Park Summary for Print - Highlands Hammock State Park

Cypress Swamp Trail boardwalk that spans Charlie Bowlegs Creek at Highlands Hammock State Park.

Welcome to Highlands Hammock State Park

One of Florida´s oldest parks, opening to the public in 1931, this park was established when local citizens came together to promote the hammock as a candidate for national park status. During the Great Depression, just prior to World War II, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) developed additional park facilities and the beginnings of a botanical garden. Many visitors enjoy bicycling the scenic 3-mile loop drive or hiking along the park´s nine trails. An elevated boardwalk traverses an old-growth cypress swamp. For equestrians, there is an 11-mile, day-use trail. Picnicking is another popular activity as are ranger-guided tours of the park. Highlands Hammock offers a full-facility campground, as well as a youth/group tent campground. A full-service restaurant is located on the park grounds. For schedule and catering information, call (863) 385-7025. A recreation hall is available for rental, as are several picnic pavilions. A museum showcasing the history of the CCC is open 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Located on County Road 634, four miles west of Sebring.

Contact the Florida Park Service Information Center for general inquiries.
For Information about Highlands Hammock State Park, please call 863-386-6094.

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Hours of Operation

Florida state parks are open from 8 a.m. until sundown 365 days a year.

Driving Directions

Highlands Hammock State Park is located off US 27 on SR 634 (also known as Hammock Road), four miles west of Sebring.

Park Fees

Admission Fee:

$6.00 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle.

$4.00 Single Occupant Vehicle.

$2.00 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.

$40.00 bus admission.

Camping Fee:

$22.00 per night, plus tax. Includes water and electricity.

Tram Tour Fees:

$5.00 per adult.

$3.00 per child, 6 to 12.

Free, 5 and younger.

$70.00 plus tax: private tram tour, by advance reservation only.

Equestrian Fees

$7.00 daily: individual equestrian fee (includes tax). Negative Coggins report required.

$15.00 daily: family equestrian fee (includes tax). Negative Coggins report required. Family fee covers entrance for the vehicle, trailer in tow, and up to a four person maximum.

Recreation Hall

$100.00 per day plus tax: daily rental of Recreation Hall.

This large facility holds up to 250 people and has central heat and air conditioning to ensure that guests are comfortable year round. Attractive banquet tables and folding chairs are in the building as a convenience. Kitchen facilities (hot water, stove, refrigerator, wash sinks) offer the added advantage of preparing your meal on the premises. A large BBQ grill is also conveniently located just outside the kitchen door. Both men's and lady's restrooms are located inside the building. Additional seating (picnic tables) is located just outside the main entrance on the patio. The large front lawn offers plenty of space for recreation activities. Reservations are accepted up to 11 months in advance. Rental deposits are required, call (863) 386-6094 for details or to make reservations. The park entrance fee of $6.00 per vehicle (up to 8 persons) still applies.

