Wander along a boardwalk through tall cypress along the Peace River. The site of an open-pit phosphate mine until the early 1980s, this reclamation project borders the Peace River floodplain, where the boardwalk winds through the floodplain forest out to the river. Interpretive signs give background information on the 1,800-square-mile Peace River basin. The forest becomes denser as you draw closer to the river, and water marks on the trees show how deeply this floodplain can flood. After 0.25 mile, the boardwalk ends at a peaceful spot under the cypresses on the Peace River, where you can rest and watch for birds before heading back along the winding wooden walkway. The park is open 7:00 a.m. to dusk. There is a restroom at the parking area. Take US 17 south out of Bartow four miles to County Road 640. At the red light, turn left and go about one mile – parking is on the left.