Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail: Nubbin Slough to Henry Creek (Blog Hike #837)

Trail: Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail
Hike Location: north shore of Lake Okeechobee
Geographic Location: south of Okeechobee, FL (27.19279, -80.76406)
Length: 7.3 miles
Difficulty: 4/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: January 2021
Overview: A flat dike-top hike on asphalt trail following the north shore of Lake Okeechobee.
Trail Information: https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/LOST/
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=853730
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: This hike starts at the Lake Okeechobee Trail's Nubbin Slough Access, which is located on the south side of US 98/441 6.7 miles south of the town of Okeechobee.  Drive up and over the dike, and park in the large sand/dirt parking lot on the lake side of the dike.

The hike: Comprising the vast watery middle of the mainly swampy south Florida, Lake Okeechobee is the largest freshwater lake in Florida and the second largest lake (behind only Lake Michigan) located entirely within the contiguous 48 states.  The lake covers 730 square miles, but the average depth is only 9 feet, making it extremely shallow for its size.  Historically the lake has been the primary water source for the Everglades, but these days most of the lake's water is used for municipal water supply and agricultural irrigation via a system of man-made canals.

            The lake was surrounded by only a low mud dike until the late 1920's, when two major hurricanes caused massive flooding that killed at least 2500 people.  At that time, the State of Florida teamed with the Army Corps of Engineers to build a new 35-foot dike around the lake.  Later named Herbert Hoover Dike after then President Hoover, the dike has been effective: several large hurricanes in the early 2000's caused no major flooding around Lake Okeechobee.

            Herbert Hoover Dike is also the main route of the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, which is known by the acronym LOST.  Administered by the Army Corps of Engineers, the 109 mile multiuse trail circumnavigates the lake, and it is divided into east and west sections.  This hike gives a sample of what LOST has to offer by describing a 3.6 mile segment along the lake's northeast shore.  Be warned that the elevated dike offers no protection from the elements or shade from south Florida's intense sun.  Try to plan a winter visit, and be sure to wear a hat and sunscreen on this hike throughout the year.

Heading east from Nubbin Slough Access

            From the parking lot at the Nubbin Slough Access, walk back up to the top of the dike, and then turn right to begin heading east on the asphalt Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail.  After walking around a vehicle gate, you walk past the lake's water control structure at Nubbin Slough, after which your dike-top journey begins.  On one hand, the huge lake makes for unique water-everywhere scenery.  On the other hand, the terrain is dead flat, and the view with the lake on one side and lagoon on the other will not change for this entire hike.  While I enjoyed adding this hike to my been-there-done-that list, I would not have started this blog if all hiking was like this trail.

Lake Okeechobee scenery

            Near 1.5 miles, you pass the first of two sheltered wooden benches on this hike.  These shelters are the only shade you will find on this hike, and they make nice places to sit, rest, rehydrate, and observe the lake.  I did some nice waterfowl viewing here that included egrets, cormorants, herons, and pelicans.  Some road noise from busy US 441/98 will be your constant companion on this hike, but the wide lagoon separates the dike and the road in this area.  Thus, the road noise is not as bothersome on this hike as on some other sections of the LOST.

Egrets

Heron

            Distances are painted on the asphalt trail in 1 mile increments, and soon you pass milepost 51E.  The mile numbers decrease as you hike from north to south, and the E indicates that you are on the eastern arm of the LOST.  Near 2.5 miles, you reach the second sheltered wooden bench; it offers a view similar to the first one.

Sheltered bench

Lake Okeechobee

Lock at Henry Creek

            At 3.6 miles, you reach the lock at Henry Creek.  The water level in Lake Okeechobee is actually 3 feet higher than the lagoon to the north, and I got to watch several small boats enter the lock and be raised up to lake level.  The LOST continues for another 50 miles in this direction, so you can basically hike as far as you want while minding your stamina and daylight.  I chose to turn around at the Henry Creek lock; a parking area here could be used to create a car shuttle if you have multiple cars with your hiking group.