13 Best Spots for Hiking in Lakeland

If you’re a nature lover, hiking in Lakeland might be on your to-do list. And you’re in luck because Lakeland, Florida offers stunning places to immerse yourself in nature. I love the hiking trails in Lakeland so much that I make trips to this central Florida town specifically to go hiking. 

Located in a wonderfully wild part of Florida, Lakeland offers hikers and nature lovers a quaint place to call base while exploring the nature preserves, trails, and parks in the area. This comprehensive guide to hiking in Lakeland highlights my thirteen favorite places to find nature, see wildlife, and just hit the reset button for a day.

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Quick Summary of Hiking in Lakeland

• Best for wildlife viewing: Circle B Bar Reserve
• Best for accessibility: Bonnet Springs Park
• Best for getting away from the crowds: Se7en Wetlands
• Shortest hike: Peterson Park
• Longest hike: Tenoroc Public Use Area

1. Bonnet Springs Park

• 4+ miles accessible trails
• Florida Children’s Museum ($)
• Butterfly House
• Native plant garden
• Cafe
• Nature Center
• Visitor Center

Opened in 2022, Bonnet Springs Park quickly gained popularity for the wide variety of family-friendly activities. While this park isn’t what one expects for hiking, the paved paths and boardwalk, including the canopy walk, make it one of the most accessible parks in Lakeland. And the elevation gains along the “mountain” paths add a bit of exertion not often found in Florida.

Bonnet Springs Park is a decades-long restoration of the land from a hundred-year-old railyard back to a more natural state. The namesake spring runs clear to the lagoon which then feeds into Bonnet Lake. 

On my visit in 2023, I thoroughly enjoyed exploring all of the little places designers worked into the park. There’s a Peace Pagoda and a butterfly house, benches overlooking the spring run and others overlooking a stunning retention pond. A ⅓ mile boardwalk winds through the wetlands, and a tram provides guided tours around the park. Even if hiking isn’t your thing, this park is still one of the best things to do in Lakeland.

• Address: 400 Bonnet Springs Boulevard, Lakeland
• Cost: Free, except Florida Children’s Museum

2. Circle B Bar Reserve

• 7+ miles of unpaved trails
• Wide variety of wildlife
• Bold alligators that cross trails in front of visitors
• Polk’s Nature Discovery Center

Have you seen those videos on YouTube of alligators calmly crossing a nature trail in front of visitors? Most of those videos were taken at Circle B Bar Reserve. This large nature preserve on the west shore of Lake Hancock south of Lakeland is home to hundreds of gators who spend their days soaking in the water, bellowing to each other, and shocking visitors when they lumber out of the water to cross a trail to another pond.

Circle B Bar Reserve is a former cattle ranch which has been restored to a more natural state. More than 1,000 acres of lakes, canals, and wetlands are criss-crossed by raised former ranch roads which now serve as hiking trails. The Reserve is a favorite among nature photographers, birders, and nature lovers.

The first time I visited Circle B Bar Reserve, I went with a group of photographers, arriving just after sunrise to capture that soft golden light rising over the wetlands. We met three gators on the paths and saw many others in the water, as well as squirrels, a nest full of baby herons, moorhens, a bald eagle, and sandhill cranes. This was one of my favorite days of hiking in Lakeland.

• Address: 4399 Winter Lake Rd, Lakeland
• Cost: Free

3. Lake Hollingsworth Loop

• 3 miles of paved walking path
• Boardwalks at Thomas B. Mack Park

The Lake Hollingsworth Loop encircles Lake Hollingsworth. Visitors can park at Lake Hollingsworth Boat Ramp. Explore Thomas B. Mack Park on the opposite side of the lake where one finds boardwalks and lots of nature. The loop passes by large waterfront homes providing a more suburban, but still beautiful, walk.

Despite the more populated location, expect to see a variety of wildlife. This walk is also a great place to capture beautiful sunset photos with the lake as a focal point. Locals use the path as a quiet way to unwind from the work day.

• Address: 920 Lake Hollingsworth Dr, Lakeland
• Cost: Free

4. Lake Parker Park

• 3 miles of paved paths
• Lots of seating
• Restrooms
• Other activities, such as soccer, tennis, a boat ramp, and pickleball

Heading to Lakeland for Spring Training? Don’t miss the wonderful park next to Tigertown! The 88-acre park features a lot of great amenities for the community to enjoy. For our purposes, though, let’s talk about the 3 miles of winding paved paths. This exercise trail encircles and criss crosses the park. It also crosses a small canal to wind around the park on the opposite side. 

