Located along the beautiful Lake Wales Ridge, Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park, covers more than 8,000-acres of scrub, sandhill and flatwoods land. The preserve offers 6-miles of hiking trails, 7-miles of equestrian trails and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.
Hiking at Catfish Creek Preserve State Park
When you visit the Haines City state park make sure you are prepared for rugged conditions typical of the scrub habitat. The Lake Wales Ridge Scrub is a landscape unlike any other which features tall, steep ridges of sugar sand the color of sparkling fresh snow, with ascents and descents so steep you’d think you were traversing ski slopes along the trail system. The trails are deep in soft sand, broad like roads, and have little to no shade. (Bring your Camelback!) The incredible sweeping views of Central Florida from atop the ridges are will worth the physical challenges of reaching the summit.
Rare Plants & Animals
The preserve is home to numerous rare plants, such as scrub morning glory, scrub plum, pygmy fringe tree and cutthroat grass. Several protected animal species including Florida scrub-jays, bald eagles, gopher tortoises and Florida scrub lizards.
