Glades County Between Creeks and Waterways

Tea-colored water, wildlife watching, and activities on the water give Glades County a strong connection to nature. Historic sites and annual events add to its appeal. The aspects that interest you most can guide your plans for a stay that includes a hotel overnight.

Fisheating Creek and Wildlife Watching

Fisheating Creek winds for 40 miles through the wildlife-rich Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Area. The area is a year-round spot for wildlife watching and lies along the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. The creek itself is a free-flowing blackwater river with tea-colored water—a distinctive setting for observing nature.

Visitors can fish from a boat or from the shore at Fisheating Creek. Canoes, kayaks, and SUPs can be launched at the Fisheating Creek campground or at the Main Street access point. The Wildlife Management Area has a full-service campground; reservations are offered through the Fisheating Creek Outpost. If you want to use this camping option, arrange your reservation through this provider.

The mileage figures refer to different things: the creek runs 40 miles through the protected area, while Glades County has 52 miles of paddling routes along Fisheating Creek. The first figure describes the river’s course through the area; the second refers to the paddling routes.

Shorelines, Trails, and Waterways

Glades County has more than 30 miles of shoreline along Lake Okeechobee and 60 miles of shoreline along the Caloosahatchee River. Two other names refer to different routes: the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail is approximately 110 miles long and circles the lake. The Okeechobee Waterway stretches 154 miles, from the Atlantic Ocean near Stuart to the Gulf of Mexico near Fort Myers. One route circles the lake; the other runs between two coastal areas.

Those interested in specific facilities on the water will find a picnic area, restrooms, a bike trail, and boat ramps at Harney Pond Canal Recreation Park in Lakeport. These named sites complement the broader waterways with practical places to stop on an outing.

History Along the Creek and in Moore Haven

The area along Fisheating Creek includes Fort Center, an outpost built by the U.S. Army during the Second Seminole War. At Fort Center, a four-mile interpretive trail offers views of the creek and its wildlife. A visit combines the history of the outpost with views of the waterside landscape.

Ortona Lock and Dam were built in 1937 for navigation purposes. Ortona Indian Mound Park is next to the archaeologically significant Ortona Indian Mounds and two canals built by the Calusa. These sites add a historical dimension to the waterside landscape, distinct from its nature and paddling themes.

Moore Haven also has a special connection to the history of the water. River Walk Park features a colorful walkway, picnic shelters, and docks for small boats. The River Walk runs along part of the seawall built in 1918 for Moore Haven’s original locks.

Events and Local Traditions

The annual Chalo Nitka Festival and Ranch Rodeo showcases Florida Seminole culture and alligator wrestling. The one-day Chalo Nitka Big Bass Tournament takes place beforehand. The annual Ortona Cane Grinding Festival centers on grinding sugar cane and the traditional making of cane syrup.

The annual Buckhead Ridge Catfish Festival also brings together live music, arts and crafts booths, and catfish. In Lakeport, the annual Sour Orange Festival features a dessert competition using wild bitter oranges. Dates for annual events can vary from year to year; check the date for your travel year if attending a festival is central to your plans.

Plan around the experiences that matter most for your trip; if a festival is your reason for traveling, check the date for that year in advance.

Discover more destinations: Wakulla County, Okaloosa, Taylor, Hamilton County, Collier, Duval, Lee

Return to the main travel overview: Florida.