Where Highway 441 comes to a T, an access road scales the levee and from the top you’ll enjoy your first all-encompassing view of The Big O. A real-life reflection of the famed Highwaymen paintings, the western horizon is speckled with clusters of palm trees, egrets whisper across the wind, and cattle roam slowly across the plains. Video history. A kind of Mayberry feeling. 2nd Avenue. At 730 square miles, Lake Okeechobee is the seventh-largest freshwater lake in America. Photo submitted by: khrysinwythe. The Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail—which also goes by the unfortunately named acronym LOST—is a designated segment of the Florida National Scenic Trail. But here, on the western edge of the lake, the water is often out of sight, the land between reserved for farming. ... A great place to take a drive to and see how grand this beautiful lake is and bring a picnic! The junction of the self-proclaimed “Crossroads of South Florida” is found at highways 441 and 70, and a quick tour of the commercial district reveals something familiar and comforting about this town of 5,600. The trail began as the 'Okeechobee Segment of the Florida National Scenic Trail (FNST), and is part of a 1,000 mile trail between Miami and Pensacola. The best were the boat launches. On the drive south, Highway 441 veers slightly away from the lake. Periodically, points of interest such as boat launch sites like the one on Fisheating Creek pop up. A small store caters to residents and the occasional traveler, and should you have an itch to go fishing, the lake is just steps away. No shortcuts, no highways. Sorry! Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail: Designated in 1993 as part of the Florida National Scenic Trail, the 110 mile Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (LOST) is located on top of the Herbert Hoover Dike which circles Lake Okeechobee. As they have since the 1950s, locals gather at Gladys’ Restaurant for home-cooked meals, shoppers find farm fresh fruits, vegetables, and fresh-squeezed orange juice at Ferrell’s Produce Market, and leading up to events at the Okeechobee Cattleman’s Association and Rodeo Arena, there’s always a rush at Eli’s Western Wear. The US Army Corps of Engineers Campgrounds at Lake Okeechobee are located some distance apart. For a thru-hiker or section hiker, the western side of Lake Okeechobee is optimal if you prefer a quieter, more scenic walk with more frequent places to camp. … Thirty-one miles from Okeechobee, J&S Fish Camp & Tavern rewinds the clock to the 1940s. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, for an Old Florida lodging experience you can’t ask for anything more authentic – especially when you retreat to the inn’s Everglades Lounge. But when you reach the junction of 441 and Lake Avenue, turn right and cross the levee to the lakeshore. Here's how to enjoy a scenic drive around Lake Okeechobee. If you're heading to Lake Okeechobee from Tampa, motor across the state on highway 70. Although the tavern doesn’t serve food, it doesn’t matter to motorcyclists who’ve made this a popular weekend destination. On the main drag, the facades of a shuttered Art Deco theater and general store are as silent as the town itself. Uploaded: 6/17/2016. It would be. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. From Stuart the quickest route is to drive west on SR 76 to Port Mayaca. The section between Harney Pond Canal and the Kissimmee River remains blissfully pavement-free, and is one of the most remote portions of the trail. Set on more than five waterfront acres are RV sites as well as vintage cabins constructed by members of the Army Corps of Engineers more than half a century ago. Made a few stops to get some pictures of the lake. The two and a half hour drive might not be the shortest route, but it's scenic and will take you past the Placid Lakes. On any given day boaters are setting sail, fishermen are casting lines and nets, and fellow sightseers linger at a picturesque pier for a closer look at the water. A huge dike/ berm has been built around the entire lake so as to prevent overflow of lake (that would cause flooding). Highway A1A – Florida Coast Scenic Drive. Read more. Now, drive around that bad boy. After turning north on Highway 78, only 38 miles remain between you and your starting point. I Pitched a spot on the SE section of the dyke for one night in February 2014 as I rode the entire Perimeter, leaving Okeechobee and heading Southwest. Ride the full route or pick out a slice along the way to enjoy. Until then, now is a perfect time to return to the pier where your journey began. