Florida Hidden Gem: Highlands Hammock State Park

Fern-Lined Trail

Boardwalk over Swamp

Narrow Catwalk over Water

Catwalk through Bald Cypress Trees

Bald Cypress Growing over Catwalk

Bald Cypress Knees in Water

Bald Cypress Tree and Ferns

Reflections of Bald Cypress in Water

Fall Webworm Caterpillar on Boardwalk

Hardwood and Ferns on Ancient Hammock Trail

Hollowed-Out Base of Live Oak

Over 1,000-Year-Old Big Oak

Tree Surgery Visible (center) at Base of Big Oak

Highlands Hammock State Park is a hidden gem!  It is located near Sebring, Florida (south of Orlando), and is one of the state’s oldest parks.  It was initially submitted for status as a national park, but was considered too small.  The park first opened to the public in 1931, and the catwalk over the Cypress Swamp was built in 1933. 

Bald cypress trees grow throughout the swamp.  The trees send up fantastic knobby roots (“knees”) above the water line.  Theories about the purpose of the knees range from helping the plant breathe, to providing stability in the water.  One tree was even growing over and onto the boardwalk.  Walk carefully on the narrow catwalk, and watch for alligators.  This lush jungle feels like it is straight out of Jurassic Park! 

Other trails lead through the Ancient Hammock and to some of the state’s oldest trees.  The Big Oak is over 1,000 years old, 36 feet around, and still has some new growth sprouting at the top.  If you look carefully, you can see the Big Oak’s tree surgery in 1930.  At that time people thought you could stabilize and extend the life of a tree by filling the hollow space inside with concrete.  More info about Highlands Hammock State Park is at:  https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Highlands-Hammock

And by the way, Florida just won the National Gold Medal for Excellence in the United States Park System again – the only state to have won three times!