State Park, however all ideas, concepts, and opinions are our personal.
2. Stroll the Cypress Swamp Path
Mountain climbing in Highlands Hammock State Park is straightforward, particularly with youngsters of any age.
The mountain climbing trails run by means of hydric hammock, cypress swamp, hardwood swamp and pine flatwood. Eight out of the 9 trails are off the primary loop drive and vary in distance from 975 ft to over 3,000 ft.
A number of of the paths join through a bridge or catwalk.
Ranger Laura beneficial the next walks for me to come back again and do once I do my bike loop trip.
It was going to be throughout our go to to Sebring, however I spotted final minute I used to be not insured to drive the rental automotive so couldn’t escape for a blissful solo hour journey.
The most well-liked path in Highlands Hammock State Park is the Cypress Swamp Path.
Nicely, I ought to say stroll. The longest path in Highlands Hammock is just simply over half a mile, and this space of Florida is pancake flat.
An 800 meter elevated boardwalk takes you thru the traditional land the place herons and ibis poke round within the mud for meals, and when water is excessive, alligators could also be searching for them.
That is a straightforward path whose goal is to move you into an historical land of towering cypress timber, ferns, and dripping Spanish moss.
3. Stroll the Alexander Blair Huge Oak Path
This 975ft path will take you to the “Huge Oak” big dwell oak with a girth of 36 ft. Sadly, the Huge Oak died years in the past, however its gnarled decrease trunk may be seen.
4. Historical Hammock Path to Fern Backyard Path
Stated to be one of many prettiest trails, the Historical Hammock Path resulting in the quick 500 meter Fern Backyard Path reveals off the glory of towering cabbage palms and dwell oaks centuries outdated.
The Fern Backyard Path runs by means of the fern-edged swamp. Alligators could also be seen from the boardwalk right here.
5. Wild Orange Path
It is a good one to do if you’re picnicking because the 1.9km loop connects to the picnic space. It additionally provides a novel perspective for its wild orange timber.
Citrus Groves, whereas not native to this space, are allowed to proceed to develop in Highlands Hammock as they supply so many roles to these within the native communities.
They began on this area, after these on the ships from England and Europe got citrus seeds to throw down alongside their port stops to develop oranges for future passengers immigrating and to assist overcome the scurvy problem.
6. Bike the Highlands Hammock Loop
I very a lot wish to return to Highland Hammocks State Park to cycle the shady 3.1 loop street and hike a few of the many trails that lead off it.
Folks additionally curler blade it and we noticed just a few eager runners clocking up their miles.
You’ll be able to rent bikes kind the Hammock Inn Concession close to the customer middle. Journey lovers will benefit from the six mile off street path, fats tire bikes are beneficial.
Bikes usually are not allowed on mountain climbing trails, however there are racks to park your bike at the beginning of the paths.
Issues to know earlier than visiting Highlands Hammock State Park
- There are geocaches all through the park for households who love geocaching.
- You may as well deliver your personal horse by means of components of the park.
- Highlands Hammock State Park was lately added to the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations.
- Historical past buffs will benefit from the Florida’s Civilian Conservation Corps Museum, housed in a historic constructing close to the customer middle which teaches the historical past of the park and the Crops position in it.
Tenting at Highlands Hammock
Campsites in Highlands Hammock differ from sunny, partial solar, to totally shaded ranging in size from 20 – 50 ft.
They’ve picnic tables and hearth rings.
The household campground provides water and electrical hookups, a dump station, entry to restrooms with showers, in addition to laundry, and dishwashing areas.
You’ll be able to entry primitive campsites in open pine flatwoods. They have picnic tables and hearth rings, however no electrical energy or operating water.
Learn how to get to Highlands Hammock State Park
Highlands Hammock is situated in Central Florida, about 3 hours northwest of Miami and a couple of hours south of Orlando.
The closest city to Highlands Hammock State Park is Sebring. From the middle of Sebring, you’ll find Hammock Street to the south of Lake Jackson.
Observe that street for 7.1 miles and you’ll have reached the doorway to Highlands Hammock State Park.
Try extra wow experiences on a South Central Florida Street Journey.
FAQs About Highlands Hammock State Park
How a lot does it value to get into Highland Hammock State Park?
Admission prices $6 per automobile (as much as eight folks), and $4 per single-occupant automobile. In case you arrive on foot or bicycle, it’s $2 to enter.
What are the opening hours of Highland Hammock State Park?
Highland Hammock State Park is open from 8:00 a.m. till sundown, twelve months a yr, together with holidays. If you’re tenting, you must arrive earlier than sundown, or should you arrive after darkish name the ranger station earlier than 9:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays on 863-386-6094, ext. 0, for the gate code and directions.
What’s the finest path at Highlands Hammock?
The most well-liked path in Highlands Hammock State Park is the Hickory and Cypress Swamp Path, which is 2.9 miles lengthy and principally flat.
Are you able to fish at Highland Hammock State park?
Sure, you possibly can fish at Highland Hammock State Park. Catch-and-release fishing is out there at close by Seven Lakes administration unit.
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