Florida Hills – Yes, Hills!

Growing up in South Florida, I saw very few hills.

Most of Miami-Dade county is within 10 feet of sea level. In fact, the highest geographic point is 35 feet.

The hill in Tropical Park is such a novelty that my high school cross country teammates and opponents were overwhelmed. I was able to finish before many runners I had not been previously able to defeat.

The William Powell bridge on the Rickenbacker Causeway provides just about the only hill for bicyclists in South Florida. It is a massive 78 foot elevation gain!

As kids, we were told that Space Mountain, at 128 feet, was the highest point in all of Florida. It is not, since there are a handful of natural spots in Florida topping 300 feet. Thin air alert!

With the exception of buildings and Mount Trashmores, Florida is one of the flattest places on earth.

So Why Write About Florida Hills?

Most Florida visitors will never see these hills. Most visitors to Florida will explore the periphery (beaches and coastal cities) or the theme parks.

On several exploratory road trips through Florida, I love seeing the wonderful hills in the central-southern part of the state. I knew that most of highest Florida points were in the northern part of the state so they are always a real surprise.

Along my suggested scenic road trip from Orlando to Ft. Lauderdale you can also see red clay dirt roads, open citrus groves, roadside produce stands, nature preserves, and a real sense of Old Florida.

If hills in Florida, and the other quaintness, interest you, please read on.

Driving Itinerary

I started my trip at a $17 Priceline hotel room in Kissimmee. MCCOOL TRAVEL TIP: to avoid toll roads from Orlando airport, drive south on Access Road to Boggy Creek Road and then to 441/192 (Arlo Bronson Highway).

From Kissimmee, I drove highway 17 south; the road has several names including Orange Blossom Trail and John Young Highway. Fresh fruit stands appear north of Haines City.

In Haines City, be sure to stay on SR17 (S. 10th Street to Dundee) rather than US17 west. “Our” 17 rolls through seemingly endless agricultural areas.

Just south of Babson Park I wanted to find roads even smaller than SR17, so I turned left (east) onto Murray Road and was greeted with magnificent views of rolling hills.

In this area, between Lake Lenore and Lake Moody, I drove for several miles on red clay dirt roads amid hundreds of acres of grapefruit tree groves.

Florida grapefruit groves
Florida grapefruit groves

Back on Murray Road, I drove east to Pfundstein Road and stumbled upon the Tiger Creek Preserve, where I learned that I was in the Lake Wales Ridge and could hike along the 1,300 mile Florida Trail.

sign at Tiger Creek Preserve, Florida
Tiger Creek Preserve in Lake Wales Ridge

I learned that this area has the highest concentration of threatened and endangered species (animals AND plants) in the United States.

Gopher Tortoise crossing sign in Florida
Gopher Tortoise crossing, Florida

I also learned (these visitor centers love to educate) that the Lakes Wales Ridge is an ancient island or peninsula atop of Florida. When most of Florida was under water, this area was a sandy, scrubby habitat. That explains why many of the unpaved roads I drove in this area were white sand. Fascinating that just a few miles away was red clay dirt roads.

white sand road in Florida
Lake Wales Ridge, Florida

I spent more time exploring the small roads (including more red clay dirt paths) in the area, like Lake Reedy Blvd, Lake Arbuckle Road, Old Frostproof Road, and Rucks Dairy Road before ending up at CR64.

Driving southwest on CR64 towards 17, I found James Brown’s Famous Flames BBQ in Avon Park. Hard for me to miss a BBQ place but this sign definitely caught my eye:

James Brown's BBQ sign
James Brown’s BBQ, Avon Park

Do yourself a favor and visit James Brown’s BBQ if you are anywhere near Avon Park, Florida. I had a huge pulled pork sandwich, which must have weighed a full pound. The pork was very tender and delicious. The sauces were in small containers by the register. One was not enough. Get 2! And the peach cobbler was outstanding. Moist, fresh peaches were not too sweet and the cobbler had ample breading.

Even though I only got two items, I can tell everything there would be great. I would have bought ribs but they were not available. I will return!

After a lakeside picnic (takeout from James Brown’s BBQ), I continued through Sebring and along 98 east through Lorida (proposed slogan: “Lorida, Florida. More fun to say than to visit.”). Portions of 98 follow the old “Cracker Trail” (highway 68), a trail used to herd cattle across the state. Cracker refers to the crack of the whip made by the cowboys.

What did you think “cracker” meant?

Highway 98 ends very close to the north end of Lake Okeechobee, which I had not seen before this trip. I was glad to learn about the “Big O” and its role as a transition between the northern and southern Everglades.

long walkway with a view of Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee, Florida
view of Lake Okeechobee, Florida
Lake Okeechobee, Florida

Have you visited the Florida Hills region?

See also 15 Fun and Fascinating Photo Spots in Florida for Nature Lovers

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2 thoughts on “Florida Hills – Yes, Hills!”

  1. Charles, if you really want to see some tall hills in Florida, go north of Orlando. Clermont to Mt Dora have some of the tallest hills. Sugarloaf Mountain Rd north of Clermont is the tallest in the peninsula (the panhandle boasts the tallest hill in the state).

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