Hickory Hammock Wildlife Management Area

Directions

From the town of Okeechobee, go west on US Hwy 98 for approximately 27 miles. Park entrance will be on your right about 8 miles past the Kissimmee River Bridge and Fort Basinger. Look for signs alerting motorist of approaching hiking trail.

Trailhead is located at N27° 24.170 W081° 10.113.

Entrance Fees

None

Camping

Hickory Hammock has one primitive campsite located at N27° 25.635 W81° 10.365.  It is approximately 2.4 miles from the trailhead on US Hwy 98. A maximum of 15 people are permitted to stay overnight at the campsite. There are no restrooms or potable water sources, but there is a picnic table, two benches and an in-ground grill.

If you are not a through-hiker, you must obtain a no-cost special use license from the South Florida Water Management District (1-800-250-4200) before camping at Hickory Hammock.

Hiking

Hickory Hammock consist of 6 miles of hiking trails. A short 0.4 mile side trail (blazed blue) provides access from the main parking area on US Hwy 98 to the 5.4 mile portion of the Florida National Scenic Trail (blazed orange).  The FNST enters the southern half of Hickory Hammock where the Istokpoga Canal crosses US Hwy 98. It continues winding it's way northwest through mostly oak and palm hammocks, passes by an old abandoned stable house and then continues on towards Bluff Hammock Road.

Pictures of the trailhead and stile located off of US Hwy 98.

One of the few foot bridges located along the Hickory Hammock Trail.

Horseback Riding

A new equestrian center is being developed at the site of the old stable house near coordinates N27° 26.871 W81° 10.502. Not sure yet whether the agency is planning on renovating the building or tearing it down. Hopefully it's not the latter. 

Shown below are some pictures taken inside the stable house. Remarkably it's still in pretty good shape considering it was built in 1946. 

Hunting

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission manages hunting at Hickory Hammock. For up-to-date information on regulations and current hunting schedules, please go to MyFWC.com.

Hunting Schedule 2012 - 2013
Archery	Oct. 12 - 14
Muzzle Gun	Oct. 20 - 22, 24 - 26
General Gun	Nov. 3 - 5
General Gun - M.I.	Dec. 1 - 2
Wild Hog - Still	Sep. 14 - 16, 21 - 23, Jan. 11 - 13
Small Game	Nov. 12 - 25, Jan. 21 - Mar. 3
Spring Turkey	Mar. 21 - 23, Apr. 11 - 13

Maps

Color infrared aerial map of Hickory Hammock showing hiking trails, camp sites and roads.

GPS Data

File Formats	Downloads
TopoGraphix ExpertGPS	trails.gpx
Garmin MapSource	trails.mps

Flowers

 

Lantana and Carolina Poppy

Local Weather

Trail Notes

• 30-Apr-2005: Members of the Florida Trail Association are actively  cleaning up the trails in this area after being ravaged by three hurricanes in one season. Some sections of the trail between the campsite and the old stable house are still covered with fallen trees (see picture below). Be on the lookout for blazes lying on the ground as a lot of them were blown down.

• 27-Jan-2003: The trails show signs of recent flooding but are in very good condition. Met a long distance hiker near the campsite. He was heading north to do the entire Florida Trail including the Appalachian Trail. He told me he started in the Everglades and had to hike for nearly 25 miles in 2 feet of water before he saw dry land. <Yikes!> He was drinking some nasty swamp water, so I gave him all the water I had out of my camel pack. Very nice fellow. Hope he makes it.

Additional Information

• Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
• Florida Trail Association
• GORP
• Hunting Regulations and Area Map
• South Florida Water Management District

Last updated on 13-Sep-2012