Circle B Bar Reserve

The most magical place so much to see and experience. Lots of wildlife and the live oaks with their Spanish moss is so beautiful. Nice trails. My husband has a mobility scooter so he can come along. Couple trails are a little bumpy with the roots but most everything is smooth sailing for him. We definitely are in love with this place.

Circle B is my new happy place. Despite being only feet away at times from large alligators (whether you see them or not), the trail by the lake is incredibly peaceful.

This is a great spot to get some steps in on the trails, spot and photograph wildlife in their natural habitat, or just take a break from your hectic life to reflect and appreciate nature.

Yes, there are a ton of alligators sometimes on the trail itself, but as long as you give them the respect they deserve they won’t bother you. There are plenty along the “alligator alley” trail but if you keep going on the marsh rabbit run trail you can see many more LARGE gators sunning themselves on the beach just on the other side of the canal. The whole park is full of different types of birds but I highly recommend the boardwalk with a gazebo on the lake that affords an excellent opportunity to see large ospreys and eagles grabbing a meal.

I gave the trail 5 stars but keep the following in mind:

- There are no water stations along the trail so bring a full bottle before you start your hike.

- parking can get crowded at the entrance. Even when the lot is full however the trails themselves never seem crowded.

- certain trails can be closed due to a variety of reasons. This is especially true during alligator mating and hatching seasons (typically in the spring and summer) when alligators are known to be aggressive (as I said outside of these periods they’re incredibly chill as long as they’re not provoked).

Overall this place is truly a hidden gem and one of the best places in the state to see Florida in all its natural beauty.

Great hiking park. Taken family here on visits many times. It has a nice indoor visitors center, it could use a water stand. The trails are nice, when they aren’t closed. Hit or miss. And as for the animals, it’s nice to see them living their life in the wild not zoos. In total. It’s im fun once or twice :)

Such a great place to see wildlife!! No cost to get in. We have visited twice and both time we saw an armadillo, a wild hog and many many alligators. The alligator alley path is narrow and you can see wildlife on both sides of you. Also there is a bald eagle nest in one of the trees you can see. If its sunny bring lots of water!!

When I moved to Polk County, I fell in love with the parks & the lakes. The nature walks are awesome. Circle B is one of my favorites I enjoy it to the max every time I go. There are beautiful birds, turtles, alligators, squirrels, raccoons and the peace you feel inside is the greatest. Enjoy walks with friends, family & kids Highly recommend if your in the area