Circle B Bar Reserve: Real Florida Nature

KID RATINGS

Fun: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
Difficulty:     Very Easy    EASY    MODERATE    Hard    Very Hard (Easy to Moderate depending on how far you walk and how hot it is outside) We usually walked just over 2 miles. 

KEY FEATURES

Distance: 0.2 to 5 miles, you pick
Elevation Gain: flat
Terrain: Uneven dirt paths, tree roots exposed along trail, part-shade
Time Needed: 1 to 3 hours
When to Go: Anytime of the year. Visit in the morning during the summer to escape the heat.

Trail Hours

6:00 am to 6:30 pm winter 

5:30 am to 8 pm in spring, summer and fall. 

Polk’s Nature Discovery Center Hours

Tuesday-Saturday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed Mondays)

Sunday: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

COST

Free.

AMENITIES

• Well-kept bathrooms and water fountain in visitor’s center

• Port-a-potty near parking lot if visitor’s center is closed

• Picnic tables with gazebo

THINGS TO BRING

• Water

• Snacks

• Running type stroller if needed for small children. The trail is dirt and often has tree roots exposed making for a bumpy ride.

• Good walking shoes

• Binoculars for wildlife viewing

DETAILS

Circle B Bar Reserve was my favorite place to take visitors while we lived there. It is located in Central Florida and only about 40 minutes from Disney and Tampa. It offers a FREE look into Florida marsh and lake life, including alligators, a variety of birds, frogs, turtles, raccoons, butterflies and more.

On arrival to Circle B Bar we would usually obtain a map from the visitors center or from an outside kiosk near the visitor center. The map also contained pictures of the wildlife and plants we may see along our adventure. My kids loved finding as many items off the map as they could while we walked. 

Wildlife at Circle B Bar Nature Reserve

There are ample wildlife viewing opportunities at Circle B Bar. We have seen alligators, blue herons, egrets, racoons, armadillos, butterflies, golden silk spiders, osprey, great egrets, frogs, turtles, fish, white ibis, owls, rosette spoonbills, anhingas and squirrels. 

The best way to see as much wild life as possible is to go in the cooler hours of the day and walk along the nature paths as quietly as you can. Keep your eyes peeled as you walk. There are many animals here that are great at blending in with the environment.

Nature Trails at Circle B Bar

Shady Oak: 1.3 miles

Lost Bridge Trail: 0.5 miles

Alligator Alley: 1 mile

Marsh Rabbit Run: 0.7 miles

Heron Hideout: 0.5 miles 

Eagle Roost: 0.7 miles

Wading Bird Way: 0.7 miles

Windmill Wisper: 0.4 miles

Otter Trail: 0.2 miles

A lot of these trails connect together and can’t be accessed unless you go on another trail first. Make sure to grab a map.

There are trail routes ranging from .2 to 5 miles. My favorite route is a 2.5 mile loop and includes Shady Oak Trail to Alligator Alley to Heron Hideout. This route is 90% shaded and includes views of the oak trees, Lack Hanock and Florida marshes. First, Shady Oak takes you through a canopy of Oak Trees. We often counted the many butterflies here and once saw an armadillo.

How to find Gators at Circle B Bar Reserve

I have been to Circle B Bar probably at least 20 times and have always seen gators with each visit. Once you see a couple and learn how to spot them it becomes easier and easier. 

The best trails to see gators on are Alligator Alley and Marsh Rabbit Trail. 

Alligator Alley

As you approach the lake on Alligator Alley, you will see the lake on one side of the trail and a marshy ditch on the other. Alligators may be on both sides of the trail. In the lake, watch for gator eyes and a nose that may be sticking just barely out from the water. 

In the ditch you may see gators lounging in the water or tall grass soaking up some rays. If you are lucky you may see a gator cross the trail or swimming in the water. Most of the time gators are just lazy and don’t move at all. I felt like the gators were most active in the  spring time when the temperatures were cool to warm: not too hot and not too cold.

Marsh Rabbit Trail

Another good route for alligators is accessing the Marsh Rabbit Run via the Heron Hideout. You can make this a 2.3 mile loop by connecting Heron Hideout -Marsh Rabbit Run-Wading Bird Way-Windmill Whisper-Treefrog Trail.

Marsh Rabbit Run is usually closed during alligator nesting months (July through September) if the gators have nested too close to the trail. We visited at the end of October once, just shortly after the trail was opened again, and saw about a dozen newborn gators.

Marsh Rabbit Run is also where I saw the back of an extremely large gator named Humpback. Here is a YouTube of an amazing shot of this gator that went viral at Circle B Bar.

 Humpback the Alligator

There have never been any incidents at Circle B Bar Reserve and we want it to stay that way. Keep to the trail and do not harass the animals.

Polk’s Nature Discovery Center

Polk’s Nature Discovery Center is basically the visitor’s center for Circle B Bar Reserve. It has several interactive exhibits, a tree house and an underground fox hole for the kids to play in. There is also a small theatre room with the option of 5 films to watch. My kids would not let us go to Circle B Bar without stopping by the Discovery Center. 

The Discover Center also has wonderful air conditioning, nice bathrooms and a water fountain. 

The hours for the Polk County Discovery Center are different than the trail hours. 

Tuesday-Saturday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

PROS & CONS

PROS

• Free!

• Great way to see Florida wildlife—better than the Everglades

• Fun visitor’s center for kids

• Short drive from Tampa or Orlando

CONS

• If you or your children need fences between you and animals for any reason, do not go here—there are no fences—but this is actually a pro for us, as long as you stay a safe distance and let the animals be.

DIRECTIONS

Circle B Bar Reserve is located in Lakeland Florida and is only 40 minutes west of Disney and 40 minutes east of Tampa. The address is 4399 Winter Lake Rd, Lakeland, FL 33803.

MAP TO CIRCLE B BAR RESERVE

MORE INFO

Visit Circle B Bar Reserve’s official website

OTHER NEARBY ADVENTURES

Bok Tower Gardens (40 minutes)

Legoland (30 minutes)

Disney World (40 minutes)