Visitor Information (updated yearly)

Fees

No Daily-Use Permit currently required. To hunt or fish you must possess the appropriate license and permit.

Facilities

Royce Unit has two picnic tables. Lake Placid Scrub Unit has a parking areas with walk through gates.

Map of Royce Unit of Lake Wales Ridge WEA - pdf file

Public Access

Vehicle access is prohibited except on Royce Unit during hunting seasons, and on Royce Road year-round. No paved parking areas suitable for use by site visitors have been developed. Vehicle use regulations for Royce Unit.

Location

Highlands and Polk counties. 

To reach the Royce Unit take US 27 to the town of Lake Placid. Turn east onto CR 621 (first light if coming from the south, second light if coming from the north). Take CR 621 approximately 1.5 miles to Hallmark Ave. Turn left onto Hallmark and drive approximately 5 miles. The road changes name to Ponce de Leon for about 1 block and than to Royce Ranch Ave. The Royce Unit is located on the left hand side of the road (west) and the entrance is marked. Address: 1630 Royce Ranch Ave. The road ends with Henderson’s Fish Camp. 

To reach Lake Placid Scrub Unit:

From the intersection of US 27 and SR 70 go west on SR 70. Drive 3 miles to Placidview Drive and turn right. The parking area for the trailhead is located 1 mile on the right.

View a location map - pdf file

Nearby

Additional wildlife viewing sites in the vicinity.

Archbold Biological Station, Highlands Hammock State Park, Saddle Blanket Lakes State Preserve, Catfish Creek, The Nature Conservancy's Tiger Creek Preserve, Lake Wales Ridge State Forest. Lake Arbuckle State Reserve, and the Avon Park Bombing Range

Nearest Cities/Towns

Avon Park (15 miles north), Sebring (8 miles north), and Lake Placid (4 miles east).