Other amenities include youth soccer fields, disc golf, picnic shelters, pickleball, tennis courts, shuffleboard, a boat ramp, and a playground. The walking trails are mostly shaded and offer beautiful views of the lake, trees, and some wildlife.

• Address: 820 E Robson St, Lakeland
• Cost: Free

5. Holloway Park

• 7+ miles of unpaved trails
• Good for cross country running

Holloway Park is a 362-acre facility that encourages visitors to “run wild”. Formerly a mining operation, nature took over when the mining stopped, and the Holloway family helped preserve it for future generations. The City of Lakeland recently acquired the property, and the website says it’s closed while they work on operational and safety upgrades. It also closes early if there’s stormy weather.

Holloway Park’s main identity, at the moment, is that of a cross country course. The mining operations left the park with uneven terrain which is quite different from the flat terrain we often experience in Florida. The small hills offer runners an extra challenge. The park hosts numerous races throughout the year and has courses up to 10k. These running trails are grassy and often used by walkers, joggers, and dog walkers when there are no races in progress.

Besides the race courses, Holloway Park features a nature preserve which also has hiking trails. These trails are more secluded and quiet, offering hikers a chance to experience nature and view wildlife, such as birds, snakes, insects, and the occasional bobcat.

• Address: 2402 Holloway Park Dr., Lakeland
• Cost: Free

6. Itchepackesassa Creek Wetlands

• 1.5 mile loop
• Wildlife viewing and bird watching

Itchepackesassa Creek is a 16 mile waterway that runs from East to West north of Lakeland, eventually emptying into Black Water Creek which runs another 15 miles before emptying into the Hillsborough River. The entire area is historically flood prone; however, as Lakeland grows, the area has been developed leading to decades of residential flooding woes. The Wetlands were created in part to alleviate some of that flooding and in part for wastewater clean-up.

Itchpackesassa Creek Wetlands is a series of ponds which catch and hold about 40 million gallons of water. A grassy berm around the ponds provides the trail. Visitors can see lots of birds, rabbits, dragonflies, and the occasional gator. Fishermen enjoy fishing out here, too. The berm is open to the sun, though, so it’s quite hot in the summer.

• Address: 1285 Walker Rd, Lakeland
• Cost: Free

7. Lakeland Highlands Scrub

• 2.8 miles total in 3 loops
• Boardwalk over pond and wetlands
• Elevation of 230 feet in places
• Part of the ancient Lakeland Ridge

Lakeland Highlands Scrub is a 551-acre nature preserve south of Lakeland which preserves part of the ancient Lakeland Ridge, one of the highest points in peninsular Florida. Eons ago when Florida was mostly underwater, the Lakeland Ridge was an island. Today, it’s sandy scrub punctuated by small oak trees, mint, small pines, and large swaths of lichen.

Visitors to Lakeland Highlands Scrub often choose to walk out to the boardwalk and back from the trailhead. It’s approximately a mile out and back and provides a view of the lake and wading birds. However, the preserve has three loops which total 2.8 miles and provide glimpses into an ecosystem which was left mostly in its natural state by the previous owners. Here, visitors might see the endangered scrub jay, osprey, insects, gopher tortoises, eagles, owls, and more.

• Address: 6998 Lakeland Highlands Rd, Lakeland
• Cost: Free

8. Se7en Wetlands

• 5 miles of unpaved trails
• Loops around two large wetland areas
• Good for birding and wildlife viewing

Se7en Wetlands is a property adjacent to Lakeland Highlands Scrub consisting of restored wetlands and lakes. Two loops provide up to 5 miles of hiking along unpaved trails. A short boardwalk along the shore of one lake offers visitors a chance to see wading birds, fish, and alligators.

Se7en Wetlands is currently undergoing further restoration. Lakeland has been dredging muck from the lake to restore the water quality and improve the habitats for the resident animals. Parts of the trails are closed while this work continues so check their website for updates. This wetland, combined with Lakeland Highlands Scrub which can be accessed from the Wood Stork Gate, makes for a great day of hiking Lakeland’s wilderness.

• Address: 500 W Carter Rd, Lakeland
• Cost: Free

9. Gator Creek Reserve

• 6+ miles on stacked loops
• 0.6 mile paved accessible trail

If you’re looking for a secluded spot to get away from it all, Gator Creek Reserve might be the place for you. On my visit, I encountered five people, all of them returning to the parking lot as I headed onto the trails. After the first 30 minutes there, I didn’t see another soul. If you don’t like that much solitude, it can be unnerving, and even for someone like me who relishes being away from people, it was a bit unsettling.