Activities at Highlands Hammock State Park

	Bicycling A paved loop drive through the hammock offers nature study and is ideal for cyclists as bicycles are not permitted on the nature trails. This drive is smooth and suitable for roller-blading, or skating. A six-mile "off roadway" bicycle trail is also available and is best suited for fat-tired bikes. See the results of our prescribed burn and the restoration it has created. Bike rentals are available at the ranger station.
	Birding The park’s varied habitats provide excellent birding opportunities for all enthusiasts and are part of the Great Florida Birding Trail. A bird checklist is available at the ranger station. Birding Article
	Campfire Circle A gathering place for Saturday evening campfire programs presented by park staff, contact Ranger Station for next scheduled program topic and meeting time.
	Concessions The Hammock Inn restaurant offers meals, snacks, cold drinks and souvenirs. Restaurant Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A fish fry is often scheduled on Friday nights from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. For current operating hours, fish fry information, or general questions, please call them at (863) 385-7025.
	Facilities Restroom facilities are located throughout the park and many are ADA accessible. Highlands Hammock State Park contains many historical structures and continues to upgrade visitor facilities for accessibility. For your convenience, please inquire at the Ranger Station upon arrival for specific locations of ADA-accessible facilities."
	Full Facility Camping Our family campground offers water, and electric hookups, a dump station and access to restrooms with shower facilities. Nearly all sites offer some shade, and are close to nature trails, the picnic area, CCC Museum and the Hammock Inn concession. Enjoy viewing deer feeding right from your site during the off-season times. Reservations may be made up to eleven months in advance. One nights camping fee deposit will be required. For more information on camping in our park simply click on the Reserve America link. Clicking on the park map or selecting one of the camping area links just below the park map will allow you to see a map of the individual campsite locations. Select any campsite icon to see a detailed description of the individual campsite and what it has to offer.
	Guided Tours Tram tours are $4.00 per adult, children age 6-12 are $2.00, under age six is free of charge. Tram tours are one hour in length and travel into remote areas of the park where visitors will see alligators, turtles, wading birds and more. Tours are scheduled Tuesday-Friday at 1pm, Saturdays & Sundays 1pm & 2:30pm. A minimum of five persons is required for all tours. Private tours are available by reservation for organized groups, contact the park for further information
	Horse Trails Come ride your horse along 11 miles of firelane trails through remote natural areas. Surprise White-tailed deer, bobcats, and other wildlife as you quietly plod along in the silence. This day-use trail is available for anyone desiring to ride his or her own horses, please be sure to bring a negative "Coggins" report. Daily equestrian fee is $6.00. Camping with your horses is also acceptable. (Contact Reserve America for reservations) Horse camp area is located at start of 11-mile trail. This area is primitive, with no electricity or restroom facility. Restrooms are located a short drive away, self contained units and generators are welcome in this area. There is room for trailer parking at this area, tie outs and water trough are provided. (Appropriate primitive/wilderness camping fees apply).
	In-Line Skating Skate with caution around the 3.2 mile "Loop Drive," a smooth roadway under the Hammock's shaded canopy. Watch for sticks and/or hickory nuts. Please be sure to yield to vehicle traffic.
	Interpretive Exhibit Various exhibits are found throughout the park, interpreting the history and natural and cultural resources found here. Visit the Hammock Inn restaurant to view taxidermied wildlife and the ancient tortoise shell.
	Nature Trails Highlands Hammock Webster defines hammock as " a fertile area in the southern U.S. and especially Florida, that is usually higher than its surroundings and that is characterized by hardwood vegetation and deep humus-rich soil." True enough. But visitors to Highlands Hammock State Park know exactly what it means -- " Beautiful!." Stroll along the elevated boardwalk over Charlie Bowlegs Creek and search the tea-colored water for alligators. Walk along the boardwalk of the Memorial Trail and view the colorful, scattered leaves. See fall in Florida, and maybe observe a flock of White Ibis feeding. Walk deep into the woods under the expansive tree canopy of the Ancient Hammock Trail. Wonder over the giant oaks and their airplant-laden branches. Lake June in Winter Scrub Lake June in Winter Scrub State Park is located 20 minutes from HHSP, and offers hiking opportunities through rare scrub habitat. Current amenities include a picnic pavilion, composting toilet, and short ¼ mile nature walk through scrubby flatwoods and bay communities along a spring-fed creek. This nature trail is a delightful oasis, providing a quiet and shady spot in this predominantly scrub and scrubby flatwoods ecosystem. Another brief walk will offer beautiful views of Lake June in Winter, a 3500-acre lake that lies west of the property. Hikers may enjoy several miles of firelanes that transverse this hot, sunny habitat. From these firelanes, you may see Gopher Tortoises, Florida Scrub Jays, Bald Eagles, Wild Turkeys, Bobcats, Florida Scrub-Lizards and more! Rare, endemic plants of the Florida Scrub can be discovered by those interested in botany. Full sun and deep sands should be expected. Be sure to bring plenty of drinking water, suitable shoes, sunblock and perhaps a cell phone. This park is remote and quiet, affording a very relaxing and peaceful wilderness experience.
	Pet Camping Pets must be confined, leashed (not to exceed six feet in length) or otherwise under the physical control of a person at all times. Tethered pets must not be left unattended for more than 30 minutes. Quiet hours must be observed from 11:00 p.m. - 8:00 a.m. Pet owners must pick up after their pets and properly dispose of all pet droppings in trash receptacles. Florida law requires that pets be vaccinated against rabies. Any pet that is noisy, dangerous, intimidating or destructive will not be allowed to remain in the park. Non-furbearing pets, such as reptiles, birds, or fish must be confined or under the physical control of the owner. Some animals may be prohibited on park property. Failure to abide by these rules may result in the camper being asked to board the pet outside the park or to leave the campground.
	Pets Pets are welcome in all outdoor areas, including the campgrounds of the park. For their safety, please refrain from walking dogs on boardwalks without double railings. (Alligators may be present in all wetland areas of the park.) Visitors should remember to clean up after their pets and keep pets on a 6 foot hand-held leash at all times. Service animals are welcome in all visitor use areas in the park. Please contact the Ranger Station for specific pet restrictions or inquiries.
	Picnicking Pack a basket or cooler and enjoy a leisurely picnic in our shady, pleasant picnic area. Let the kids climb on the playground, or swing on the swings while you fellowship with friends in one of several reservable picnic pavilions. Rental deposits are required, call (863) 386-6094 for details or to make reservations. BBQ grills are also available. The Hammock Inn, our park’s concession, and the State of Florida’s Civilian Conservation Corps Museum are also located in the picnic area.
	Playground Highlands Hammock State Park has three playgrounds located within just a few moments drive or less than 10 minute walk from each other. The largest play area is located in the picnic area. This playground consists of a lower platform area with a smaller double slide and monkey bars which connect to an elevated walk-over ladder leading to the upper platform with a small rock wall, firehouse pole, climbing ladder and twisty slide. Two swings are available as well. (best for ages 5-12). The medium sized playground in the family campground consists of a low double slide and curved slide connected to a crawl tunnel leading to the upper platform which has a wavy slide and a straight slide. Two swings are also located in this area. (best for ages 3-6). The smaller playground at the park's Recreation Hall area is the perfect play area during birthday parties, reunions, company picnics and more. When this building is not reserved or in use, this play area is also accessible for the public. Please inquire at the Ranger Station for further details.
	Primitive Camping Drive to wilderness sites with no electric, no running water and pit toilet. Drive to family campground for shower facilities. These sites have ground fire rings and picnic tables-they are located in an open pine flatwoods area.
	Visitors Center A brief (10 minute) video of actual early park construction by the CCC is shown throughout the day in the state's Civilian Conservation Corps Museum. Visit the museum to enjoy interactive exhibits highlighting the 1930-40 era, when the park was constructed. View exhibits reflecting the CCCs influence throughout the United States and in our Florida State Parks.
	Wildlife Viewing Enjoy viewing White-tailed deer up close during the early evening hours in the historic grove areas. See alligators swimming and basking along the swamps from the boardwalks over the dark waters. Hear the scream of Red Shouldered Hawks hunting prey through the hardwood hammock. Listen for the deep resonating sounds of Barred Owls calling in the hours near dusk. Be still in the peace of the Cypress Catwalk as dawn turns to daylight and the forest awakens. Glance at the flitting varieties of song birds as they rest during their migration through central Florida. See the flash of black and white as the immense Pileated Woodpeckers chase each other among the giant oaks. Marvel over the giant spanning webs of "Golden Silk Spiders" glistening like gold threads in the morning light. Bike along the fat-tire bike trail to look for lumbering Gopher Tortoises feeding in the heat of the mid-afternoon. Enjoy a Ranger narrated tram ride and exclaim over the abundance of turtles, alligators and wading birds that you see. Enjoy the deafening songs of frogs mating after the early summer rainstorms in the hammock. It is amazing!
	Youth Camping Drive to youth site situated in an oak hammock setting. Non-designated restroom facility with hot & cold running water, electric, and a shower on site. Campfire ring and picnic tables too. Contact the Ranger Station at (863) 386-6094 to inquire about availability and required fees.

