Lake Griffin State Park
Lake Griffin State Park | |
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IUCN category Ib (wilderness area) | |
The boathouse at Lake Griffin State Park in the early morning | |
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Location | Lake County, Florida, USA |
Nearest city | Fruitland Park, Florida |
Coordinates | 28°51′50″N 81°53′38″W / 28.86389°N 81.89389°WCoordinates: 28°51′50″N 81°53′38″W / 28.86389°N 81.89389°W |
Area | 500 acres (2 km²) |
Governing body | Florida Department of Environmental Protection |
Lake Griffin State Park is a Florida State Park located two miles (3 km) north of Leesburg, in Fruitland Park and 30 miles (48 km) south of Ocala on U.S. Highway 441. It is home to one of the state's largest live oak trees. The park is unique in connecting to Lake Griffin, the Ocklawaha River and thence to the Harris Chain of Lakes, and is made up of 577.63 acres (2.33758 km²) of swampland and hardwood upland.
Activities include boating and canoeing, kayaking, hiking, fishing, camping, and wildlife viewing. Among the wildlife of the park are osprey, bald eagle, blue heron, anhinga, ibis, American alligator, and river otter.
Amenities include a full-facility campground, a half-mile nature trail, a boat ramp that provides access to the Dead River, and a playground for small children as well as kayak and canoe rentals, a forty site campground, and a picnic area. The park is open from 8:00 am until sundown year-round.
References
- Lake Griffin State Park at Florida State Parks
- Lake Griffin State Park at State Parks
- Lake Griffin State Park at Absolutely Florida
- Lake Griffin State Park at Wildernet