Colt Creek State Park
Colt Creek State Park | |
---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
| |
Location | Polk County, Florida, USA |
Nearest city | Lakeland |
Coordinates | 28°18′12″N 82°3′21″W / 28.30333°N 82.05583°WCoordinates: 28°18′12″N 82°3′21″W / 28.30333°N 82.05583°W |
Area | 5,067 acres (20.51 km2) |
Governing body | Florida Department of Environmental Protection |
Colt Creek State Park is a State Park in Central Florida, 16 miles (26 km) north of Lakeland off of State Road 471. It became open to the public in January 2007.[1] Colt Creek was purchased from the Overstreet family in May 2006. This 5,067 acre park nestled within the Green Swamp Wilderness Area and named after one of the tributaries that flows through the property was opened to the public on January 20, 2007. For over 60 years this property was managed as a cattle ranch by the Overstreet family. Past activities on the land included lime rock mining, timber harvesting, citrus production and turpentining. Composed mainly of pine flatwoods, cypress domes and open pasture land, this piece of pristine wilderness is home to many animal species including the American bald eagle, Sherman's fox squirrel, gopher tortoise, white-tailed deer, wild turkey and bobcat.
The park is equipped with a lime rock entrance road, grass parking area, wheelchair accessible restroom, informational kiosk, picnic pavilion and several picnic tables and grills. It offers fishing, picnic areas and hiking and horseback riding on over 12 miles of trails. It is part of a series of landholdings that comprise the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve.
Recreational activities
The park has such amenities as picnicking areas, as well as hiking and horse trails.