Ocala National Forest

Controlled Burn

All of you Nature lovers must experience "Real Nature" in the Ocala National Forest. Nature Man has experienced the wonders of Nature in Ocala since I was 5 years old with my parents when we camped at Alexander Springs and most frequently Juniper Springs.  My brother David and I spent many a day in the cypress swamp wilderness area around Juniper Springs. I have hunted, fished, camped, picnicked and trail hiked in Ocala often throughout the years.

The Ocala National Forest is located north of Orlando between the Ocklawaha and St. Johns Rivers. Encompassing approximately 383,000 acres, it is the southernmost forest in the continental United States and protects the world's largest contiguous sand pine scrub forest. Although it is centered on high, dry, central scrub ridges, the Ocala National Forest is rich in water resources and more than 600 lakes, rivers and springs, including three first-magnitude springs. Each an oasis surrounded by subtropical growth, the springs are some of the finest and clearest in the United States. Visitors can swim, snorkel and dive in these crystalline waters year-round.

Theodore Roosevelt

Teddy Roosevelt

In 1902, scarcely six months after Theodore Roosevelt's inauguration as the youngest President of the United States at age 42, "Teddy" started what would become a long legacy of land conservation by the United States Government by signing Crater Lake National Park into existence. An avid sportsman, Roosevelt understood that for future generations to have places to hunt and fish, there needed to be room for wildlife to be wild. In 1903, he began the National Wildlife Refuge System by proclaiming Pelican Island near Vero Beach, Florida as the first Federal Bird Refuge. During his second term, in February 1095, the National Forest Service was established at his urging. Of 150 National Forests proclaimed during Roosevelt's tenure, the Ocala National Forest was the second one established east of the Mississippi in the continental United States, created November 24, 1908. In 2008, we celebrated 100 years of the Ocala National Forest with a festive event coordinated by friends of the Forest, complete with a re-enactment of President Theodore Roosevelt signing the Forest into existence.

Ecosystems
The Ocala National Forest is noted for its sand pine scrub ecosystem. Growing on deep, prehistoric sand dunes, the sand pine scrub is home to the threatened Florida scrub-jay, sand skink, and Florida bonamia plant. Within this sea of sand pine, longleaf pine islands provide a different view with open park-like stands of trees over grassy plains. Wildlife species of interest include the bald-eagle, Florida black bear, whitetail deer, Florida manatee, gopher tortoise, indigo snake, and red-cockaded woodpecker.

Oak Hammock

Protecting the world's largest contiguous sand pine scrub forest, a desert-like environment atop ancient sand dunes that stood well above the waves of primordial seas, the Ocala National Forest is full of special places, from four major springs to hundreds of lakes and ponds, islands of longleaf pine, and sinuous waterways that breathe life into an otherwise arid environment. Botanical wonders as well as archaeological and historic sites are awaiting around the next bend.



Nature Man recommends that you explore the following special areas of the Ocala National Forest:

Alexander Springs
There are only 27 first-magnitude springs in Florida, and Alexander Springs is by far one of the easiest for visitors to enjoy. A broad and naturally gently sloped spring pool becomes a natural water park when visitors come to picnic, swim, and play. The water is a constant 72 degrees and extraordinarily clear.  Ripples lay across the sand bottom as small fish dart about. Surrounded by floodplain forest of maples, sweetgum, and cabbage palms, this recreation area feels almost tropical.

Salt Springs
Salt Springs Recreation Area is one of the recreational jewels of the Ocala National Forest. Within the recreation area is the natural spring rising from vertical fissures (cracks) from deep within the earth. The presence of potassium, magnesium and sodium salts give the waters in the spring a slight salinity. Hence the name Salt Springs.

Doe Lake Recreation Area
The Doe Lake Recreation Area is centered around a classic 1930's Civilian Conservation Corps dining hall that has been historically restored. This beautiful building sits atop a grassy hill overlooking the clear waters of Doe Lake.  A bath house, including showers, was built in the same architectural style.

