Top 4 Lakes around Lake Wales

For walking and cycling, Lake Wailes Park is an excellent choice. It features a 2.5-mile hike and bike trail around the lake, providing scenic views. You can also find easy walking trails near Lake Wales, such as the Lake Wailes Trail itself, which is part of the easy hikes guide for the area.

Several lakes offer public access. For instance, Lake Pierce has a public boat ramp, parking, and picnic areas. Crooked Lake, a large lake in Polk County, also has a number of parks and boat ramps providing public access. Lake Wailes features a boat ramp for convenient lake access within the city.

Yes, many lakes in the area are family-friendly. Lake Wailes Park offers amenities like a playground, basketball courts, and picnic areas. While requiring an entry fee, Cypress Gardens at LEGOLAND Florida is a major family attraction near the lakes. Crooked Lake is also noted as family-friendly, with parks and access points suitable for all ages.

Lake Walk-in-Water (Lake Weohyakapka) is nationally recognized for its largemouth bass fishing, with abundant vegetation like cattail and Kissimmee grass providing excellent habitat. Lake Pierce is also a prized recreational spot, particularly renowned for trophy bass, bluegill, and black crappie. Crooked Lake is another popular destination for anglers.

Lake Kissimmee State Park, accessible from the Lake Wales area, is a prime spot for birdwatching, with over 200 species, including American bald eagles and sandhill cranes. Its diverse natural communities are home to over 30 listed species of flora and fauna. The Buster Island Paddling Trail on Lake Kissimmee is ideal for observing birds, alligators, and other wildlife. Lake Wailes Park is also home to diverse wildlife and rare plants.

Lake Kissimmee State Park offers excellent kayaking and canoeing opportunities, particularly along the 10-mile Buster Island Paddling Trail. Many of the larger lakes like Lake Pierce and Lake Walk-in-Water are also suitable for paddle sports, offering expansive waters to explore.

Beyond the Lake Wailes Trail, Lake Kissimmee State Park boasts 13 miles of hiking trails. The Walk-in-the-Water Tract at Lake Wales Ridge State Forest, near Lake Walk-in-Water, provides opportunities for long hiking excursions. You can find more hiking options in the Hiking around Lake Wales guide.

Starr Lake is notable as the center of the Lake of the Hills community, which was established before 1920. The Lake of the Hills Community Center, built in 1929 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is located at 47 East Starr Avenue, highlighting the historical roots of this lakeside community.

The lakes in the Lake Wales area are enjoyable year-round, but the cooler, drier months from late fall through spring (roughly November to April) are often preferred for outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, and birdwatching, as temperatures are more moderate and humidity is lower.

Swimming is generally possible in many of the lakes, though specific designated swimming areas vary. Lake Pierce, for example, offers swimming opportunities. Always check local regulations and conditions before entering the water, and be aware of natural wildlife.

Yes, Lake Kissimmee is part of Lake Kissimmee State Park, which covers 5,930 acres and protects 12 distinct natural communities. Crooked Lake Prairie is a nature reserve spanning 525 acres along the shores of Crooked Lake, managed by Polk County Environmental Lands. The Walk-in-the-Water Tract at Lake Wales Ridge State Forest also protects scrub and sandhill communities.