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As quickly as we drove into Highlands Hammock State Park, I relaxed and felt related. It was as if the large oak, pines, and palmettos whispered, “you’re right here now, you’ll be able to 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 title 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 bushes 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, vegetation, and birdlife, in addition to 9 mountaineering 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 it’s essential 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 lots in regards to the parks’ historical past and distinctive qualities that earned its safety rights.
In 1934, a neighborhood CCC camp started engaged on a botanical backyard challenge adjoining to Highlands Hammock Park.
When Florida’s state park system was established in 1935, Highlands Hammock grew to become one of many state’s first parks. It’s one in every of eight authentic CCC parks in Florida, and encompasses an space of 9,000 acres.
Highlands Hammock has extra uncommon and endemic species than every 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Highlands Hammock represents Outdated Florida earlier than the glitz and glamor of Orlando and Tampa Bay confirmed up – it’s untouched and historical, a spot the place you’ll end up surrounded by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 previous oak bushes as you progress alongside beneath shaded canopies of cypress and hardwood swamps, marshes, and evergreen flatwoods.
There’s loads of alternative for alligator recognizing and chook watching within the park.
Chances are you’ll 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 lots in only a few hours, however greater than sufficient so that you can stretch it out a little bit longer.
Whereas it’s not of the swinging sort, hammock does invoke a picture of leisure and revitalization. It comes from the Native American phrase, “hamaca’ which suggests “a shady place”.
As we speak, hammock is utilized in Florida to explain forest habitats which might 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 bushes and shrubs widespread to the Caribbean islands (West Indian origin) can survive.
Issues to do in Highlands Hammock State Park
With 9 mountaineering trails, an elevated boardwalk, a 3-mile bike path, and a tram to take all of it in from, these are the most effective points of interest in Highlands Hammock State Park…
1. Tram Tour of Highlands Hammock State Park
An ideal introduction to this unbelievable Florida State Park is the narrated tram tour.
This full-accessible tram passes slowly by 4 main ecosystems that embody hydric hammock, cypress swamp, pine flatwoods and baygall.
Our informative information, Ed stopped alongside the way in which to show us the that means of phrases similar to hammock, epiphytes, and pods mentioning actual life examples as we went. This completely aligned with our schoolcation mission.
Days later, Savannah was capable of clarify how the intercourse of an alligator child is decided relying on the place their egg lays within the nest.
Not solely did it educate me, however sparked my curiosity to a query I can’t fairly grasp a solution to. I suppose we put it right down to the unexplained Mom Nature.
Why do male alligators really feel the necessity to procreate if they simply wish to eat all their infants on account of worry of competitors for sources?
All good excursions ought to have you ever ending within the pursuit of extra data!
Our tram tour took us down a again dusty highway alongside the park’s borders.
The pine, oak and hardwood bushes gave solution to extra cypress bushes, 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 not too long ago 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 bushes 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 enormous 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 seeking 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 price doing if you wish to sit back 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 notice: 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 simple, particularly with youngsters of any age.
The mountaineering trails run by 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 toes to over 3,000 toes.
A number of of the paths join by way of a bridge or catwalk.
Ranger Laura really useful 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 automobile 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.
Properly, 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 on the lookout for them.
That is a straightforward path whose objective is to move you into an historical land of towering cypress bushes, ferns, and dripping Spanish moss.
3. Stroll the Alexander Blair Massive Oak Path
This 975ft path will take you to the “Massive Oak” large reside oak with a girth of 36 toes. Sadly, the Massive Oak died years in the past, however its gnarled decrease trunk will be seen.
4. Historic Hammock Path to Fern Backyard Path
Mentioned to be one of many prettiest trails, the Historic Hammock Path resulting in the quick 500 meter Fern Backyard Path reveals off the glory of towering cabbage palms and reside oaks centuries previous.
The Fern Backyard Path runs by 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 in case you are picnicking because the 1.9km loop connects to the picnic space. It additionally affords a novel perspective for its wild orange bushes.
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 situation.
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 highway and hike a number of the many trails that lead off it.
Individuals additionally curler blade it and we noticed a number of eager runners clocking up their miles.
You possibly can rent bikes kind the Hammock Inn Concession close to the customer middle. Journey lovers will benefit from the six mile off highway path, fats tire bikes are really useful.
Bikes should not allowed on mountaineering trails, however there are racks to park your bike firstly 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 can even deliver your individual horse by components of the park.
- Highlands Hammock State Park was not too long ago 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 function in it.
Tenting at Highlands Hammock
Campsites in Highlands Hammock fluctuate from sunny, partial solar, to totally shaded ranging in size from 20 – 50 ft.
They’ve picnic tables and hearth rings.
The household campground affords water and electrical hookups, a dump station, entry to restrooms with showers, in addition to laundry, and dishwashing areas.
You possibly can entry primitive campsites in open pine flatwoods. They have picnic tables and hearth rings, however no electrical energy or operating water.
Find out how to get to Highlands Hammock State Park
Highlands Hammock is positioned 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 will see that Hammock Highway to the south of Lake Jackson.
Observe that highway 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 Highway Journey.
FAQs About Highlands Hammock State Park
How a lot does it value to get into Highland Hammock State Park?
Admission prices $6 per car (as much as eight individuals), and $4 per single-occupant car. Should 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, 12 months a yr, together with holidays. In case you are tenting, you must arrive earlier than sundown, or in case 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 greatest 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’ll be able to fish at Highland Hammock State Park. Catch-and-release fishing is on the market at close by Seven Lakes administration unit.
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