Arbuckle Creek March 2015

Arbuckle Creek

Beauty By A Bombing Range

March 2015

 

I read about Arbuckle Creek, located in Avon Park, Highlands County, Florida, and couldn't wait to see it. We finally got the chance to make our way toward Avon Park the first week in March. With the windows down and the wind blowing as we drove down the road toward our destination, the smell of orange blossoms filled the air. We passed row after row of orange groves as far as the eye could see on either side - it was like being transformed back in time before the hand of progress touched each town and stripped it bare of nature.

Arbuckle Creek flows for 25 miles from Lake Arbuckle to Lake Istokpoga.When we first arrived at the put in at Arbuckle Road, we weren't sure what to expect.  Most trip reports suggest that the first 3 miles (from Lake Arbuckle to Arbuckle Creek Road) are the most scenic. I may have agreed with that statement the first time we visited, but our second trip proved there was even more to please the eyes and senses further down the creek. 

The First Trip/The First Day 

We first visited Arbuckle Creek the first weekend in March and only brought one vehicle, so we were limited to paddling "out and backs." We didn't get to Avon Park until early afternoon, which is late for us to begin a paddle, especially on a creek neither one of us have ever been on before. The first day we put in at Arbuckle Creek Road and turned left to head upstream toward Lake Arbuckle.

 

As we paddled further upstream, canopies of trees embraced us on either side.

The cypress trees and the vivid green color of its foliage made it look like we were paddling in an enchanted forest.You almost forget you are near a bombing range until  you spot one of the signs posted on a tree every so often. 

This stretch was roughly 3 miles to Lake Arbuckle and we saw numerous birds, including osprey, herons, an owl and many baby alligators. 

This poor guy looked like he got beat up.

We spent the night at Lake Arbuckle Campground in Polk County, Florida. The campground has both primitive and electric hookup sites with water. There are also picnic tables, bathrooms/showers and firerings (fires are permitted there). What makes this campground unique is it is situated directly on Lake Arbuckle and there is a public dock/boat ramp there. This campground seems to be popular with fishermen due to its proximity to the lake and the lake is said to be teeming with bass. Throughout the night you could hear the "hooting" owls in the trees.

 
Entrance to the campground.

View from the campground looking toward the boat ramp.

Group picnic pavillion.

View of some of the camp sites (with electric).

The First Trip/The Second Day

The next morning we went back to Arbuckle Road, but this time we paddled straight instead of hanging a left. The beginning was much like what we saw the day before, but then the landscape started to change a bit. There were a few houses along the bank before reaching cow pastures.

There seems to be one particular stretch where all the birds hang out. We saw such a variety of birds from woodstorks to Ibis to Roseate Spoonbills. We also saw many cows along the river bank as the scenery changed from enchanted forest to swamp to open water. With each corner turned, another new landscape appeared.