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without the written permission of the publisher. We rode for 5 miles since we knew we had to ride back also. Photo by:sigwaldo Wild Camping on the Dyke. This ride from Okeechobee to Ocala is a backroad honey hole and includes portions of three designated Scenic Byways; The Ridge is at the start, The Green Mountain winds along Lake Apopka, and the Florida Black Bear takes you through the Ocala National Forest. Only a few locations where you can actually view the lake. Stand here on the north bank of the great Lake Okeechobee and look across the water. Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (LOST) loops around the lake on a 10 meter (35’) high raised dike, called the Herbert Hoover Dike; that means 177 KM of scenic paved and gravel trails. The lake lies about 40 miles (65 km) northwest of West Palm Beach at the northern edge of the Everglades. Painted in the 1940s by noted artist J. Clinton Shepherd, a 360-degree mural of Florida wildlife wraps around the room. The trail is used for biking, hiking, fishing, and bird watching. But it was something we wanted to be able to say we had done. Learn more in our Cookie Notice and our Privacy Policy. We enjoyed the beauty and peacefulness of this place. Originally built in 1926, the décor hasn’t seemed to change much in the years since. Please choose a different date. The Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, a bicycle path running atop the dike, was dedicated in 1993. Several cars came to visit the lock, but did not take the dike path. At each pullout you’ll cross the 109-mile paved recreational path encircling Lake Okeechobee that is enjoyed by hikers, joggers, and bicyclists alike. It is not for everybody. Murals reflecting Okeechobee’s history are found throughout town, and on your way south to the lake detour a few blocks to 610 S.W. If it’s too late to complete the tour, consider staying the night. Dam and lock for boats to pass was there. It’s a strange feeling to travel far, far off the beaten path and find residents and guests living here in cabins and cottages. The dike at that point is paved. There’s Flagler Park where a tank, helicopter, torpedo, and WWII-era 40mm gun are on display and, bordering the park, a long row of independent businesses: bookstores, boutiques, appliance shops, furniture stores, and restaurants. Best Scenic Drive Fort Lauderdale to Lake Okeechobee by levee ... runs from the Magic City to Lake Okeechobee. A testament to the rural nature of the region, Clewiston is the only town on the southern shore that offers big box stores, supermarkets, and chain hotels and restaurants. Storm surges are held in check, and the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (L.O.S.T.) Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, Florida: See 21 reviews, articles, and 26 photos of Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, ranked No.3,992 on Tripadvisor among 6,390 attractions in Florida. Wide flat paved trail with no shade surrounding the lake on top of the dike. All material © 2001-2021 by VISIT FLORIDA®, all rights reserved. By Gary McKechnie A motorcycle ride in Florida called Lake Okeechobee loop, ridden and reviewed by other bikers. Maybe it was because it was really hot, but it didn't seem in the slightest scenic. By the clubhouse, Pahokee Mo’s Bar & Grille is highlighted by a wall-to-wall floor-to-ceiling bay window that frames the most lake perfectly. We use cookies on our website to enhance your experience. Before you is the picturesque Pahokee Marina & Campground where anglers are actively casting for bass, crappie, and bluegill. 21 Reviews #3,792 of 6,495 things to do in Florida. Fast approaching the start/finish line, you re-enter Okeechobee County and arrive in the well-tended Buckhead Ridge, a community comprised of small homes perched on canals accessing the lake. Uploaded: 12/9/2014. Is this a place or activity you would suggest for, Is this a must-do if you are traveling with a, Is this a romantic place or activity that you would suggest for, Are the prices for this place or activity, Is this a place or activity you would go to on a, Is this attraction a good place to visit on a, road our bikes every day when in north lake estates stayed all month rode every day and watched the fisherman going out to the lakes. Florida National Scenic Trail Lake Okeechobee East Section: How to Get There: You can get to the Lake Okeechobee East section via several access points (Refer to the map). Only saw one other biker. Lake Okeechobee (US: / oʊ k i ˈ tʃ oʊ b i /), also known as Florida's Inland Sea, is the largest freshwater lake in the state of Florida. Can't get down to the water at all. Please contact us to send a comment or to report a problem. In