Spring Hill. Location: Okeechobee, Glades, Hendry, Palm Beach, and Martin Counties Length: 109 miles Fees / Permits: free, with designated campsites along the route Difficulty: easy to moderate Bug factor: low to high, depending on time of day and breezes Restrooms: at community parks along the route View trail map Log Harbor Condominium Association. Lakeport . Down here one cannot go far without traffic, and open roads are almost impossible to find. … Rest stops every 15-20 miles lots of fun/beer/food/friends. Thank you so much. These sections of the Florida Trail connect to the Okeechobee section. I’ve had more flats on 27 than anywhere else. Dunedin. Contractors are using heavy construction vehicles to move the material. closures on east side? In fact, you might pick up a couple of followers. New Port Richey. National Scenic Trail. Park Map; Contact; Get Directions (505) 382-6068. I had heard the new cabins at Pahokee were really nice – hippie friends actually honeymooned there. Holler when you plan to go; one or more of us might be up for joining you. Frostproof. Clewiston and Okeechobee are the most fruitful town stops for getting things done, since they have a broad variety of services and accommodations, including large grocery stores and a Walmart in each town. [Note Gizmo’s is no longer in business. 441 on the east side of the lake has been recently repaved. We stayed the night at the KOA right on the lake at Pahoke. Dunnellon. 112.8 miles. Sanibel Island. Boca Raton. Coral Gables. As much as paddling your way through the largest lake in Florida could be adventurous, it isn’t an easy feat. Ken is back in Missouri celebrating his mom’s 90th birthday presently. We are hoping for light winds but it obviously doesn’t matter which way we ride (clockwise or counter) since we will get a headwind at some point in the day but if there is any other reason you can think of to head in either direction, let me know your opinion on that too! Having traffic around reduces the chances of isolated breakins. I’ve ridden it when it was under construction and the shoulders were broken up and survived. If so can you email us at grunewalds07@gmail.com. I live in Clewiston and used to ride every other day the roundtrip Clewiston-Moore Haven-Clewiston just for sport and relaxation; and it is actually, as you said, the nicest one. Bring your boat! They have a fan page. Stay in Clewiston, or Okeechobee; the Pahokee marina has new cabins for rent, though car safety there is a factor. If you need assistance with a shuttle, join the Florida Trail Hikers Facebook group and ask for assistance. Book Your Site Today (505) 382-6068. On the south side, there’s Roland Martin’s Marina – it has a motel with it (have never been inside). Motorcycle Route Author. BREAKING NEWS….SEPTUGARIONS ATTACK THE L.O.S.T IN 100 DEGREE HEAT… If you put off your ride until November, you can hook up with a great bunch of folks from Florida Off Road Cycling Enthusiasts (FORCE). But I must say, if most people around the Lake area are as friendly and helpful as you and Jan have been, then I am sure things will turn out just fine – especially considering what I am used to down here! We want to ride the LOST in 2 days after Thanksgiving (no shopping for us)! The pier is a nice viewing point to see the lake and a few gators. Crystal River. You pass the huge hunting preserve. 2 Reviews. 78. The other day I saw an eagle, and I had no idea we had some around here. Titusville . The Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (LOST) loops around the lake on a 10 meter (35’) high raised dike, called the Herbert Hoover Dike; that means 177 KM of scenic paved and gravel trails. By batmn6 (26 McR Points) on Feb 26, 2020. St. Petersburg. There are a number of other known spots, the Flamingo – old fashioned but OK, and Pier II, the Travelodge, a Best Western. And there was the Little Debbie truck vs Ken incident, which takes a whole long blog post to tell. Lake Okeechobee (US: / oʊ k i ˈ tʃ oʊ b i /), also known as Florida's Inland Sea, is the largest freshwater lake in the state of Florida. Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Lake Okeechobee. Wherever possible, make use of potable water sources and non-potable tap water at the locks. Biscayne National Park. If you do need to filter water, don’t do so at dawn or dusk, when you might be mistaken for a deer by a prowling alligator. Rider Reviews. Blackwater River State Forest. It’s generally smart to leave a car behind the gates of a campground or other business than at a trailhead when backpacking around the lake. 710 . 