Special Events for Highlands Hammock State Park

FIRECRACKER 5K RACE
Date: Saturday, July 4, 2009 at 7:30 a.m.
Description: Pop out of bed and get crackin' at this annual 4th of July 5K. Wear your red, white and blue and show your patriotic spirit! Race begins promptly at 7:30 a.m. and is a fast, flat track under the hardwood hammock of Highlands Hammock State Park.
Fees: Entry fees: $20
Contact: Chet Brojek at 863 385-4736 or cbrojek@comcast.net
CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS FESTIVAL
Date: Saturday, November 7, 2009
Description: Come enjoy the 24th Annual CCC Festival at Highlands Hammock State Park from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Browse and shop arts & crafts vendors, enjoy live music, antique cars, entertainment, exhibits and more throughout the park's picnic area. Mingle with former CCC alumni and hear stories of life in the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s and 40s. Dorothy L. Harris, Park Services Specialist at (863) 634-7695 or dorothy.l.harris@dep.state.fl.us
Fees: Park admission of $4.00 per vehicle (up to eight people per carload) applies.
Contact: Dorothy Harris at 863 634-7695
17TH ANNUAL THANKSGIVING MORNING TURKEY TROT 5K
Date: Thursday, November 26, 2009
Description: Burn some calories before your big meal and enjoy the fun with hundreds of other runners at this popular fall race. Race begins promptly at 8:00 a.m. and winds on the fast, flat track through the heart of Highlands Hammock State Park. Expect full shade and cool temperatures.
Fees: Entry fees: $20
Contact: Chet Brojek at 863 385-4736 or cbrojek@comcast.net

