Polk County, Florida is home to two major state parks--Lake Kissimmee and Colt Creek State Park--and features more than 500 lakes well-suited for boating, swimming, scenic water tours, canoeing and kayaking, fishing and river ranch resorts. The county has more than 60 facilities for parks and recreational activities, including boat launching sites and bank or pier fishing.
Lake Kissimmee State Park is one of Polk County's premier destinations for boating recreation, offering 35,000 acres of Lake Kissimmee, neighboring lakes and creeks of the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. This state park permits boating but prohibits air boats for launch due to the park's limited space and safety concerns within the marina. Several companies offer airboat tours on Lake Kissimmee that take you through marshlands that are inhabited by alligators, deer, hogs and many species of birds.
Boating is also permitted at Colt Creek State Park; all boats excluding gas powered motors are permitted.
Lake Kissimmee State Park
14248 Camp Mack Road
Lake Wales, Florida 33853
863- 696-1112
floridastateparks.org/lakekissimmee
Colt Creek State Park
16000 State Rd 471
Lakeland, Florida 33809
863- 815-6761
floridastateparks.org/coltcreek
Both Lake Kissimmee State Park and Colt Creek allow canoeing and kayaking recreation. At Lake Kissimmee, paddlers can be on the lookout for land animals, including white-tailed deer, bald eagles, sandhill cranes and turkeys. Paddlers must bring their own boats, canoes or kayaks as there are no rentals at parks.
For the fishing enthusiast, Lake Kissimmee is abundant in largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, chain pickerel and bluegill. The park has an on-site boat ramp and marina, which provides direct access to Lake Kissimmee. According to Florida State Parks, those without boats can still fish at the park's marina and dam, which offer the same variety of fish. A valid Florida fishing permit is required to fish the park's waters.
At Colt Creek Park, fishers can access freshwater from three different lakes in the park, which range from two to 25 acres and vary in depth from 12 to 70 feet. Fishing for largemouth bass is on a catch and release basis, but anglers are permitted to keep up to six catfish and 12 pan fish.
