GLADES COUNTY -- Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Area boasts some of the most beautiful remote landscapes in Florida. Whether you choose to simply explore the landscapes within the Fisheating Campground in Palmdale or venture out on the trails through the wilderness, you’ll enjoy seeing primeval Florida up close.

Path to Paradise
Just northeast of the interection of Highway 27 and State Road 29 is the Path to Paradise trail. This area offers three different trails you can take:
1. Is a small loop that takes you to into a live oak grove.
2. A spur trail that takes you to a centuries old bald cypress on the banks of the creek knows as the Memorial Tree.

3. A three mile hike through some of the wildest acreage in Floida to  Lake Paradise on the Fisheating Creek.

According to one website “the Memorial Tree received its name from an incident that occurred many years ago. Donny grew up in the Fisheating Creek area. As a young boy he was always on the creek that he loved so much. When he grew up and married, he carried on the tradition of fishing and enjoying the creek with his two sons. One day while Donny, a friend, and his two sons were out on the creek they received word of an accident that had occurred on Highway 27. Their help was needed. Donny left his sons in the care of his friend, and took off to help. Due to the confusion at the accident, Donny was killed while he was helping. The whole community was in grief over the death of Donny, so they spread his ashes on the creek he loved so much, and held a memorial at this cypress tree for him. For years Donny’s life was honored by the community tying ribbons around the tree in his memory."

At the Fisheating Campground
Explore the campground. Hike along the banks of the creek and Depot Lake, scenic vistas and wildlife are plentiful!

The Knobby Knee Trail

The Knobby Knee trail head is located within the campground just west of the North Bathhouse. This two-mile loop trail takes you through cypress forest, much of it along the banks of Fisheating Creek. There are four interpretive stops along the way. Portions of this trail become quite muddy during rainy periods, so plan accordingly!

Fort Center Interpretive Nature Trail
The four-mile Fort Center Interpretive Nature Trail is near Lake Port. Fort Center was a palisade built of palm trunks that supported soldiers during the Second and Third Seminole Wars. This area also was once home to the Belle Glade Culture, a Native American community dating back to 1000 BC. There are plenty of creek and wildlife views along the trail as well. The interpretive trail starts at the western edge of Lake Okeechobee from the FWC office.

Be sure to bring water and bug spray. Watch out for wildlife along the way and some of these trails actually go through cattle pastures. Some of these trails may not be accessible during the rainy season.