Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in Lake Wales, whether you're looking for an easy short cross country skiing trail or a long cross country skiing trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a cross country skiing trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
I just rode this trail for the first time, and I have nothing but good things to say about it. In short, the ride is very scenic with a few challenging hills along the way. It's a nice alternative to the typically flat trails that I've ridden elsewhere in the state. The hills are really not that difficult assuming you have gearing. I wouldn't recommend this trail for single speed bikes though. There are a few major road crossings that you have to negotiate along the way, and I can see where pedestrians could be a hindrance while riding around the lake depending on the day of the week, but these are minor issues. I started my ride at Killarney Station at the east end of the trail which is a great place to begin. On the return trip, if you have the energy, you can continue past this point onto the West Orange Trail and ride a few more miles through Oakland into the heart of Winter Gardens (recommended). I assume at some point in time the west end of this trail will be extended beyond its abrupt ending since it will eventually be part of the Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail that will stretch across the state. I've ridden the Withlacoochee State Trail and the Pinellas Trail, and they are both great trails, but all things considered I found this trail to be a better biking experience.
It was a beautiful ride however several sections are in need of repairs
Ive read some of the other reviews and as for me?...Orlando and Orange County are doing great with getting trails in place. Seminole County should learn from them. This trail is pretty awesome if you live nearby you can jump on and off and get just about anything you want if you know the area. If you just visiting stay in Baldwin Park and enjoy all they have to offer.
This is a trail that I ride 2-3 times a week. A lot of times we will park on the south end at a Pizza Hut off of Rt 60 just a little west of the trail. It makes for a nice place to have lunch after our ride. The trail is nice, but is getting some rough areas that need to be repaired. There is a bike store on the west side of 98 that has a Saturday morning group ride at 7:30 that uses the trail, so, sometimes a bit of congestion. A lot of nature along the way, especially if you have an off-road bike, you can take a 1/2 mile paved spur that leads to the Circle B Bar Preserve. Beware, there are alligators in THEIR natural habitat.
This trail is very peaceful and easy to walk. Mile markers every half mile (though some are obliterated), potable water on both ends of the trail, and a bathroom on the south end. I recommend bringing a cap, sunscreen, sunglasses, bug spray, and a water bottle; you will need them. It takes me about five hours to walk the whole thing, round trip. The only fly in the ointment is that there's a lot of really trashy yards near the trail - mostly old cars and buses that have been sitting and rusting for a long time. I even saw a few cars from the 1950s that have apparently been rotting for decades! That's made up for by the beautiful scenery.
In a nutshell: I recommend this trail for a beginner. It's in a straight line. so you can't get lost, and it's close to civilization besides. It's a good way to see rural Florida, but close enough to civilization so that bears and crocodiles are not a problem.
First bike trail I’ve ridden since moving to Florida. I really enjoyed this one. Goes past the Kissimmee Historic Society, & it’s a very scenic ride.
We started at the south at the Polk City trailhead and traveled north. The trail quickly goes into rural and then mostly wild surroundings on both sides of the trail. Looking at the maps, you can see the wildlife management area, but the same type of flora is found earlier in along the trail. A few houses, and views over farming on the east side of the trail.
Make sure to go far enough to get to 'The Bridges' which are near Withla on Google Maps. We saw alligators, snakes and hawks, and a lot of other birds and lizards.
At several points along the way the trail split--but no signs. They have some nice kiosks but with no maps just a bunch of stuff about plants, etc. Nice but I need to have better directions--not just guessing or following other people. The "hills"aren't much but still a little variety from most of FLs flat trails, even with crampy legs the "hills" weren't much challenge.
The new western segment from Hiawatha Park about 3 miles out was very nice; hope they extend it beyond the little bike cul de sac. Overall a nice trail, except for lots of road crossings and lack of signage.
We have done the Auburndale Trail many times. The trail itself is fine and well maintained, however, the bathrooms are a disgrace! Many times in the past it would be out of toilet paper or slightly dirty. We overlooked these shortcomings, thinking we were just catching it on an off day. Today it was so horrible I felt I had to say something. I also have photos to prove my point but I haven't figured out where to post them yet. The women's toilet was so backed up it was disgusting to even look at. There was toilet paper and trash all over the floor. The men's bathroom didn't have the same extreme problem, but was totally out of toilet paper. A better job needs to be done.
This loop trail is a great ride and allows for viewing natural surroundings. My wife and I started at the park headquarters where we paid our $2 parking fee and used the restrooms. The loop is plenty wide enough to accommodate slower, casual riders such as our selves while allowing more serious riders (and skaters) to pass. We took the 2 mile extension to the other park entrance where more facilities and refreshment is available. The main path was under water, but a foot bridge has been constructed to get over it.
If one were to ride this repeatedly, it might get a little boring I suspect. But for a couple of northerners escaping the cold, it was a little taste of heaven.
Just up the road from the park is the development of Cross Creek with lots of good places to eat.
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