Florida Guide > State Parks
Lake Louisa State Park - A Great Day Out
Despite passing it every time we went up Highway 27 we had never visited Lake Louisa State Park so this time we made the decision to go so one Sunday morning off we set.
Drive 5 miles north on Highway 27 from Highway 192 and you will find this beautiful state park, noted for its six beautiful lakes, rolling hills, and scenic landscapes. Lake Louisa is the largest in a chain of 13 lakes connected by the Palatlakaha River, which is designated as an Outstanding Florida Waterway. Lake Louisa, Dixie Lake, and Hammond Lake, the park' s most accessible lakes, provide access for fishing, canoeing, and kayaking. Anglers can fish in four of the park' s six lakes. The entrance fee is a very modest
We drove up to the parking area near Lake Louisa and with the little trail map that they give you at the entrance we set off for a walk. Stupidly we forgot our bottles of water and as the temperature was over 85F we began to feel very hot and weary. So instead of walking for about three hours which is what we intended we returned to the car after about 1. 5 hours. We then walked down to the beach on Lake Louisa. Swimming is allowed here and there is an area which is marked out for this. From June to September there is a lifeguard on duty so it is unadvisable to venture into the water outside these dates. There are however many BBQs for your use and even if you are not intending to swim it will make a very pleasant relaxing day. We did dip our toes into the water and what I would say is unless you are used to swimming in the sea in the UK I would give it a miss. If we were there in the summer we would go in though.
Camping facilities and more than 15 miles of horse trails are available for equestrians. For hikers and backpackers, the park has over 20 miles of hiking trails with excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing. Dixie Lake has a fishing pier, canoe/kayak launch, and a picnic pavilion. The park also has a full-facility campground, fully furnished cabins for rent, and campsites
The Park provides wonderful outdoor activities for the nature lover in all of us, and there are many wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the park.
The park boasts lots of wildlife, including gopher tortoises, wild turkey and white tailed deer although I must be honest and admit that we did not see any of them. However we did see swallow tailed kites, an osprey and a bald eagle.
As you drive in from our entrance on US 27 you’ll notice hundreds of long leaf pines beginning to mature throughout the sand hills. This is a result of the ongoing restoration efforts to return the sand hills to their former state. These long leaf pines planted in 2002 play an important part in that role as do native ground plants like wiregrass and goldenrod, to be added at a later date. As the native vegetation returns to the hills, so will the animals that once lived there.
For a scenic hike, a quiet afternoon fishing or just lying on a quiet beach, horseback or an overnight stay, Lake Louisa State Park offers a relaxing setting for you to enjoy these and many more outdoor activities.
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