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Length: 33.2 miles (linear) All along this segment, the trail parallels the Kissimmee River, which is undergoing restoration to its former meandering path. Extensive marshes and floodplain forests buffer the main flow of the river from the surrounding land. Levees enclosed the river’s flow when the Florida Trail was first constructed through this segment, so restoration efforts can and will affect the trail; in places it may vanish under the river’s widened channel when water levels are high.
 North from Bluff Hammock, the trail continues along the fringe of the Kissimmee River’s vast floodplain to connect-the-dots between wooded hammocks that served as home to Florida’s frontier wave of settlers in the 1820s. You’ll see the remains of homesteads and towns that thrived up through the early 1900s, and then vanished as railroads took the place of steamboat traffic.
The trail passes through the River Ranch Resort, the Kicco (pronounced Kiss-O) Wildlife Management Area, and the Avon Park Air Force Range. It winds through oak hammocks, along areas of scrub, and across pine-palmetto flats at the edge of the river floodplain. Descriptive names evoke the sentiments of the settlers and the cattle drovers who once trod this corridor, from Tick Island Slough to Mosquito Hammock.
A project is underway to restore the Kissimmee River which was channelized for flood control in the 1960s. At several points along the trail, hikers have the opportunity to view both the Kissimmee River Canal (C-38) and a few of the old river runs. Also, the trail passes several places of historic interest, including the site of the former Godwin homestead at the north end of Rattlesnake Hammock, the site of the old Kicco settlement, and the site of old Fort Kissimmee.
Animal life abounds. You may see deer, alligators, and wild hogs as well as eagles, turkeys, hawks, wading birds, and sandhill cranes. Audubon's caracara has been spotted in this area.  This trail follows the west side of the Kissimmee River from SR 60 to Bluff Hammock Road, five miles north of Lorida. The north end is on SR 60 west of the Kissimmee River bridge, The south end is at the trailhead on Bluff Hammock Rd, west of US 98. Property north and south of the Avon Park Air Force Range is managed by the South Florida Water Management District.
Disclaimer: While FTA strives to maintain accurate information and is constantly updating its geodatabase, the trail and development along the trail corridor is constantly changing. The data has been collected from a variety of sources and accuracy varies. FTA provides this data for recreational purposes only and does not intend the data as a survey.
Centerline data Florida Trail System (c) 2007 Florida Trail Association, Inc. North end: enter the River Ranch access road at SR 60. Proceed to the River Ranch security kiosk. Go 0.3 mile past the kiosk. Turn right and go 0.8 mile to a fenced-in area. This is the Kicco Wildlife Management Area. Camping is permitted here. South end: parking area at the end of Bluff Hammock Rd, 0.7 miles east of US 98. Park at your own risk. Bridges Tick Island Slough Campsites Mosquito Hammock, South Trail, Hicks Slough, Ft. Kissimmee, Camp Hammock,Rattlesnake Hammock, Long Hammock, Godwin Hammock, Dry Pond, Parker Hammock History Kicco ghost town One of the Florida Trail's most remote areas, the Kissimmee River offers oak hammock, dike, and river bank walking with fine vistas and sunsets. Part of the trail skirts the Avon Park bombing ranges. During wet seasons, some areas are flooded. While hiking in the Avon Park Air Force Range, do not touch anything resembling munitions. Do not leave the blazed trail. The U.S. government assumes no liability for any injuries incurred by hikers on Avon Park AFR. Sign in at registers at Kicco trailhead and the north and south boundaries of the Air Force Range. Leave all gates as you find them. Between Bluff Hammock Rd and Mosquito Hammock campsite the land just west of the trail is owned by a commercial hunting concession. Firearms may be in use at any time. Hikers should wear blaze orange throughout the year on this section. Kicco WMA
The Kicco WMA is open to seasonal hunting. Call SFWMD for dates. Hiking, camping and/or vehicle access requires a use permit from SFWMD. Camp only in designated sites. Campsites are closed during hunts except to thru-hikers. Thru-hikers are also exempt from use permits.
Avon Park Air Force Range
All hikers: Hikers are not permitted to camp more than one consecutive night at any individual campsite. Camp only in designated sites. During the general gun hunting season, use only the Ft. Kissimmee campsite on the Avon Park Air Force Range. THE RANGE IS CLOSED A FEW HOURS ALMOST EVERY DAY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. CALL 863-452-4254 WEEKDAYS 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. FOR INFORMATION OR CALL 863-452-4119, ext. 5 FOR A RECORDING REGARDING RANGE CLOSURES. Closures will also be posted on the north and south kiosks. The base is usually open Saturday and Sunday, but military operations can close the base for recreational purposes at any time.
Thru-hikers: Use of the APAFR segment of the Florida National Scenic Trail requires no fee for thru-hikers (who are defined as those who hike the entire trail through the installation). Thru-hikers are required to obtain self-serve, no-charge permits which include a Release of Liability at either the north or south kiosk immediately upon entering the installation.
Other Hikers: Hikers who wish to drive across the installation and access the trail from any point within the installation (such as at the Fort Kissimmee Campground or locations north or south where designated roads cross the trail) are required to obtain Outdoor Recreation Permits. Range closures apply to cars as well as hikers. |
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