 Photo Courtesy Don McDuffie
VIEW PHOTO GALLERY
State Park Location Maps:
(click here to zoom and navigate local map)
(click here to zoom and navigate regional map)
View TOPO Maps!
Get directions to this park:
State Park Photo Gallery:
volunteer positions open
 Photo Courtesy Don McDuffie
VIEW PHOTO GALLERY
State Park Link:
Lake Kissimmee State Park
Nearby Parks:
Allen David Broussard State Park Catfish Creek
|
| State Park Overview: |
 | Florida's cowboy heritage comes alive with living history demonstrations of the early Florida "cow hunters" in an 1876-era cow camp. White-tailed deer, bald eagles, sandhill cranes, turkeys, and bobcats have been seen in the park, located on the shores of lakes Kissimmee, Tiger, and Rosalie. Visitors enjoy boating, canoeing, and fishing in the picturesque lakes. Nature students can hike over 13 miles of trails to observe and study the abundant plant and animal life. Six miles of trails are open to equestrians. A large, shaded picnic area with pavilions is available. The park has full-facility campsites, as well as a primitive camping facility. The youth camping area can accommodate up to 50 people. The dark skies make stargazing a popular nighttime activity for campers. Located off State Road 60 15 miles east of Lake Wales. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
|
|
Wildlife Abounds in Spotless Park
The weekend of July 11, 2008 gave us an opportuinty to camp at LKSP. In the two days we camped at the park, we saw more wildlife than I have seen in the 30 years I have lived in Florida. A simple walk to the marina or restroom brought views of deer, turkeys, and even a Cypress squirrel, not to mention the various fish and fowl we spotted while boating out to Lake Kissimmee. After an exhausting day of biking, hiking, and boating we were more than impressed by the cleanliness of the public facilities. Campsites were kept tidy, picnic areas were well groomed, and the restroom was cleaner than my own! We will certainly be returning for another excursion through the park!
Written by The Vero Trio
13-Jul-2008
| |
|
For nature lovers
We enjoyed this park greatly, spending several days camped there in our RV. Very large, roomy, shaded campsite; restrooms close and clean; varied and plentiful wildlife; huge live oaks; good bicycling; the lake itself a long walk unless you had a boat. We will return.
Written by Jomarlin
20-Nov-2008
| |
|
Wildlife Abounds!
I camped for 3 days on site 14 last December. I enjoyed the beauty of the park while walking and driving around. Mostly, I relaxed and read several books I borrowed from the park office library. Most of the time during the day, there were eagles soaring overhead and it was so quiet that I could hear the swoooosh of air over their wings. I was visited on my site by deer, squirrels, lots of birds, wild hogs, many turkies, sand hill cranes, and, of course, armidillos. I got amazing photos with my digital camera. The bath house was modern and clean and conveniently located. I am just waiting now till cooler weather in November or December to spend a week at Kissimmee State Park, my favorite park in Florida.
Written by Don McDuffie
17-Sep-2009
| |
|
Outstanding Park
I used to live 15 miles from this park and never visited it - what a mistake that was. When I was there I camped for two days, and my site was visitd by a bobcat, three turkeys and two deer. It was unbelivable! The facilities are first rate, clean restrooms and showers, large shaded camp sites. You actually are camping in the woods instead of a level treeless lot. The layout is two circles with a bathhouse and laundry facilites in the center. So everyting is close except for the person in the next campsite. It makes me feel as a floridian that I am getting something good for my tax dollars.
(name not given)
10-Oct-2009
| |
|
|
| Camping: |
| Full Facility Camping
Sixty campsites are available with electric and water hookups. No sewage hookups are provided although a dump station is located nearby. The oak hammock in which the camping area is located makes this one of the most beautiful camping areas in the state.
RV Camping
Lake Kissimmee State Park?s camp ground has sites with water, electric, plenty of shade, and a majority of the sites are surrounded by beautiful natural buffers for a little seclusion on your site. Although there are no septic hooks up?s there is a dump station at the camp ground entrance.
Primitive Camping
For those who prefer primitive camping, there are two campsites located on the 13 miles of hiking trails within the park. Everything must be backpacked in including water. There are no facilities available at either of these campsites.
