Highlands Hammock State Park — Attraction in Sebring

Florida has some of the best state parks in the country, but this one was a bit of a let down. The only wild life we saw was on the way to the park. The nature trails and what not were not up the the quality that I expected.

We stayed in the primitive camping area (no running water, or electric) and for the most part it was pretty nice. However I could hear the highway/main road from the camp site, and see it. So it felt more like camping in the yard then in the woods.

In addition the campgrounds were in the middle of what is basically a flat field. There was little privacy. The grounds were basically well kept and pleasant.

The trails however were not. The "biggest" draw was a 1,000 year old oak tree. That looked dead. In addition, the area around the tree was littered with cement blocks and rebar. There was even an old metal pipe just laying around.

Some of the other trails were closed due to weather (rain + swap = bad), that's fine and expected.

The CCC meuasueam was interesting, but not really of any astonishing quality. They has mostly printed materials, and very few artifacts. But that said, I did learn stuff, so it can't be all bad.

All in all the park seemed much more like a city park, then a spot of nature. I was not impressed or amazed. I did not feel like I was away from civilization. It felt more like camping in a large back yard then anything else.

P.S. We drove through the "non-primitive" campgrounds. That was horrid. It was crowded and people, RVs, and tents were crammed in there as tight as they could go. That area felt like a tailor park, not like a campground. I recommend staying away if...

A decent state park overall with neat trails to go on and a nice Civilian Conservation Corps museum. It's Florida's first state park, opened in 1935, and the facilities in the campground are definitely showing their age.

The campsites vary greatly in size and shape, so getting a spot may be trickier if you have a larger rig not just due to the site but also access to it. Most sites are right on top of one another so there zero privacy.

The bathrooms are all quite outdated and in disrepair although the team tries to keep them clean. (A more modern bathroom building exists, but as of March 2022, it's closed for repairs.)

The water connections and electric hookups at each site are old and many are in need of replacement soon.

The trails are nice, all of them are quite short but there are enough to make a day of it as you travel from trailhead to trailhead. You could walk the whole thing if you're up for it, but it makes for a nice bike ride, too, since there are bike racks at each trailhead.

Also, consider taking the tram tour since you get to see parts of the park that are restricted to the public. When we took it, we saw a lot of wildlife, including alligators, turtles, birds, and deer.

Overall, I'd like to give this park a higher rating, but the aging infrastructure of the campground really needs to be addressed. So maybe 4 stars for the park as day use, but only 3 stars if you're...

This is a truly wonderful Florida State Park, in the original sense of a place, person, or event that inspires wonder. At its heart is the lush subtropical jungle that low lying land, known as a hammock, makes possible by cupping water in a depression in the soil. The trees are an unusual mix of palm and live oak, all jumbled together in a competition for light.

Coming from the East, after stopping at the ranger station, are camping areas on the right, and on the left a store and a museum dedicated to the Civilian Conservation Corps that helped build roads in the area back in the Depression Era of the 1930s. The museum is small but it is very well done and it is worth the visit.

Proceeding further West you reach an intersection which heralds a loop that connects a multitude of short trails piercing the heart of the forest, some of them elevated walkways over water. Be sure to try some of these trails.

Proceeding around the loop road you retrace your path, heading East towards Sebring and US Route 27.

The 9,000 acre park boasts an array of wildlife, which the park protects, including the Florida Panther, Black Bear, the Gopher Tortoise, and a multitude of birds.

All in all, I feel that my visit to Highlands Hammock State Park was a fine way to spend an afternoon. You won’t be disappointed by a trip to this family oriented attraction which is jam packed with activity...