If you’re looking to explore the outdoors and see wildlife up close in Central FL – I have the PERFECT spot for you!
Let me give you a little backstory:
Over Christmas, my husband, Chris, and I stayed with his mom in Lakeland, FL. I was excited to see his family and spend the holidays with them, but I wasn’t too excited to explore Florida.
Something you may not know about me is that I was born and raised in Florida. While living 15 minutes away from the beach was pretty cool, I preferred a mountain landscape.
If I’m honest, I thought that Florida was the lowest of the low on my cool places to explore list. Of course, I know plenty of Floridians or people who’ve been dying to visit Disney would highly disagree, but in my eyes, Florida isn’t all that and a bag of chips…until I found the place below ↓.
Circle B Bar Reserve
This place made me fall in love with Old Florida!
Many years ago, the Circle B area served as a cattle ranch, but the property was acquired in 2000 to protect the area and rehabilitate the marsh system.
Not only is Circle B a quiet and serene place to walk around, but it also allows you to see wildlife up close like never before. And it’s FREE!
During my first trip to Circle B (yes, it was the first of many because I fell head over heels in love), there was a huge alligator just chilling IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRAIL.
Some of you are probably like, “nope, no thanks, you crazy Florida lady,” but hear me out. The last thing those alligators want to do is eat you. If you give them a reason to take a chunk out of your arm, they will. But that’s why we practice wildlife safety and stay AT LEAST 10 feet away from them.
It’s best to admire them (or pee your pants) from afar.
Circle B is also bursting at the seams with all kinds of birds.
From herons to sandhill cranes to ibises to cardinals to ospreys, there’s plenty of bird action to keep you occupied for hours. You can bring your binoculars or camera to help you get a closer look, but some of these birds will walk right in front of you on the trail. So see, it’s not only alligators on the trail!
Here are some of the birds I was able to capture ↓.
All of these shots were taken with a zoom lens that only went to 200mm – aka, I wasn’t super far away from these birds.
It truly is the most incredible place! I had a different experience or saw a new animal every time I went. So if you’re in the Central Florida area and looking to get outside more or want to see wildlife up close, this place is for you! Save the money you would spend going to a zoo and see animals in their natural habitats instead!
Questions You May Have About Circle B
What trails do they have at Circle B?
Circle B has NINE different trails! The trails are either labeled easy or moderate, so there’s something for everyone. According to the information on their website, some of the trails will be shaded more than others (which matters in the summertime or any other time of the year Florida decides to be unnecessarily hot). The trails are listed below, with essential information next to each. For more information on each trail, click here.
1 – Shady Oak Trail
- Length: 1.3 miles
- Difficulty: Easy
- Shade: Yes
2 – Lost Bridge Trail
- Length: 0.5 miles
- Difficulty: Easy
- Shade: Mostly
3 – Alligator Alley
- Length: 1 mile
- Difficulty: Easy
- Shade: Mostly
4 – Marsh Rabbit Run
- Length: 0.7 miles
- Difficulty: Easy
- Shade: Partially
5 – Heron Hideout
- Length: 0.5 miles
- Difficulty: Easy
- Shade: Little
6 – Eagle Roost
- Length: 0.7 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Shade: NO
7 – Wading Bird Way
- Length: 0.7 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Shade: NO
8 – Windmill Whisper
- Length: 0.4 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Shade: Some
9 – Otter Trail
- Length: 0.2 miles
- Difficulty: Easy
- Shade: Yes
When’s the best time to visit Circle B?
One thing I need to mention before I get into the best times is that you can never precisely predict wildlife and what it’s going to do – that’s what makes it exciting and a little bit scary all at the same time. I could tell you my experience and what time I saw the most wildlife interaction, but that could drastically change by tomorrow!
Some of you may want to focus on dawn and dusk times because that’s usually when animals like to feed and travel around – aka, you’ll see more wildlife during that time. However, if you like to sleep in, then mid-morning is also a lovely time to visit before it gets too hot.
If you’re looking to get some great pictures out at the reserve before sunrise or sunset would be the best time to go! I went during sunset, and it was incredible to see how lively all the animals were amidst the beautiful backdrop of a setting sun.
Regarding the time of year to visit, if you’re trying not to sweat your butt off (a crazy amount), I recommend visiting anywhere from November-March. Not only is it cooler (meaning it doesn’t feel like 100 degrees outside), but you shouldn’t experience too many bad storms. In all honesty, Florida does what it wants regarding its weather and seasons, so make sure you’re tracking the weather.
With all that being said, I don’t think you should sweat the “best” time to go to Circle B. It’s still a unique and beautiful place at any time of the day!
What should I bring with me to Circle B?
There are some items you need to think about bringing before you visit Circle B. Here’s a short list (feel free to pick and choose or add to what you think you’ll need):
- Sunscreen – Please protect yourself from the Florida sun! The exception, of course, is if you’re only going to be there before/during sunrise or during/after sunset.
- Bug spray – It’s Central Florida – you can bet that bugs will be out to get you. Just make sure to spray your bug spray BEFORE you get to the trails so it doesn’t harm any of the wildlife or plants that call Circle B home.
- Water – If you’re out hiking in Florida, you need water! It doesn’t matter if the difficulty. Florida heat is Florida heat, and you want to stay as hydrated as possible to enjoy the experience.
- Snacks/Lunch – If you plan on being out at Circle B for more than an hour, I recommend bringing a snack or two. And if you’re up for it, pack a lunch and eat it in their shaded picnic areas (make sure not to feed any food to the animals – it’s meant to nourish you, not them)!
- Camera – While I don’t recommend being on your phone/camera the entire time (so you can appreciate and take in the sights), Circle B is an excellent opportunity to hone your wildlife photography skills.
- Binoculars – Depending on how the animals are feeling, wildlife may or may not come close enough to you to get a good look at them. Bringing a pair of binoculars is a great way to get a closer look at animals that are further away. Plus, who doesn’t want to look like that cool person with the binoculars hanging around their neck??
- Good walking shoes – I don’t recommend flip-flops out at Circle B. Instead, wear closed-toed shoes that you’ll feel comfortable walking in. I wore my hiking boots out there, but regular tennis shoes will work just fine.
- Small Backpack – How else will you hold all the other things on this list?
IMPORTANT NOTE: Pets are NOT allowed! One of the most beautiful things about Circle B is the up-close experience you get to have with the animals that call it home. It’s not wise nor safe for your pet or the animals at Circle B, so make sure to leave your furry friend at home!
Where is Circle B?
If I’ve got you dead-set on visiting this incredible place, you can find Circle B in Lakeland, FL off Winter Lake Road. Depending on traffic, it’s about a 15-20 minute drive from downtown Lakeland. If you’re coming from the Orlando area, it’s going to be about an hour drive (again, depending on traffic).
Wherever you’re coming from, whether near or far, your traveling time will be well worth it for Circle B.
Where do I go if I’m looking for more information?
If you’re looking for more information about Circle B – history, trails, activities, directions, etc. – visit their website here.
I’d Love to Hear From You ☺
Where’s your favorite place to view wildlife up close? Let me know in the comments below! Also, make sure to share this post with the friend you want to feed to an alligator…I mean, see an alligator with 🤪.