Highlands Hammock State Park Ranger Programs

COMMUNITY DRUM CIRCLES
2009 - October 18th, November 15th, December 20th
2010 Dates - January 17th, February 21th, March 21th, April 18th, May 16th and June 20th

Bring an instrument and join in the fun. Suitable for all ages. Pack up your lawn chairs and a sense of adventure and join members of the Primal Connection PrimalConnection.org for this community drum circle. Held outdoors on the lawn of the picnic area. Regular park admission applies ($4.00 per vehicle, up to eight people per carload)
Call Fred Leavitt (863) 402 8238 for more details.
TRAM TOURS
Tuesdays - Fridays at 1:00 p.m. and Saturdays & Sundays at 1:00 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.

Come enjoy a narrated tour of the park’s natural areas, including a journey into the remote areas where you may see alligators, turtles, wading birds and more! Tours average about an hour. Tour tickets are in additional to the park admission fee and cost $4.00 per adult, $2.00 for children 6-12 yrs, (children under age six may ride free)
Call (863) 386-6094 for more details.
GUIDED WALKS
Mon., Nov. - April 30 10 AM Join a park ranger on a leisurely 45-minute walk on one of the park’s beautiful nature trails. Enjoy the opportunity to interact with other visitors, families and kids as together you learn more about the park, its history and the wildlife. Trail distance is approximately one-half mile. Inquire at ranger station for featured trail.
Call (863) 386-6094 for more details.
RANGER'S CHOICE PROGRAM
Thursday evenings through April 30th, 2008
Join a park ranger for a fun-filled activity that will vary from week to week. May include programs such as a moonlight walk, slide program, night tram tour, evening hayride or bicycle tour - just the thing for your family to better enjoy their campout and make great memories! Activity level and duration will vary with planned program. Start time is around sundown - Call the Ranger Station for specific times and locations.
Call (863) 386-6094 for more details.
CAMPFIRE PROGRAMS
Sat. evenings, Nov. - April Sundown Sit back under the stars with your family members and relax as a park ranger presents a slide show on different aspects of the Real Florida. Topics will vary and may include; plant communities, wildlife, fire ecology, insects, park history, and more! Your kids will love it! Call the park for exact time and location.
Call (863) 386-6094 for more details.

Highlands Hammock State Park History

This 9,000 acre park opened to the public in 1931 and is one of the earliest examples of grass-roots public support for environmental preservation. Local citizens, concerned about plans to turn the hammock into farmland, acquired the property and pledged to protect it. When Florida’s state park system was established in 1935, Highlands Hammock became one of four original state parks, and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built a camp there as a base for development.

Highlands Hammock State Park Volunteer Information

Did you know that Florida’s Bromeliad (air plants) populations are in danger? It’s true! The Metamasius callizona (Mexican bromeliad weevil) is causing serious damage to our native bromeliad populations. In fact, several species are now listed as "endangered" due to the possibility of the weevil wiping out some of our bromeliad species throughout Florida. At Highlands Hammock State Park, we are trying to protect our bromeliads with with the help of some very dedicated volunteers. A monitoring protocol has been set up by Teresa Cooper of University of Florida’s entomology department. Check out Teresa’s work at Save Florida’s Native BromeliadsTeresa has graciously donated her time and expertise to train park staff and volunteers in the art of bromeliad monitoring. This great activity is extremely interesting, simple, and not at all strenuous. You simply need an objective mind, the desire to help and a little bit of time each month to view and record data on specific plants. You can check out what Highlands Hammock’s "weevil watchers" have been up to by going to Save Bromeliads Why not keep up with us as we monitor the weevil’s attack on Highlands Hammock? Better yet, why not contact your local state park and offer to become involved in collecting seeds from that park’s bromeliads? This is another easy, relaxing volunteer activity that will reap many rewards in the future for our parks. Information on all these activities are available within the save bromeliads web site, or by contacting me at Dorothy Harris Dorothy L. Harris, Park Services Specialist for Highlands Hammock State Park