Swan Lake Iris Gardens

Beautiful walk around small lake. These photos were during mating season, so they're showing off. I've been there when babies are all around. The grounds are filled with trees from around the world. There are bridges and cypress trees. Also, gorgeous at Chicago.
It's a perfect southern setting.
No dogs for obvious reasons. Also, no smoking.
Benches throughout, although very low to the ground.

If you are looking for something fun and free to do on a beautiful day, this is the place to go! Lots of swans and other birds to see and beautiful gardens!

***This is not a dog friendly place***

Absolutely magical. Couldn't say enough about this place. No dogs unfortunately, I wouldn't bring you kids or just stay away close to swans. They hiss and they can attack. A mile long boardwalk, bridges, sprinklers, they even have a deaf sensory area. I loved this place.

Beautiful property with a fun park for the kiddos!

We loved walking around. There is plenty of shade and nice areas to stop, sit, and take photos.

Highly recommend.

Beautiful trail! Loved seeing all the swans, geese, ducks, turtles, etc. Arne trail is well maintained. There is a small playground and picnic area. The bathrooms could use better cleaning.

Very beautiful park with nice walking trail. Goose, swan, turtiles and more...

Nice walking trails with beautiful flowers that fill the air. Honeysuckle, irises, sun flowers, etc. There's a great playground there with two different covered spots to enjoy a meal together. The swans can be seen throughout. Along with turtles, fish, tadpoles, ducks, and so much more. It's definitely worth a trip! There's no fee to get in, and the park closes at sunset. My kids and I spent over four hours there and loved every bit of it!

Swan Lake is a staple in Sumter County. It’s a timeless refuge and home to a avian wildlife, turtles, and other woodland creatures. I’ve been coming here for over 2 decades and it always takes me back to the better times ☺. It has also become a hotspot for Pokémon GO players in the area as well! The park keepers host seasonal events and more! Pack up a sack lunch, charge your cameras, and enjoy the beautiful scenery and paths of Swan Lake.

A special place for walkers to families, this iconic garden is a feast for the eyes. From festivals to music events on beautiful spring night this is the place to be.

Beautiful garden and lake. And the fact it is called Swan Lake is so fitting. When we pulled up in the parking lot, we could already see Swans. Everywhere you look are the most beautiful swans and flowers. The path is very easy to walk on. Just please don't let your children try to chase the swans/geese. 1: they will be attacked and traumatized, 2: its not nice to the animals. I will be returning at different times of the year to see what's in bloom next time!

We were visiting family, but they had work and school, so we decided to see Swan Lake. It was incredibly peaceful. We will go back because we only saw half of the park. There is a talking tree trail that offers information about each tree. And, there are various gardens, like a chocolate garden or the garden for those who are visually impaired and can read Braille. Oh, and yes, there are swans!

Lots to look at for plant, animal, and art lovers alike. Each garden area is well laid out and marked. There are playgrounds, a store and thoughtfully placed bathrooms. I didn't even mention that it's an arboretum. And the swans!

This is a beautiful park with plenty of swans, other animals, and lush gardens maintained by a local garden club. The park could use a bit more maintenance of the facilities, and an admission fee of even just $5 per car would go a long way toward funding the project

Took my granddaughter, 15 mos, to see the Fantasy of Lights. She really enjoyed it

Really nice walk for the family. The trumpeter swans are pretty cool and they have some nice flowers.

Love this park, it's beautiful and peaceful. The grounds keepers do everything they can to keep it looking good. They have a walking trail in the Iris Garden side of the street called Shot Pouch. Me and my dog walk this trail almost every day. The trail is 3 miles one way from the Gardens to Dillion Park. So, we walk 6 miles. You often see some of the same people on the trail. Hi Judy! Hi Barbara!
You really need to get out and have a nice walk you won't regret it😉

Review for North Side (boardwalk side)
Its beautiful. Has a boardwalk through cypress trees and a nice green area. The boardwalk itself is not long at all. It takes maybe 10 minutes to walk it. Would be a great spot for photos.
Biggest complaint.
Tons of trash around the boardwalk in the water. People carved their names all over the wood and trees. People just can't keep things nice. Also the wood on some of the wood bridges are a little sketchy.
Review for the south side (visitor center/playground side)
The playground could be updated or some tlc but it does the job. It has 2 different sized playgrounds and a firetruck the kids like to climb on. I like that the playground has a fence around it to keep the littles inside (but one gate needs the lock fixed)
Theres a bathroom close to the playground as well. Could use some floor paint but its functional. Theres 3 larges pavilions right by the playground as well.
The lake area is very nice. (NO PETS ALLOWED)
Nice scenery and almost a mile long walking trail around the lake with a couple small gardens along the way.
The name is not joking when its called SWAN lake. If you are scared of large fowl then this might not be the trail for you or vice versa.
The swans/geese are use to people so if you like swans its a great place to see them. They get right on the trail. But obviously...no petting.
This is a great place to go out with the family.

My kids love coming here. We always see something interesting. This time it was thousands of tadpoles, two giant snapping turtles, and baby swans. Last time it was egrets building a nest. And there is always something blooming here!

Beautiful area with lots of wildlife and plants. The pathways are wide and flat. The grounds are wheelchair and stroller accessible. Some of the swans are very comfortable around humans so you may see some of them up close. Just remember to NOT approach them!!
Don't forget to take the bridge across the road to see the other side of the park. And bring water!

We loved our visit here! Beautiful scenery and peaceful trails. Even my kids had a blast! There are multiple gardens to walk through but our favorite was the Chocolate Garden. They have flowers that smell amazing in it including one that smells like chocolate! There is also a playground and a little market on the grounds next to the visitor's center. Definitely going back again.