Polk County Highpoint Trip Report
"Orange Grove Bluff" (see DeLorme page 93)
Date: March 2004
Author: John Mitchler
Fred Lobdell's report took us right there. Fred provided directions east from the junction of US 27 & FL 60.
I went south. From US 27 & FL 60, go south on US 27 for 3.8 miles to CR 640 and turn left (east).
At mile 4.7 continue straight onto FL 17 (US 27 alt). Follow FL 17 as it winds around the northeast shore
of Crooked Lake. At mile 9.6 notice an oblique side road on the right (west). At mile 9.8 notice one of the
HP areas on the right (west). The other HP area is on the left (east) just a few hundred feet farther on the
highway. I concluded by hand leveling that the east area is higher than the west area or the 289 spot
elevation which Gene Daniell observed.
If you are coming from the south to this highpoint, turn off US 27 on to FL 17 just north of Avon Park.
The highpoint is 9.7 miles north on FL 17.
Note that while you are in this area, you simply must go to the north side of Lake Wales and visit the Bok
Tower on Iron Mountain. This is sacred ground because it was thought to have been the highest point in
Florida for many years. All the early highpointers went there instead of Britton Hill.
Not only is not the highest point in Florida, it's not even the highest point in the county.
Hike statistics - several hundred feet with maybe 10 feet of gain.