Alexander Springs Run

Alexander Run
Bubbling forth from Alexander Springs into Alexander Creek, this popular canoe run starts at Alexander Springs Recreation Area and continues for about six miles of paddling to the take-out on the north shore at 52 Landing. This run is broad and swift, with many small islands and little dry land to bank on for the first several miles. A paddling trip is the easiest way to experience the heart of Alexander Springs Wilderness.




Clearwater Lake Recreation Area
With a shaded campground, a day use picnic area and beach, and a nature trail throughout the pine woods and scrub around Clearwater Lake, Clearwater Lake Recreation Area is a quiet getaway along the southeastern edge of the Ocala National Forest, just outside the community of Paisley.

Lake Dorr Recreation
Along the northwest shore of Lake Dorr, Lake Dorr Recreation Area is set under the deep shade of an oak hammock. Offering RV camping, Lake Dorr also has a boat ramp and picnic area overlooking the lake.

Juniper Springs
Showcasing sparkling springs in a subtropical setting, Juniper Springs is one of the oldest and best

Juniper Springs

known recreation areas on the East Coast. Located between Ocala and Ormond Beach along SR-40, this complex of swimming and picnic area, campground, and trails was constructed in the 1930's by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The setting is unlike any other found in the United States, with hundreds of tiny bubbling springs and massive springs gushing out crevices in the earth beneath a dense canopy of palms and oaks, an oasis within the heart of the desert-like Big Scrub.

Lake Delancy West
Lake Delancy West provides an Off Highway Vehicle (OHV), or ATV's and UTV's, recreation area along Lake Delancy with OHV corrals, access to numerous marked OHV trails along the Ocala North OHV Trail System, and camping along the lake. The recreation area also serves as a trailhead and designated campground along the hiking-only Florida Trail.

Juniper Run

Juniper Run
Named one of the top 25 canoe runs in America by ReserveAmerica and typically a high point of a visit to Florida, Juniper Run is a narrow, winding waterway set under dense canopy of old-growth forest and few places solid enough to get out of your canoe. The 7 mile journey starts just below the springs and follows the spring run through the heart of Juniper Prairie Wilderness to a take-out off SR-19, well before the run empties into the St. Johns River at Lake George.
Warning!!!Nature Man recommends that only experienced canoeists attempt the Juniper Run.  The water runs very swift and turns are difficult because of numerous low hanging limbs causing the inexperienced problems when attempting tight turns.  If you do not have the ability keep a canoe under complete control the low hanging limbs and tight turns can cause the canoe to tip leaving you a very difficult re-entry.

Silver Glen Springs
As the sun shines, rainbows play across the bottom of the crystal-clear spring basin at Silver Glen Springs, a beautiful spot along the edge of the Big Scrub of the Ocala National Forest, with a spring run that pours out into Lake George, the largest of the St. Johns River Chain of Lakes, north of Astor. Both a popular day use recreation area and an important archaeological site, Silver Glen Springs showcases the delicate balance necessary between enjoyment of the outdoors and preservation of irreplaceable resources.



Black Bear Track
 

Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway
Providing more than 60 miles of exploration by car, the Florida Black Bear Scenic Highway - a National Scenic Byway -  is a network of scenic roads between Silver Springs and Ormond Beach, including SR 40 through the heart of the Ocala National Forest.






Yearling Trail
Take a trek back in time to Pat's Island on the Yearling Trail, a walk through the Big Scrub to an island of pine that the Long family once called home. This interpretive trail system leads you past a variety of historic structures, including an old cattle dip vat, a cistern, the remains of several homestead sites, and the Long family cemetery. In the center of it all is a giant sinkhole where the pre-1900 settlers collected drinking water.

