Our visit to this park 16 miles north of Lakeland on SR471 for a specific reason. It's a nice day park for most visitors, but it has two primitive campgrounds, a primitive group/youth campground, and an equestrian campground. Our purpose today was to see the progress of the rv campground construction. Yes, they finally broke ground for an rv campground with water and electric at each site. Projected completion is Spring 2018. According to the construction company's website The design includes 62 RV pads, 6 tent-camping sites, two restroom and
shower facilities and associated infrastructure. The campground is
scheduled to open in Spring 2018. There will be two phases with 30 campsites each phase. YAY!
No campground site to report on at this visit. Drove the toy to the park. Hopefully, the sites will have 50/30/20 amp service.
For now the park is a good park for day activities such as fishing, kayaking, picnicking, hiking and biking. This is the largest of three lakes, Mac Lake. The other two are quite a bit smaller: Middle Lake and Little Lake. All are good fishing lakes.
There is a large screened pavilion with several picnic tables/benches inside, running water, and restrooms. Out back is a large grill.
In front of the large pavilion is 75 feet of dock for fishing or relaxing over the water. To the right is a boat ramp. There are canoe/kayak rentals or bring your own boat. No gas propelled motors. Fish from the dock, the shore or boat. Wouldn't advise swimming.
A Cormorant dries its wings on a dock pillar.
There are two smaller open pavilions with a small grill and about ten picnic tables under roof.
One of the smaller pavilions.
This is a path in the picnic area along Mac Lake. It turns into a dirt "path" leading to another day area by the Middle and Little lakes. Walking or biking only.
This racer was watching me from the grass by the pavilion. About 4 ft long, I'd guess. Docile. Common snake in Central Florida.
Besides the 10 and 7 mile trails there is a quarter mile nature trail through the hammock behind the pavilions. Recent rains made it impassable on this visit. It is an easy trail that contains a lot of Florida flora and one can happen upon several species of wildlife.
At the entrance to the trail there were a few Goldenrod bushes, and...
...these very small lavender wildflowers.
Leaving the parking lot heading toward the Group/Youth campsite and the new campground site, the road crosses Gator Creek. Recent rains has this at near cresting the road. Normally, there is a variety of water fowl here. Today, nothing.
The large underroad pipes were will below the surface and these smaller relief tubes are working hard to pass the creek under the road.
A view of the plain near the Gator Creek culvert.
Very hot and humid today and we weren't here to hike those 10 and 7 mile trails. So, we went over to another area by Little and Middle Lakes. This is equestrian staging and camping area. No utilities, but room enough to park your truck and trailer, feed and water the horses and head out on the Flatwood and Yellow trails.
There are restrooms, water spigot and a pavilion here. Parking is also available to those who want to fish the lakes.
Past the pavilion area is a boat ramp. But, today not so convenient. Again, the rains have raised the water level greatly.
Picnic tables are usually available.
Usually a parking lot. Now, a runoff stream to Mac Lake.
Besides us, the only other thing standing by/in the water here.
