Camping on the Kissimmee River

FTA scored camping permits along the Kissimmee River, south of Lake Kissimmee at S-65 locks and 21 miles east of Lake Wales on FL-60. This is primitive camping (no running water). Chuckwagon Campsite is a free campground offered by South Florida Water Management District. It is located within the KICCO (Kissimmee Cattle Company) Wildlife Management Area. This particular campsite is suitable only for cars, vans, and pickups-no RVs allowed. KICCO consists of more than 7,000 acres of land along the banks of the Kissimmee River, south of Lake Kissimmee. This WMA is a place where you can go to get the real feel of “old Florida”. You’ll find oak hammock, scrub, cypress strand and pine-palmetto flatwoods. 9 miles of shell bed trails are open for hiking and gravel cycling along KICCO Grade Road. 13 miles of the Florida National Scenic Trail runs through the KICCO Wildlife Management Area. Wildlife is abundant: white-tailed deer, bald eagles, wild turkeys, hawks, wading birds and sandhill cranes. The threatened crested caracara has been observed in the area. What is odd is you drive through River Ranch timeshare, past teepees and need to go through 2 locked gates to get here. Leader: Jim Denison 703-795-1776 and Mary-Slater. ADDRESS: Kicco Grade Rd. River Ranch, Florida 33867