case you wanted to park your car and stop in for one of many Okeechobee's famous festivals, here's some information on when to get there and what to do. Built atop the … The pier is a nice viewing point to see the lake and a few gators. Most impressive is mile after mile of Florida at its natural best. We were able to ride on the dike with a nice view of the lake. After turning west onto Highway 80, again drive to the top of the levee. There are some spectacular subjects that will give you great pictures! is a 109-mile-long route for hikers, equestrians and bicycle riders. To the left, pastures fan out to the horizon; to the right, trailer and RV parks and 1950s-era ranch homes line the lakeshore. The Lake Okeechobee scenic drive between Okeechobee and Pahokee is roughly 40 miles, and in that distance are myriad places to pull over and marvel at the scale of the lake. Drive it with care -- sharp turns, deep canals, and an absence of guardrails pose a constant risk (an alternative: stick with Highway 27). View our privacy policy. Here's how to enjoy a scenic drive around Lake Okeechobee. Date of experience: August 2017. The west side of the lake is shallow and marshy. Sitting roughly at the southernmost point of Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston also has the lake’s southernmost feel. In 1996, artist John Gutcher created a larger-than-life mural (roughly half a football field long) celebrating the heritage of Seminoles and settlers. The … The Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (LOST) is a 109-mile multi-use path around Lake Okeechobee, the seventh largest lake in the United States and the largest in the state of Florida. The trail is located atop the Herbert Hoover Dike, which surrounds the lake for flood protection, built in the 1930s. Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, Florida: See 21 reviews, articles, and 26 photos of Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, ranked No.3,792 on Tripadvisor among 6,488 attractions in Florida. Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail. Okeechobee Scenic Drive At 730 square miles, Lake Okeechobee is the second-largest freshwater lake in America. By continuing on our website, you consent to our use of cookies. We enjoyed the beauty and peacefulness of this place. The content for this web site has been provided both by professional travel writers and by individual consumers. There’s little to see aside from the Paul Reardin Park (about 10 miles south of Pahokee) and, a few miles later, the town of Belle Glade (“Her Soil Is Her Fortune”) where the modern design of Palm Beach State College stands out in this rural region. very hot otherwise, but it was perfect weather for us. Visit Lake Okeechobee Not much to do or see the lake. Soak in the view and then begin your clockwise drive. We visited Lake Okeechobee while in Okeechobee FL the lake is 40 miles long and 30 miles wide. Most of thetrail consists of crushed gravel roadway. VISIT FLORIDA® is the Official Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation. Just over the Palm Beach County border, the community of Canal Point is a speck of a place highlighted by an historical marker noting this was where Conner’s Toll Highway, a 52-mile road built atop what had been muck land, was completed in just eight months in 1924-25. Palm and banana trees are gradually replaced by fields of sugar cane and trailers stacked with harvested stalks. On your right, restaurants and marinas re-appear along with one of the rare attractions, Eaglebay Airboat Rides, which can show you the lake from an entirely different perspective. Having just completed a literal “round trip,” here’s one way to approach the drive, starting in the pleasant town of…. At the intersection of SR 76 and US 98/441, turn north onto US 98/441 and drive over the bridge. Follow the shoreline with your eyes and recall where this journey has taken you. We entered at Port Mayaca. For travelers searching for a unique off-the-beaten-path excursion, a circle tour of the 'Big O' delivers. Drive south to Canal Point, Pahokee where you would swear you were in a lost city oas you merge onto CR 715 to SR 80 West to US 27 t head back south. You’re headed toward Lake Okeechobee at this point, so stay on Belle Glade Road until you get there. LOST circles the lake of its namesake, the second largest freshwater lake in the contiguous United States. As you reach the intersection of CR 78 & CR 15 you can turn North to the City of Okeechobee or continue on CR 15 around the Eastern Lake where the roads merge into CR 76 and US 441. And more ' delivers something we wanted to be able to say had! 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