56.2 miles. When I first decided I wanted to ride I got a cruiser. (it’s a Sunpass-only exit) and take the Beeline out to Indiantown, then you’ll take 76 off that to the Lake at Port Mayaca. The comprehensive mile-by-mile guidebook to planning section and thru-hikes along the entire length of the Florida Trail. Call 561-684-8444 any questions””. An overlay on the Florida path route around Lake Okeechobee (Okeechobee East and Okeechobee West), the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail provides mostly paved cycling and walking routes around the entirely of the borders of the lake. At the first sign of a storm, get off that dike and somewhere safe fast. It is right up on the rim. T . Is it safe to leave your car for a couple of hours? For more than a decade, the Army Corps of Engineers has had an army of contractors working on different parts of the dike simultaneously to shore it up. The FORCE folks won’t even mock you for being a wimp. For my 70th birthday my riding buddy Harry (age71)and myself decided to ride around Lake O 3rd week this July.. what a great ride. Fort Lauderdale. Fire ant nests cluster close to the edges of the pavement. It would be helpful if you were vigilant that you have to navigate and control your vessel and fishing rod at the same time. Mary, for no apparent reason, crashed her bike about a mile north of the Chancey lock and wound up with five skull fractures. Osceola National Forest. Now they are wide open. 721 . Sopchoppy. One other warning: With these storms, plan carefully and watch your weather app on the phone. NOW OPEN! Steinhatchee. Nr. In completing an end-to-end hike of the Florida Trail, I knew I’d need to fill a gap or two left behind at the Big O Hike. Timucuan Preserve. The trail is accessible to hikers, cyclers, horseback riders, and rollerbladers – fee free! The quietness and solitude when you ride in between those cane fields make you think that in reality you are out of the surrounding world. Category: Backpacking, Day Hikes, Florida Trail, Hikes, Loop Hikes, South Florida, TrailsTag: Clewiston, Dog-friendly, Fisheating Creek, Florida Trail, Florida Trail Biking, Lake Okeechobee, Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, Lakeport, Locations, Moore Haven, Okeechobee, Pahokee, South Bay. for all of you. Here are two pieces I did on last year’s ride: My experience riding the unpaved portion of the LOST. I’ve wanted to work with Ken to put up a proper, thorough guide to the L.O.S.T. Sorry for not getting back with folks sooner. Learn about the Big O Hike around Lake Okeechobee. It starts (or ends) at the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (LOST) trail head, 2 miles south of Port Myaca and ends (or starts) at the the east end of Bridge Rd in Hobe Sound on the beach. Fort Pierce Inshore Fishing Charters. What I’m on now….I have had for a VERY long time. Definitely helpful in my research prepping for a circumnavigation next fall. At each pullout you’ll cross the 109-mile paved recreational path encircling Lake Okeechobee that is enjoyed by hikers, joggers, and bicyclists alike. Still in all it was a great experience. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 5,784. I also mark the Scottish Inns in Okeechobee as an inexpensive, clean place to stay. Good sunset views from the Okeechobee pier. DeBary. Following the Kissimmee River floodplain, this is a scenic section of the Florida Trail with a mix of levees, shady woods, river views, open prairies, and cattle ranches. Nov 12/13 Starting in Clewiston at he Army Corps of Engineers 9AM ride west side up to Pier 2 resort in Okeechobee(863)763-8003 Mention big O $55/night and ride back Sunday. Funny thing is, if something happens to me (storm) I’m not sure I’ll get much sympathy….I am actually a meteorologist! 13.8 miles. Check the FWC website for hunting season dates. Helpful. The trail is accessible to hikers, cyclers, horseback riders, and rollerbladers – fee free! Challenge yourself to a virtual run inspired by the scenic trail around Lake Okeechobee, FL. Share. thanks. If you are west bound, plan to move to the left side of the lane as soon as you cross the bridge so you can make a left turn to get back on the dike. Read more. Sebring. Florida National Scenic Trail  |  Clewiston, Lakeport, Moore Haven, Okeechobee, Pahokee, South Bay( 26.696335, -80.807243 )      112.8 miles, 112.8 miles. Amelia Island. Or the rocky former shoreline of the lake, topped with ancient cypresses and tropical trees, on the ridge along US 441 in Port Mayaca. Looping around one of America’s largest lakes, the Okeechobee section of the Florida Trail provides panoramic views from atop the Herbert Hoover Dike. 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