Export to Trail Guide
Create Guidebook 
Download GPX 
Print Friendly MapThe Lake Jackson Trail circles this popular swimming and boating spot in the heart of Sebring. Trail-goers will enjoy waterfront views along the lake's sandy shores and connections to other trails in the community. The route utilizes sidewalks and sections along busier roads may be noisy.
Parking is available at Veterans Beach on the west side of Lake Jackson and at Bayfront Park in downtown Sebring.
This trail is a sidewalk around the island. It’s really about 10.3 miles according to my tracking. It’s scenic at points but also cuts through neighborhoods which is fine but eh. Super easy to do on in-line skates. Probably wouldn’t do it again
We had a nice leisurely ride around the lake on the sidewalk. Only saw one other person walking, and everybody was courteous enough to stand outside.
We arrived with high expectations but found the trail disappointing. We started at the Center St. intersection on the east side of the lake and headed north. As other reviewers noted the trail is a sidewalk. Using the road instead would have been our choice but there was no shoulder to speak of, too much traffic and the road curves and winds around the lake at that area of the trail which made it a dangerous option.
That part of the trail though is the most pleasant section. We took our time and checked out the lovely homes.
Just south of the parking area on the west side of the lake though, the trail becomes the adjoining sidewalk for US Hwy 27, a high traffic, commercial road. Very noisy, suffocating, and essentially-horrible. That section of the trail is about a third of the entire loop around the lake. The trail returned to a residential area at the southern tip of the loop. Here we encountered three wheeler bikes and more pedestrians than on the rest of the loop. Along with waiting at traffic lights there was a lot of stop and go as a result. We live in Florida and are always looking for quiet, traffic-less places to ride. This is not one we will return to.
We rode this on our Ebikes in early December 2022. Camped at Highland Hammock State Park (gorgeous) and rode 4 miles from the Park on the Hammock Trail to Sonny's BBQ on Rt 27. Crossed with the signal and the Lake Jackson sidewalk is right there. You could ride either direction about 10 miles around the Lake and arrive back at Sonny's for lunch. Part of the sidewalk is right on the Lake and some of it a bit off the Lake as you ride past the beautiful Lake houses. Sidewalk is a bit bumpy in spots but didn't bother us. We really enjoyed it. Fun to see all the houses and amazing landscaping. We are from AZ so the lushness is beautiful to us. I know many like the more remote trails and we do too, but also like the in town trails with lots to look at.
This was a relatively flat sidewalk run that circumnavigates the lake. I started on Golfview Drive and went left. From here, you have the lake on your right and constant traffic on the left. Fortunately, there was a burst of rain as I started my run in the mid afternoon when it was really warm. At about three miles I was hot and needed to cool down. With the shore so close to me, I was seemingly deterred from approaching the shore because there were "private property" signs posted at every boat dock along the way. Nevertheless, this did not stop me from cooling off at the third mile.
I approached the clear water and made sure there were no dinosaur-type creatures lurking below before sticking my hand in the water. After dousing myself with cool water, I was able to carry on again. I am not a road runner and the concrete was a challenge for me as I was running in my Nike Terra Kigers. I walk a few times but this was primarily due to the heat. I didn't bring any water to drink and no calories to ingest. I pushed on, though. At the half way point, the lake is well behind giant houses with lavish exteriors and sprawling yards. This portion was rather delightful to see.
I saw a few runners going in the opposite direction and I waved. They waved in return. At the six mile point, I steered myself to a small beach and again doused myself with water. This was refreshing. Then I cruised again on the concrete pathway. At mile eight, the houses disappeared and the lake returned. The wind pushed against me and the sun burned my face, but I kept running. Up ahead, a street sign said, "Golfview Drive at next light." Hopeful, I pushed on. I reached the finish line, but realized it was about 9.8 miles, so I kept going until I got 10 miles. Time 1:39.
This route is probably only about 9.75 miles or a bit longer. I walked it and that's what my Garmin said. Garmin could be off a bit, but probably not by 3/4 of a mile. Anyway, this route could use a few park benches along the way, as the only two places to rest are the two parks on opposite sides of the lake. Parts of this route could be run, but parts have many street crossings and driveways that make running difficult. I would not recommend bike riding along the three miles that front US 27 on the west side (although some ride there). I have walked and run many trails and I rate this one average. I think this route has potential to become a better trail with a bit of work.
Be careful riding this. It is all residential sidewalk. Lots of little obstacles.
This is a HORRIBLE trail. In fact, ‘Trail’ is a misnomer. About a third of this ‘trail’ is okay. For the rest of it, you are either paralleling an extremely busy state highway or traversing what is best described as an endless sea of driveway crossings. And all those driveway crossings mean that all you see are houses IN FRONT OF THE LAKE!!! If you want to actually bike around a lake, while actually seeing that lake, head north to Lake Wales. You can do the short trail that is shown here on trailLink, as well as the path that goes about half way around the lake, which is not shown here. I can't overstate how much I hated this 'trail'.
You can park at Veteran's Park. This trail is a nice 10 mile ride, however, I will say that it is definitely all sidewalk. If you are planning on riding your "road bike" ...don't !! If you do, you can ride in the road for part of it but the roads are very busy and then there is about 3 miles of the trail running along Hwy 27 which is very noisy & not enjoyable. Because of this, I took my bike with hybrid tires instead. No clip in pedals because there is too much stopping/starting. On Hwy 27, cars are wizzing past. Definitely no way to ride your road bike on roadway there. The sidewalks are at times, uneven and blocked with tree trimmings, etc....There are many driveways and cross streets to watch for. Pay close attention here for moving vehicles. I was able to follow the trail just fine around the lake but there are no markers to keep you on track. Just follow the lake. I made two rounds in about 1.5 hrs.
My wife and I went to Sebring to ride the Lake Jackson Trail. We departed from the historic 100 year old Kenilworth Lodge with a stop at the Legacy Bicycles Shop around the corner from the Lodge. The trail consists of a concrete sidewalk most of the 10 miles. The west side of the Trail is along the Lake and the busy Rt. 98/27. Step joints in the sidewalk have been ground smooth. Riders should be experienced and patient because of the many driveways and streets crossing the narrow Trail. Veterans Beach Park on the west side of the Lake has nice facilities (bathrooms and picnic tables). We rode the connecting 3.5 mile off-road Hammock Road Trail to Highlands Hammock State Park.
After completing the Trail we rode to the Garden Cafe on N. Ridgewood Dr. (Rt. 17) for a delightful outdoor lunch.
I ride this trail several times a week. My advise is to stay on the road. There are many, many intersections (roads and driveways) and, you know every intersection is a hazard as most accidents happen at intersections. Also, if you get behind a slow cyclist, and there are many, you're stuck. No way to pass. Finally, 27 is a very busy, noisy highway. I typically cross 27 and go onto Sparta and bike through the neighborhoods and golf courses which is much more peaceful. I'm not a fan of trails that are separated from the road by grass, etc. I consider these to be sidewalks. The best trails are separated by only a white stripe or truly are converted rail-trails and don't follow along side roadways. So, my advise is to ride on the road and be part of the vehicular traffic.
This trail is nothing more than a sidewalk round the lake. Not marked, ~3/4 of it residential, ~1/4 along busy US27. It's safe but not interesting.
I biked this 10 mile trail this morning around this large lake in exactly an hour. It is all sidewalk but they have ground off the bumps where necessary. About a third of the trail you are right along the lake and the other two thirds there are houses on both sides of the road and sidewalk. Fairly interesting but not rural. Youker
_137438_nb.jpg)
_130832_nb.jpg)
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails conservancy
(a non-profit) and we need your support!
