Hiking in Lake Louisa State Park in Clermont, Florida

There are over twenty miles of hiking trails at Lake Louisa State Park. Eric and I started our hike at Hammond Lake.

We cross an overgrown
pasture.







The Bronson family bought this land in 1943 to raise cattle and grow oranges.

Yellow, spiky flowers catch

my eye.

Our shadows glide along
the wide, grassy trail.

These white flowers remind

me of Queen Anne's Lace.

Morning mist accents the
Spider Webs that cling
to plants.

This section of trails

is equestrian friendly.

Eric hunted for many years when we lived in Upstate New York.  He's always scanning the surroundings, looking for signs of animals. 

He pointed out this well
used Deer Run.

He spotted these Giant Egrets

across deep in a stand of trees.

One of the many Orange

Trees from the old 

orchard.

He tries one....

It's sweet & juicy.

Smokehouse Lake

Here are trees with
 smaller fruit.

This Tangelo is yummy!

The trail brings us back

to Hammond Lake.

An Alligator suns itself.

Spanish Moss grows from

a Tangelo Tree.

A warning not to dig in

this area.

There's a telecommunications

cable buried here.

We have returned to civilization.

Sunrise on Hammond Lake at Lake Louisa State Park

Waitng for sunrise on
Hammond Lake....

This morning's palate

is pastels.

Fog shrouds the treeline
across the lake.

A closer look ....

... at a ghostly

setting.

The reflection of the trees

in the water reminds me 

of a Seismograph reading.

Here comes the sun!

Camping Between Two Lakes at Lake Louisa State Park

Lake Louisa State
Park is sprawling...

4,500 acres

This map shows Lake

Louisa, Bear, Dixie &

 Hammond Lakes.

Nine other lakes dot

the large park.

Eric & I are camping for two 

weeks on the Hammond 

Loop (farthest left) between

Dixie & Hammond Lakes.

There are primitive and equestrian campsites at this park.  Twenty cabins are located on the northeast side of Dixie Lake. 

This Aliner Pop Up Trailer has

a solar panel on its roof.

There are 15 campsites
on our loop.







All the campsites on Hammond Loop have water and electric hook ups.  Four sites on the Dixie Loop have water, electric and sewer hook ups.  Nine campsites on Sandhill Loop have full hook ups.  These sites are available, at no extra charge for campers to reserve.

There are pull through sites,

like the one on the left &

back in sites, like the one

on the right.

Hammond & Dixie Lakes

have fishing piers.

Stairs allow easy access

 for canoes & kayaks.

There's a sign warning of

Alligators in the lake.

The campground rents canoes and kayaks.  

The view from the fishing

pier at Dixie Lake.

 There are over twenty miles of hiking trails at Lake Louisa State Park.  Many welcome horses.

The Bath House has 

bathrooms & showers.

Each Bath House has a

washer & dryer.

With one washer and dryer per loop, the machines are heavily used.

The Dump Station is obscured

by a stand of trees.

So, where are we parked?

Tucked in between the trees
at Site #1 on Dixie Loop







We have satellite access for our TV.

Our spacious patio is obscured

 from our neighbors by trees

 that surround our campsite.

Southwest... To Clermont, Florida

Sadly, the maximum stay in Florida's state parks is fourteen days.  Eric and I say our goodbyes to Gamble Rogers State Park and start our two and a half drive southwest to Clermont.

We start the day on
Florida State Road 100.

This section of road is

 perfectly straight.

We turn onto Florida

State Road 40 West.

This section o road is the Black Bear Scenic Highway.

An eclectic mix of

Art, Fruit &

Boiled Peanuts

This is an Evacuation 

Route.

We are about thirty miles inland from the Atlantic Coast. in this relatively flat state.  Many coastal storm evacuees drive for many miles to safety.

Florida Road 19 South

leads us into

 deep woods.

A motorhome in need

of new owners sits

roadside.

Drivers are warned to

watch for Black Bears.

There's lots of bear in

Ocala National Forest.

The woods open up &

we pass fenced in

pastures.

Spanish Moss hangs from
Oak Trees.

The effect is spooky.

The Tavares

Water Tower

Eric at one of the few
stoplights along
today's drive.

We pass Orange Groves.

And take the bridge across
Little Lake Harris.






This is not a "little" lake.

Cows rest in the shade.

South on US Route 27....

It would be nice if all
speed limit signs were
posted next to route
signs.

Lakeridge Winery in Cleremont

grows their grapes on site.

The Citrus Tower is the
area's "high point" & a
favorite tourist stop.

Eric & I arrive at Lake

Louisa State Park.