Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park where you can see for miles and miles

Florida Dry Prairie where you can see for miles and miles. Kissimmiee Prairie Preserve State Park, all 54,000 acres, allows you to experience the dry prairie.  And is the perfect opportunity to study the amazing night sky views due to the absence of city lights.

Turkey Vulture on a lone dead tree
with a long view of the prairie

The Florida Dry Prairie is vanishing due to encroachment of housing, cities, and farming.  Yes, people do need a place to live; however, if we destroy the supporting natural environment Florida will become a vast wasteland unable to maintain the 'tropical paradise'.

Vines, Strangler Figs, and Palms
in a hammock

The park has many faces from dry brush to hammocks which support an amazing variety of wild life.  Each day we encountered different species... an 8 point buck, otter, alligator, turkey, caracara, bald eagle, blue racer, and more.

Baby Alligators
Mom Gator watching from the canal

Caracara atop the dumpster
The vulture's vulture!

This park does not let you forget that most of Florida was covered by the ocean so at some point with a healthy sprinkling of seashells.  Yes, the shoreline is constantly changing and most of the state can claim it was once seashore.  Hopefully climate change will not return the ocean to the Kissimmee Prairie.  

A reminder that Florida was all seashore
One of the many ancient shells in the park
Florida Horse Conch

Starting in the early 1800s the area was settled by farmers who quickly became ranchers.  The popular 'crop' is cattle and there are still huge cattle ranches in the area.  During World War II the park area was acquired by the US military to conduct training missions and was later returned to the locals.  Park literature warns of potential unexploded ordinances on the property.

Spanish moss is happy on this oak

 We explored the park by foot and bicycle.  There are over 100 miles of suggested trails and service roads from which to choose.  From the campground there is a lovely nature trail where you often find turkey early morning and late evening.  Other foot paths are in close proximity to the camping loops. 

Oaks in a hammock
which makes a lovely hike

Now, the map warns of service roads that should not be taken and often there are reminders at 'road' intersections.   After several shorter trips we opted for a longer exploration of the prairie by bicycle... or so we thought. 

Graceful grasses beneath the oaks

Following the trail map is easy but you should pay special attention to the 'grey' markings.  We all know it is best to inquire about trail conditions; however, this time we neglected to ask... not a good idea.  What we learned is the east (wet side) and west (drier side) areas of the park are quite different.  And we learned that Everglades muck underlies much of the park which makes a bicycle trip nearly impossible. 

Typical Dry Prairie

This started out as a bicycle ride
which became a 'hike'

The wet side of the park
Everglades Muck lies beneath this grass

All in all, that day's trip was a fantastic adventure and one we will long remember.  Our bicycles may always remind us of the trip as it seems prairie grass and muck is permanently attached to crevices and crannies!

Ibis on the prairie

 I highly recommend a trip to Kissimmiee Prairie Preserve State Park where you can see for miles and miles.