Paddle the Headwaters: A Local’s Guide to Shingle Creek and Lake Toho

Local life · Outdoors

The creek that feeds Lake Toho starts in Orlando and ends in Kissimmee, and the best stretch for paddling is just off US 192.

Just a few minutes from the hotels and souvenir shops of US 192, there’s a slow, dark-water creek lined with cypress trees. Shingle Creek is one of the easiest ways to trade the attractions corridor for something quieter, and with cooler weather on the way, fall and winter are a great time to go.

Where the Everglades begin

Osceola County calls Shingle Creek the “northernmost headwaters of the Florida Everglades.” The creek starts in Orlando and winds about 23 miles south into Lake Tohopekaliga in Kissimmee. From there, its water continues through the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes and down the Kissimmee River to Lake Okeechobee, a journey the county puts at about 350 miles.

Shingle Creek is also the largest tributary to Lake Toho, supplying about 60 percent of the lake’s inflow. In the 1800s, the creek’s old-growth cypress was logged to make cypress shingles. The county says the waterway has made a great comeback since.

Paddle from Steffee Landing

The main launch for most visitors is Steffee Landing, part of Shingle Creek Regional Park at 4266 W. Vine St. (US 192) in Kissimmee. You’ll find a canoe and kayak launch, a fishing pier, a boardwalk, restrooms, and a pavilion. The county notes that the original 1890 Shingle Creek cabin, once a family hunting and fishing camp, still stands on the creek bank after restoration.

If you don’t have a boat, the City of Kissimmee lists self-service kayak rentals through a Whenever Watersports kiosk at Steffee Landing. You scan a QR code, unlock a kayak through the app, and go. Rentals are available seven days a week, sunrise to sunset. Check current prices and availability before you go.

The county says the creek can be paddled for about 2 miles between Babb Landing to the north and Steffee Landing. Under the tree canopy the water is often calm, which makes it a friendly first paddle. Bring water, bug spray, and sun protection, and remember that alligators live here. Keep your distance and keep your hands in the boat.

Step back in time at Pioneer Village

At the north end of the paddling trail, the 160-acre Babb Landing property is home to Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek, run by the Osceola County Historical Society at 2491 Babb Road. Historic buildings from around the county have been moved here and restored, from an 1898 “Cracker house” to a 1900 general store. Franklin Babb and his family established the land in 1914 as a citrus grove, and you can still see traces of it today.

Pioneer Village is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s closed on major holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Admission is $8 for adults and $4 for kids ages 4 to 12, and children under 4 get in free. Because the site is outdoors, it may close in severe weather. Pets, bikes, and skateboards aren’t allowed.

Want more history first? The society’s Welcome Center and History Museum at 4155 W. Vine St. is also open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is free.

Then head out to Lake Toho

Lake Tohopekaliga, or Lake Toho, covers 18,810 acres southeast of Kissimmee and is known for largemouth bass. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission notes that the mouth of Shingle Creek is historically a good spot to find bass after a rain. You’ll need a Florida freshwater fishing license.

Osceola County manages several conservation areas around the lake, including:

• Twin Oaks Conservation Area, a 370-acre former ranch on the lake at 2001 Macy Island Road. It has hiking and equestrian trails, a fishing dock, paddling access, and a wildlife observation deck.
• Makinson Island Conservation Area, a 132-acre island in Lake Toho that you can only reach by boat. It has hiking trails and primitive group camping by permit.

If you’d rather stay on dry land, the Kissimmee lakefront is the easiest place to watch the sunset over the water. Our park-free evening on Kissimmee’s lakefront has the details. East Lake Toho has its own lakefront park in St. Cloud, which we covered in getting to know St. Cloud.

Coming soon: a longer trail

The Shingle Creek Regional Trail is planned to run 32 miles when it’s finished, linking Kissimmee with Orlando and, eventually, a trail network that reaches Wekiwa Springs State Park. Several sections are already open. Orange County expects the segments between Destination Parkway and Taft-Vineland Road to be finished in early 2028.

Looking for more outdoor ideas? See our seven easy nature escapes near Orlando’s attractions. If you’d like to live close to the water, browse Kissimmee homes for sale or Our Listings.

Ryan Sager, REALTOR®, LPT Realty · ANEW Collective · FL License #3540605 · (407) 342-6367 · ryan@sagerfl.com