https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Lake-Kissimmee
Call Eleanor Foerste at 407-908-4379 by March 23 for reservation
(optional group picnic to follow)
Guided tour to see native plants and listed species and learn about the waterflow south to the Everglades Ecosystem.
The guided walk will focus on native plant within the uplands, however, the park includes 12 distinct natural communities from lake edge to high uplands such as floodplain marshes, flatwoods and shady hammocks. There are over 30 listed species of flora and fauna. The park’s botanical bounty includes delicate mosses, butterfly orchids, sawgrass, cutthroat grass, fetterbush and gallberry with expansive, colorful fields of lotus and pickerelweed at the marshy lake edge. The pine and scrubby flatwoods found in the park are host to: long leaf pines, scrub oaks, Florida scrub jays, Sherman fox squirrels, gopher tortoises, white-tailed deer, turkeys, bobcats and the grey fox. In fact, Lake Kissimmee State Park hosts over two hundred species of birds, making it one of the best birding areas in central Florida. Some of the more notable species are the bald eagle, snail kite, sandhill crane and crested caracara. An observation tower is located in the picnic area and provides views of Lake Kissimmee and its marsh lands.
Start Time of Field Trip: 8:30 am (meet at Park Parking Lot so ready to begin tour by 8:30 am)
End Time of Field Trip: 12 noon (bring snacks and picnic lunch to enjoy in the covered pavilions)
Contact # Day of Event: Eleanor Foerste (407) 908-4379
Field Trip Leader: Eleanor Foerste. Erik Egensteiner, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Park Biologist, Office at Lake Kissimmee State Park: 863-696-1112
Park Entrance Fee: $5.00 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle, $4.00 Single Occupant Vehicle. Annual State Park Pass (purchased at park) $60 unless discounts apply
https://www.floridastateparks.org/AnnualPass#discountsforveterans
Degree of Difficulty: Moderate
Handicap Access: No
Nearest Restrooms:
Nearest Gas Station:
Cell Phone Reception: Moderate
DON’T FORGET TO BRING: water, sunscreen, insect repellant, hat, closed toed shoes, snacks and lunch and proper clothing for the weather.
GPS
Lat: 27.969083
Lon: -81.380167
Driving Directions:
To carpool, Meet at 7:00 am behind the McDonalds at 3191 S John Young Parkway (Estimate 1.2 hour drive)
· From Highway 192, Turn South onto John Young Parkway in Kissimmee
· From McDonalds, Exit right from parking lot onto John Young Parkway
Get into the left turn lane as soon as possible and turn left at light onto Pleasant Hill Road
· Go 9.7 miles then turn left onto Marigold Avenue
(Go past Doverplum Avenue, and shopping, but NOT past the hospital)
· Go 4.5 miles and turn right onto new Poinciana Parkway Toll Road
· Go 4.9 miles and turn right onto Lake Hatchineha Road (542)
· Go 1.9 miles and turn left onto Watkins Road
· Go 2.1 miles and turn right onto Canal Road
· Go 2.0 miles and turn left onto Timberlane Road
· Go 2.9 miles and turn left onto Masterpiece Gardens Road
· Go 2.6 miles and turn left onto Mammoth Grove Road
· Go 3.6 miles and turn left onto Camp Mack Road
· Go 7.9 miles turn right into Park Road
· Go 3.4 miles to parking lot.
From SR 60:
· Turn North (left Eastbound, right Westbound) onto Boy Scout Road/Barney Keen Road
· Turn Right onto Camp Mack Road
Park will be on right after approx. 5 miles
From US 27:
· Turn East (left Southbound, right Northbound) onto Chalet Suzanne Road
· Go straight at stoplight, road changes name to Masterpiece Garden Road
· Turn left onto Mammoth Grove Road
· Turn left onto Camp Mack Road
Park will be on right after approx. 9 miles
Map: https://www.floridastateparks.org/park-documents/Lake-Kissimmee/map