That said, Gator Creek Reserve is beautiful in its untouched wildness. Flowers grow along the edges of the trails. Spider webs criss-cross the trails and decorate trees, especially in the morning. It was wonderfully quiet and peaceful, and I physically felt the “real life” worries melt away as I walked and photographed the park.

• Address: 9725 US Hwy 98 N, Lakeland
• Cost: Free

10. Lake Bonny Park

• 1.3 mile paved exercise trail
• Fishing pier
• Lakeland Skate Park

The sign at the entrance reads “Fletcher Park at Lake Bonny”. Don’t let that fool you. It’s the same park. Most popular for its skate park which has been used in Nike commercials, Lake Bonny Park has a lovely 1.3 mile paved exercise path which encircles the park. Part of it passes by the lake where walkers can see birds and other wildlife.

Besides the trail and skate park, there are baseball and softball fields, covered picnic shelters, and a soccer field. Another popular feature is the fishing pier which provides several places to step away from the boardwalk to see life in the lake or try your hand at fishing.

• Address: 800 US-98, Lakeland
• Cost: Free

11. Peterson Park

• Boardwalks along the lake
• Dog park nearby
• Baseball fields
• Boat ramp

Peterson Park is a hidden gem in Lakeland that’s more neighborhood park than hiking trails. The park has a boardwalk which winds along the lake’s shore and another which crosses the lake. Combining the two nets you approximately 1.5 miles out and back. Though it’s one of the shortest hiking trails in Lakeland, there’s a variety of wildlife and the boardwalk is mostly shady, making it an ideal walk at any time of the year and for almost everybody.

• Address: 3700 Cleveland Heights Blvd, Lakeland
• Cost: Free

12. Saddle Creek Park

• 2.4 miles of trails
• Campground
• Stocked lakes
• Gun range

Saddle Creek Park is a 750-acre park on the East side of Lakeland near its industrial center. The park was formerly a mine and quarry, and like many such places in Florida, has filled with water to form miles of shoreline along freshwater lakes. The lakes were stocked years ago. Largemouth bass, speckled perch, and other freshwater species are frequently caught.

While the fishing is the main attraction, the trails here are tucked away at the far northeastern corner of the park. One trail leads into Tenorac Public Use Area while the other remains in the park. This second one is the Saddle Creek Nature Trail. It winds around one of the lakes and along cypress forest, providing stunning views and a lot of wildlife to view. At least 175 bird species have been reported in the park, and it’s part of the Florida Great Birding Trail.

• Address: 3716 Morgan Combee Rd, Lakeland
• Cost: Free

13. Tenoroc Public Use Area

• 39 miles of trails
• Fishing lakes
• Boat ramp
• Shooting range

Tenoroc Public Use Area is another converted phosphate mine which is now a series of freshwater lakes popular with anglers, particularly for the largemouth bass. This nature preserve abuts Saddle Creek Park with one of the trails connecting the two parks. Multiple trails in Tenoroc PUA wind around the lakes providing great views, a variety of terrain, and lots of wildlife to view. 

Visitors to Tenoroc PUA can also take advantage of bike trails, equestrian trails, boat ramps, and a shooting range. Managed by Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, the preserve is a popular place to spend a day in nature.

• Address: 3755 Tenoroc Mine Rd, Lakeland
• Cost: $3

Where to Stay When Hiking in Lakeland

There are a number of great hotels in Lakeland, including popular chains such as Hyatt, Marriott, and Hilton. Several of these have hotels north of Lakeland along I-4, a good location for those hiking Gator Creek Reserve, Lake Parker Park, or Itchepackesassa Creek Wetlands. These same hotel chains also have hotels south of Lakeland, perfect for those visiting Circle B Bar, Lakeland Highlands Scrub, and Se7en Wetlands.

If you prefer to stay in the heart of Lakeland, I recommend SpringHill Suites by Marriott Lakeland. It’s located across the street from RP Funding Center and centrally located to everything in downtown Lakeland, including parks and restaurants. If you prefer a more luxurious hotel, The Terrace Hotel Lakeland is a great choice.

The Wrap Up: Hiking in Lakeland

And that’s it, fellow hikers. I’ve used my deep love of hiking and understanding of local hiking conditions to curate this list of my favorite hiking trails in Lakeland. Each is unique and beautiful, and I think they offer a good range of trails for hikers and walkers of all levels and capabilities.

If you’re ready to explore more hiking in central Florida, take a look at my guide on the best hikes in Tampa. From dense forests and river rapids to coastal paths, Tampa presents and myriad of hiking waiting to be explored. So, equip yourself with the essentials, embrace the ethos of adventure, and start planning your next hiking adventure..

Safe travels and happy hiking, my friends!