Youth Camping
Lake Kissimmee State Park offers 2 Primitive Youth Camping Sites to Youth groups with each site capable of holding up to 25 people. The sites are located just off the beaten path, under ample shade provided by beautiful live oaks that cover 85% of the camping area. In the Youth Camping area there are cold showers, restrooms, 1 fire pit for each site; surrounded by benches for the fire side chats and ghost stories. The Parking and Unloading area is located less than 200? from the sites for improved access. Reservations can be made at the Ranger Station, up to 11 Months in advance. |
| Trails: |
| The park offers 13 miles of hiking trails which showcase white-tailed deer, bobcat, bald eagles, sandhill cranes, turkeys, and other bird life. The trails take you through pine flatwoods, oak hammocks, by freshwater marshes, and out to Lake Kissimmee. You may take your pick from a ? mile self-guided nature trail, two loop trails, and a spur trail out to the lake. There are two backcountry campsites along the trails available for those who wish to spend the night under the stars. |
| Picnicking: |
| There is a large picnic area located in an oak hammock near the bottom of the park. Large, sprawling live oak trees provide shade for those interested in picnicking at the park. There are numerous picnic tables and four pavilions available. At the edge of the picnic area is a 40 foot tall observation tower where you will be able to view the upper part of Lake Kissimmee. For further information on the availability and prices of renting the pavilions please call the park office. |
| Boating: |
| Launch your boat from the park and explore the 35,000 acres of Lake Kissimmee and the neighboring lakes and creeks on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. Boating activities include wildlife viewing, sight seeing, bass fishing, and pan fishing on some of Florida?s most pristine waterways. The park has an on site boat ramp and marina.
Boat Ramp
Air Boats are not permitted to launch from the park due to limited space and safety concerns in the marina area. If visiting or camping, air boats may be towed into the park on their trailers, providing the prop has been tied to the rigging so it cannot be started. There are a number of private boat ramps with in a few miles of the park that allow air boat launching. |
| Fishing and Hunting: |
| Located on the shores of Lakes Kissimmee, Rosalie and Tiger, the park offers some of the best fishing opportunities in the state. A variety of fish that can be caught include the largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, chain pickerel and bluegill. A boat ramp in the park offers direct access to Lake Kissimmee. For those without boats fishing opportunities from the canal banks, marina and dam offer the same variety of fish. Freshwater fishing in Florida requires a license for those who are 15 years or older. You do not have to have a license to fish with a cane pole as long as you are fishing in the county of your residence. |
| History of the Area: |
| European man arrived in Florida in the 1500?s but his presence was not felt here until the 1800?s. During the third Seminole War Fort Gardiner was built nearby as a temporary fortification. Later the area was widely used for timber and turpentine. The town of Rosalie was built and later abandoned after the turpentine industry pulled out of the area.
During the Civil War the area was used for raising cattle that were shipped to the Confederate Army or traded with Cuba for supplies. After the war, cattle were the main industry and this continues to the present day.
In 1969, the state of Florida purchased 5,030 acres of land from the William Zipprer estate for use as a state park. Lake Kissimmee State Park was opened to the public in 1977. An additional 900 acres were purchased in 1997 and added to the park?s western boundary. |
| |
| |
| Area Accommodations |
| Campgrounds | |  | Wynnhaven Riverside RV Park - Bushnell, FL
Wynnhaven Riverside is located on County Road 48 in the small town of Bushnell, Florida. Whether you are visiting Florida and want sun or prefer to camp in the shade of Florida's grand oak trees, we have units available for both.
Web Site: http://www.wynnhavenriverside.com |
|
|
| |
| | Advertise your park related business
on stateparks.com
...vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental, etc read more.... |
|
| Related Links: |
| Lake Kissimmee State Park - Lake Kissimmee State Park Overview. | | Wildlife Abounds At Lake Kissimmee State Park - from Tampa Bay Online - TBO.com News - a comprehensive news and information site from Tampa Bay Online, including breaking ... site feedback Wildlife Abounds At Lake Kissimmee State Park By DONNA FELLOWS and MAULISSA ... | | Wild turkey at Lake Kissimmee State Park - Photo of wild turkey copyright EcoFlorida magazine ... Wild turkey at Lake Kissimmee State Park |
| Directions: |
| Lake Kissimmee State Park is located off S.R. 60, 15 miles east of Lake Wales. |
|
|
| |
|
USA
