Ocala National Forest Guide

Activities in Ocala National Forest

Ocala National Forest offers diverse activities for all interests:

• Hiking and Backpacking:Ocala National Forest offers over 72 miles of the Florida Trail, a National Scenic Trail that traverses the forest in three directions. The St. Francis Trail provides an excellent overnight loop for those seeking a backpacking adventure.

• Mountain biking: Biking enthusiasts can tackle the Paisley Woods Bicycle Trail, a scenic single-track route connecting Alexander Springs to Clearwater Lake Recreation Area.

• Fishing:The Ocala National Forest is a top destination for bass fishing, with renowned spots like Lake George, Lake Kerr, and Salt Springs Run. Anglers can also enjoy serene river fishing along the Ocklawaha River and Alexander Run.

• Boating:Enjoy motorized boating adventures on the St. Johns and Ocklawaha Rivers and tranquil paddling on streams like Alexander Spring Creek and Juniper Creek.

• Water Activities:If you are a certified diver, enjoy scuba diving at Alexander Springs Recreation Area. The crystal-clear springs of Alexander Springs and Juniper Springs offer refreshing year-round swimming spots that are perfect for snorkeling. Popular swimming areas include Salt Springs, Silver Glen Springs, and Clearwater Lake.

• OHV Trail Riding : Ride across 200 miles of ATV and motorcycle trails and 81 miles of off-road trails for Jeeps and 4WD vehicles. Popular areas include Big Scrub Campground, Ocala Centennial OHV Trail System, and Lake Delancy West OHV Campground.

• Wildlife Viewing: Enjoy wildlife watching in the Ocala National Forest, a haven for nature enthusiasts and birders alike. Spot the Florida black bear, catch the Florida scrub-jay or the rare red-cockaded woodpecker. Watch for Sherman's fox squirrel and the unique Florida sand skink as you explore this diverse ecosystem.

• Identifying Flora and Fauna

  

  There are seven ecosystems in the Ocala National forest although 70% of the forest is scrub. Scrub mint is considered an endangered plant whereas scrub morning glories are considered threatened plants. The other 30% is mostly made up of sandhills, pine flatwoods, longleaf pine, wet prairies, live oak hammocks, and swamps. Other floras include cypress trees, water lilies, and palm trees.

  The forest is home to the largest populations of Florida black bears and scrub jays. A variety of other wildlife include alligators, Florida manatees, gopher tortoises, white-tailed deer, wild boar, foxes, raccoons, river otters, and other small mammals.

• Fishing

  

  Bass are plentiful in the forest lakes, especially in Lake George and Lake Kerr. Trophy-size bass is the norm, and smaller lakes are good for panfish.

• Geocaching

  

  Geocaching is a popular pastime in Florida with several active caches in the Ocala National Forest. There is an earth cache located in Alexander Springs Recreation area, and this would be a fun way to explore the spring.

• Nature and Bird Watching

  

  The Florida Trail offers wonderful opportunities for nature watching. You may see American bald eagles, ospreys, everglade snail kites, Florida scrub jays, Southern bald eagles, wood storks, or red-cockaded woodpeckers. The best time for birdwatching is in the early morning as the sun rises. The Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway runs through the forest, and bears are most active at dawn and dusk.

• Stargazing

  

  The best time of the year for stargazing in Florida is wintertime on a clear night. The nearby Hopkins Prairie campground opens Oct. 1 and offers 21 sites that can be booked for stargazing with low light pollution. Orlando’s Crosby Observatory has a refractor telescope that will enable you to see the planets, Jupiter’s moons, galaxies, and Saturn’s rings.