The 26,563-acre (107 km2) forest is located on the Lake Wales Ridge in Central Florida, within Polk County near Frostproof.

The state forest consists of two large tracts, separated by 2 miles.

The Walk in Water Tract, adjoining Lake Weohyakapka (Lake Walk in Water), contains the largest contiguous area of ridge sandhill in public ownership.

[1] Both tracts provide protected habitat for plants species endemic to Florida scrub.

[2] Media related to Lake Wales Ridge State Forest at Wikimedia Commons