When I began dreaming about backpacking 14 months ago at age 47 after impulsively purchasing a tent, I did not think I would be solo backpacking on national scenic trails by now. I only wanted to sleep under the stars away from city lights and the noise of parking lot campers. I eventually learned to backpack by practicing at state parks. Central Florida has several, and my favorite nearby state park to camp and hike is Lake Louisa State Park.
Set on 4,500 acres just south of Clermont, this state park sits on hills south of Lake Louisa that were originally settled by homesteaders at the beginning of the 20th century, who initially used the land to graze cattle and cut timber. Its lands once included a sawmill, turpentine still, shingle mill, and even a church and school, the traces of which are now long gone.
After being converted to orange groves after World War II, the land was sold to the state of Florida and turned into a state park in the 1970s, and in the time since has been allowed to grow wild. Lake Louisa State Park now remains an oasis of nature in a region of suburban growth, with more surrounding lands being surrendered each year to the construction of subdivisions and apartment complexes.
Lake Louisa is popular with hikers and particularly cyclists, as it has miles of paved roads rolling over hills with minimal traffic. It also attracts the RV set because of its quaint RV spots, and it has popular cabins overlooking Dixie Lake that are booked months in advance by theme park enthusiasts who prefer to avoid the resort hotels. But Lake Louisa is also perfect for practicing backpacking, as it has two easily accessible primitive campsites that sit beside pretty trails, but which still feel like serene backcountry sites on scenic trails. When I started backpacking last year, I honed my skills at both campsites and had a great time doing so.
Each campsite has its own appeal. Pine Point is nestled beside a bridge crossing a small creek, in an open space beneath longleaf pines inhabited by owls that hoot through the night. It lacks privacy, but it also provides ample space to set a tent far from the trail on a soft bed of pine needles.
Wilderness Point sits in an oak and scrub hammock at the foot of several sandhills closer to Lake Louisa. It is more intimate, with palmettos and brush walling in the smaller site, but it still has enough open space for stargazing through the trees.
Both are equipped only with a fire ring and a picnic table, and both are located only a half-mile from reserved parking spaces. Each also sits beside trails that can be linked for miles of hiking and are within easy reach of west facing hills that provide VIP sunset viewing—views that cannot be seen for very long if you’re not spending the night at the park, which closes to daytime visitors at sunset. Each primitive campsite can be booked for $5.00 per night by calling Lake Louisa State Park at 352-394-3969.
State parks like Lake Louisa are great for beginning backpackers because they provide a safe place to practice backpacking without risking the danger of being caught in the woods far from help. Lake Louisa has miles of trails, many of which feel like they are deep in nature, but most of which are near paved roads or unpaved tracks easily reached by park rangers. This allows new backpackers to design routes of exactly the right distance to test their limits without worrying about safety if they bite off more than they can chew. The park rangers are also extremely friendly—I’ve had a park ranger fill my water bottle from her own after I asked about the nearest water fountain. I’ve also seen plenty of wildlife, including osprey, bald eagles, and more deer than I can count, and I’ve also spent hours at night listening to owls and coyotes.
If you live in Central Florida and are considering backpacking, Lake Louisa State Park is a great place to start.
Some of the information contained this post was obtained from the “History” page for Lake Louisa State Park on the Florida State Parks website.
RobRogersWriter.com 
Leave a comment