Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park in Florida, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-22. Check linked official notices before travel.

Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park protects sandy scrub habitat on Florida's Lake Wales Ridge. Come prepared for a trail outing with your own water and navigation supplies. Day use is free, while the two primitive campsites require reservations. The parking-area picnic shelter offers a shorter stop before a walk into the preserve.

Scrub trails and primitive camps

• Sandy hills: Walk through scrub, sandhill, and flatwoods habitat.
• Hike-in camping: Choose a pond-side site or a longer approach to Catfish Creek.
• Wildlife observation: Look for species associated with the Lake Wales Ridge while leaving their habitat undisturbed.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Prepare for sand and limited services

The sandy trails can be strenuous. Bring ample drinking water, food, insect repellent, and navigation supplies. Choose a route you can complete before sunset. For an overnight trip, carry everything needed at the campsite; the composting toilet is at the parking area.

Protect the ridge habitat

Pack out everything you bring into the preserve. Observe animals without disturbing them. Riders must carry proof of a negative Coggins test for their horses. Contact staff about the equestrian route before arriving with a trailer.

Arrange a hike-in campsite by phone

Call 863-696-1112 to reserve either primitive campsite. Pay by cash or check at Lake Kissimmee State Park or by mail, following staff instructions. Display the camp slip in your vehicle. The camping and amenity information explains the booking process.

Start at Firetower Road

Use 4335 Firetower Road, Haines City, Florida 33844, for the preserve. Maps are available in a mailbox just beyond the parking area. Obtain the operator's trail map before choosing a route. Confirm the campsite approach with staff when reserving, especially for Site 2's unmarked final section.

Nearby parks by road

• Lake Kissimmee State Park: A day-use option on Camp Mack Road, reached from SR 60 east of Lake Wales. Its campgrounds are closed for renovation; do not plan it as an overnight alternative without checking.
• Lake Louisa State Park: A separate regional drive toward Clermont, with its entrance on US Highway 27.

Choose a day walk or a camping approach

The hiking network totals about 6 miles. Sandy terrain makes distance alone a poor measure of effort. Start with a route that suits your preparation and retain enough time for the return. The picnic shelter near parking provides a place to eat before or after the walk.

Site 1 is 1.7 miles from parking beside a pond. Site 2 is 3.5 miles from parking along Catfish Creek, with an unmarked final 0.7-mile section. These are approach distances, not round-trip hikes. Both campsites have a picnic table and fire ring.

A trailhead with basic amenities

The parking area has a picnic pavilion with two tables and a grill, plus a composting toilet. The operator lists these amenities as accessible. Ask about the route you need; this listing does not establish accessibility across the sandy trail network.

About the preserve

Conservation in Allen Broussard's memory

Land acquisition began in 1991. Dr. and Mrs. William Broussard worked with The Nature Conservancy to secure land in memory of their son, Allen David Broussard, an ecologist. That land became the core of the preserve. The state management plan records this history.

Life in the ridge scrub

Scrub, sandhill, and flatwoods support plants and animals adapted to this landscape. Recorded species include the Florida scrub-jay, gopher tortoise, and Florida scrub lizard. A quiet walk offers a chance to observe habitat without making a particular sighting the measure of a visit.

Contact the park

Call 863-696-1112 about reservations, trail preparation, or access needs. Use the official park information for current visitor notices before departure.