Exploring the Largest State Park of Florida

Sign at the entrance of the park on James Memorial Scenic Drive. 

This is the biggest state park in Florida and it's kept wild and simple. What does Fakahatchee mean? "Dark water" in the Muskogee language - a proper name for these swampy lands. We met some cyclists on the long and narrow dirt road, the only one through this wilderness. Six miles later, we left the truck at the trailhead of the East Tram Trail and got lost into the forest in search of the Fakahatchee Hilton. 

Where is Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park? - Map my location. 

Magic Sunset over Burns Lake

Dramatic view of the sunset filtered through the smoke of wildfires - Burns Lake in the winter of 2026. 

The view looks magical, but the strange colors come from the drama of a big wildfire running through Big Cypress National Preserve. The flames are getting closer and probably the rangers will close the campground. We'll see. So far, we are enjoying the sunset.

Where is Burns Lake? - Map my location. 

Camping at Burns Lake Campground

The peaceful waters of Burns Lake in the South Florida winter. Our camper is seen on the left.   

Beautiful days of winter camping on the shores of this lake of Big Cypress National Preserve. The coldness threw away the alligators. They moved into the more protected waters of the swamp. The symphony of birds in the morning; the shimmering whispers of the sunsets. Quiet times in the wilderness away from the city noise. 

Where is Burns Lake Campground? - Map my location. 

A Reminder to Myself: Overnight in Rest Areas

A rest area can save the day or the night - just check the rules. This is my old camper in a rest area of Texas in November 2024. 

The rules change from state to state and sometimes from rest area to rest area. This is the status nowadays - but check because changes in the rules are a constant. 

Overnight is possible in California, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, Ohio and Pennsylvania (only in the Turnpike). 

Need to check the rules for each rest area in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.

Park and rest with time limits - 2 to 4 hours - in Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, South Dakota, and Tennessee.

Don't allow: Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Previous Post > Visit to Trinidad in Colorado

Visit to Trinidad in Colorado

The Main Street of historic Trinidad early in the morning - Photo taken in the fall of 2025. 

Small town in the south of Colorado on the old Santa Fe Trail. This valley was settled by Felipe Baca and 12 other families from Guadalupita, New Mexico, in 1862. Brick buildings, antique stores, and the old houses at the museum. Stop at the visitor center and a stroll through Kit Carson Park - there is an equestrian statue of the famous frontier man there dedicated in 1913. A quiet morning without rain (finally!).  

Where is the city of Trinidad? - Map my location.

Previous Post > Aborted Hike to Fishers Peak

Aborted Hike to Fishers Peak

Fishers Peak, Colorado, covered by bad weather in the autumn of 2025.

The plan was to walk the 14-mile trail (roundtrip) to the summit of Fishers Peak. Rain, cold, and wind said otherwise. The summit was engulfed in dark clouds when we reached the trailhead. Change of plans. We opted to visit the small city of Trinidad. A safer bet. 

Where is Fishers Peak? - Map my location. 

Previous Post > The Coke Ovens of Cokedale

The Coke Ovens of Cokedale

I took this picture of the old coke ovens of Cokedale, Colorado, from the road in the fall of 2025.

Old coke ovens near Trinidad Lake. ~350 in total. All beehive-style. The former mining town of Cokedale is almost a ghost town now (population: 127 in 2020). It was born in 1899 with 100 souls and a decade later reached 1,500. Coal operations ended in 1947. Impressive lines of old ovens - the rows can be seen in the satellite layer of Google Maps). 

Where are the coke ovens of Cokedale? - Map my location. 

Previous Post > Camping in Trinidad Lake