Highlands Hammock State Park, State park and National Historic Place in Sebring, Florida
Highlands Hammock State Park is a protected nature area in Sebring spanning about 9,000 acres, home to ancient cypress groves, saw palmettos, and a wide range of native plants. Elevated boardwalks guide people through these natural communities, making it easier to explore the wetlands and hammock forests.
Local residents purchased the land in 1931 to prevent it from becoming farmland, establishing it as one of Florida's first four state parks. The Civilian Conservation Corps then shaped the park's infrastructure during the following decade.
The on-site museum tells the story of the Civilian Conservation Corps workers who built the park during the Great Depression, showing how this federal program provided jobs across the nation. Visitors can learn how these workers shaped the landscape that exists today.
The park has nine hiking trails suited to different abilities, plus a three-mile loop for skating enthusiasts. A longer eleven-mile path is open to cyclists and horse riders, so plan ahead to match your activity with the right trail.
The park shelters what may be Florida's largest oak tree, with a trunk circumference exceeding 36 feet (11 meters), along with several specimens over a thousand years old. These ancient trees stand as living records of centuries in this forest.
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