Owned and managed by Polk County through the Environmental Lands Program, this site was acquired in 1999. At only 25 acres, Crooked Lake Sandhill is one of the best remaining examples of the sandhill ecosystem in Polk County and shelters an impressive number of rare species. The property appears to have escaped logging and is considered "old growth," with some trees thought to be over 200 years old. Elevation of the trail ranges from 165 to 215 feet above sea level, providing a treat from the typical flat Florida landscape.
THINGS TO SEE: This open landscape is dominated by grasses and wildflowers and features a scattered overstory of longleaf pine and turkey oak. The yellow sand soils and high elevation contain many endangered plant species. The trail travels beneath turkey oaks and through the sandhill savanna where the trail loops down into the depression of an old sinkhole and back up to a spectacular vantage point overlooking Crooked Lake. Four rare animals thrive here: gopher tortoises, eastern indigo snakes, sand skinks and scrub lizards.
Hours of Operation: 6 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. (Standard Time); 5:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. (Daylight Savings Time)
PLEASE NOTE: DOGS ARE NOT PERMITTED ON SITE.
Cache is placed with permission from Brooke Coulter, Biologist with Polk County Parks & Natural Resources
HIKE: 0.8 mile loop trail
This is a Letterbox Hybrid cache. For anyone not familiar with Letterboxing, there is a log in the cache for you to sign and stamp (with your stamp), then you stamp your own log or paper (with stamp that is in the cache). If you do not have your own stamp, then stickers or hand drawn artwork are acceptable or if you do not have your own stamp, you can just sign the log. DO NOT TAKE THE STAMP WITH YOU; IT IS NOT A TRADE ITEM!!!
This geocache is a part of the Trek Ten Trails 2023-2024 program. Participation in that program, while a lot of fun, is not required to log this cache.
New validation game cards that participants stamp are available at various locations and are listed on the Friends of the Parks website and OUTPOST 27 CACHE. Trek Ten Trails 2023-2024 program maps, game cards, and other information about each of the featured nature trails may be downloaded from the Friends of the Parks website. Check out our Profile for more details.