Lake Okeechobee

Lake Okeechobee is a large, shallow freshwater lake in south-central Florida and one of the largest lakes in the contiguous United States, covering roughly 730 square miles (about 1,900 km2).

The lake is widely used for freshwater fishing, especially largemouth bass, and for recreational boating; numerous public boat ramps and marinas line the shore. Birdwatching is significant - the lake and adjacent marshes support large populations of waterbirds and wading species. The top of the surrounding dike and the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail provide long continuous routes for cycling and walking of roughly 110 miles.

Lake Okeechobee is a natural lake long inhabited by Native American peoples and later given a name from the Muscogean languages meaning “big water.” Severe flooding in the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane prompted construction of the Herbert Hoover Dike by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers beginning in the 1930s, and the dike has been reinforced and modified through the 20th and 21st centuries for flood control and water-management purposes.

The lake sits in south-central Florida, roughly 50 miles west of West Palm Beach, and is bordered by agricultural lowlands and wetlands; the nearest towns on its shore include Clewiston, Belle Glade, and Pahokee.

• Depth and scale: Most of the lake is very shallow - average depth about 9 feet with maximum depths around 12 feet, making it one of the largest shallow freshwater lakes in the contiguous United States.
• Best time and access: Best wildlife viewing and cooler conditions occur in winter months; the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail and public boat ramps around the dike are the primary access points.

What to See#

• Herbert Hoover Dike: A 143-mile earthen and concrete flood-control ring built around the lake after the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane and reinforced in later US Army Corps of Engineers projects; it supports the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail on top of parts of the dike.
• Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (LOST): A multi-use recreational route that follows the top of the dike for roughly 110 miles and is popular with cyclists, walkers, and birdwatchers.
• Fisheating Creek: A slow, free-flowing tributary on the lake’s southeast side that remains one of the area’s most intact freshwater ecosystems and is noted for paddling and wildlife viewing.
• Shore towns and boat access: Several towns on the lake’s shore providing boat launches, fishing access, and visitor services, notably Clewiston on the south shore and Belle Glade on the west.

• Aim for the dry season (roughly November-April) for better birdwatching and clearer roads around Lake Okeechobee when large waterbird concentrations are easier to spot.
• Use the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (the path on the Herbert Hoover Dike) for elevated views across the lake and to access several public recreation areas and fishing/birding pullouts-these access points offer easier viewing than driving the busy surrounding highways.