2026 03 04 - Circle B Bar Ranch - Lakeland FL

2 of 2 dozen

Our favorite FREE spot in FL. We had gotten work trips to SC with plans on working until we met up with family a week later. There was no work when we dropped so we decided to head to FL to the Strawberry Festival.

The festival was yesterday. Today we had gotten work before we left the hotel but the truck didn't need to be picked up until tomorrow so we came here.

Lots more cars for a week day. We also found out they now run a shuttle around the park if you sign up ahead of time.

BB wanted to go one direction, I wanted to go another. The one time we had gone BB's direction we had only seen one small alligator. We went my way.

On the first part of the trail we only saw holes from wild pigs, and one bird. Then we caught up to a shuttle.

First I talked to the driver, then another person walking passed. Today it seems the sightings are on the trail BB had wanted to walk on. So we headed that way back.

We ended up seeing over two dozen alligators and as many as 100 turtles plus some birds. At one point there were signs warning of alligators on the trail. There were not any today but I talked to someone who had been here the day before and there was one laying across the trail. He had planned on turning around but another couple decided to walk passed the alligator, survived, so he walked passed also.

We did see a few places where they had dragged themselves from one side of the trail to the other. The park was only dry in that one area so not sure the why.

None of the trails are paved, but they are all vehicle width and flat. Now with the shuttle, anyone who can get on/off of it can ride the main path. Not sure if they switch trails based on activity or they stick to one trail. Next time we might ride the shuttle to the far end of the park so we can walk more of the more interesting trail in one day.

When we were near the warning signs I saw a family of kids and I asked if they still had all of their kids ... then they asked if any alligators were on the trail today. I said no. But I should have also told them that they were all 10-20 feet off the trail and not moving.

Today's walk took an hour and a half. Not fast. Lots of standing and watching, counting turtles and alligators. The first section passed the dry swamp had no trees but after that most places had some shade and today there was wind. Yesterday the wind was blowing dirt into peoples food at the festival. Today it is a nice breeze to keep us cool enough to keep walking, not like we have a choice once we are out there.

Turtles lined up on the logs