Fort Gates Ferry

Fort Gates Ferry
Although not managed by the Forest Service, the Fort Gates Ferry is a site of historic importance and is reached via forest roads east from Salt Springs. This site is a narrows in the St. Johns River north of Drayton Island and has been home to a ferry crossing for nearly two centuries. The current ferry is a 1910 Sharpie sailboat piloting a 1930's barge that can hold two cars. The crossing is a part of the Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway.


Mill Dam Recreation Area
In the shade of live oaks overlooking 168-acre Mill Dam Lake, Mill Dam Recreation Area offers two different experiences for the public. Between March 16 and September 30, it's a day use recreation area with a large swimming area and sandy beach accessible by wheelchairs. For the remainder of the year, October 1 through March 15, it becomes a group campground/recreation area for both day use and tent camping.


Following are Nature Man's recommended trails for hiking in the Ocala National Forest:

Trail Name                         Distance                     What you will see
Salt Springs Trail                .5 mile loop                 Leads to a wildlife observation
                                                                                platform                  

St. Francis Trail                   7 mile blue blazes       Traverses six ecosystems to
                                             5 mile yellow blazes   St. Francis, a once river point

Lake Eaton Sinkhole Trail   1.0 or 1.7 miles           Leads to a 450 ft. diameter
                                                                                 sinkhole and 80 ft.
                                                                                 deep observation platform

Lake Eaton Loop Trail         2.1 mile loop               Follows Lake Eaton's east
                                                                                  shore with three
                                                                                  observation platforms
                                                                                  along the way

Davenport Landing Trail      1.1 miles                      Leads to a former19th century
                                                                                   port and fuel-wood
                                                                                   stop for Ocklawaha River boats

Juniper Springs Nature Trail   .4 mile                       Provides a boardwalk from
(located inside Juniper                                               Juniper Run to Fern Hammock
Springs Recreation Area)                                          Springs, features spring boils
                                                                                   and semi-tropical vegetation

Timucuan Trail                      1.1 mile loop              Offers interpretive signs,
 (Located inside Alexander                                       semi-tropical vegetation
Springs Recreation Area)                                          and wildlife observation
                                                                                   platforms along
                                                                                   Alexander Springs Run

Pat's Island and the                6 mile loop or             Visits several historical points
Yearling Trail                        2 loops at 3 miles        that inspired Marjorie Kinnan
                                                                                   Rawlings to write The Yearling
                                                                                  

Spring Boils Trail                  1.75 miles                    Leads to an observation platform
(located inside Silver Glen                                         where hikers can view
 Springs Recreation Area)                                          spring boils

Lake George Trail                 2.0 miles                      Follows a path through
(located inside Silver Glen                                         semi-tropical vegetation
Springs Recreation Area)                                           to the shore of Lake George,
                                                                                    the second largest
                                                                                    lake in Florida

Florida National Scenic         86 miles                      Allows access at various
Trail                                                                           trailheads throughout
                                                                                   the forest 


On your visit I recommend that you bring plenty of water to drink, bug repellent, sun screen, a compass or GPS, an official Forest Service Ocala map, a camera and an Audubon Florida Field Guide for flora and wildlife identification purposes.

Proper trail etiquette is recommended:

• Dogs must be on a 6 foot leash and must be well behaved. Beware of snakes and bears.
• Animal and plant life are protected. Do not kill, trap or molest any mammal, bird, reptile or amphibian. Do not pick, cut carve, break off limbs from or mutilate any plant life.
• Pack it in, pack it out.
• Take only pictures and memories
• It is recommended that you not trail hike in certain sections of the Forest when Hunting Season is open.

As you slip through Ocala you might get to experience a bear tending to her cubs on a sandy trail, a whitetail deer with its flag raised high slipping off through the pines or a group of Sandhill Cranes flying overhead sounding their high pitched call.  The wonders of Ocala are plentiful and special gifts from God for all of us to enjoy as often as we can travel through the Forest.

Nature Man Photography brings you the following:

Silver Maple at Lake Lou

Salt Springs

Ocklawaha River Alligator

Juniper Run