4.5Enchanted Forest Sanctuary(204 reviews) - Great Nature Walk With the Kids Nature & Wildlife Areas • Forests
This is a beautiful place for adults and children to get outside and be active. All trails are short enough to return within a reasonable amount of time. If you adventure through all of the trails you could easily spend several hours enjoying the beauty of Florida’s nature.See more..
Great place to experience Florida nature. Great trails. Rangers are very helpful. Birders paradise. Bring your cameras for an unforgettable time.See more..
5.0Osceola National Forest(14 reviews) - Camping at Ocean Pond Spent More than 3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Forests
This is one beautifully setup campground, with electric & water sites, water only and primitive sites. Ocean Pond is very large with cypress trees and pine forest. Every site is very large with a lot on the Pond and privacy. There is a playground and beach and a boat ramp, I was able to launch my kayak from my site, as well as other sites. Fishing and boating are very popular and there are hiking trails. The Forest itself has other campgrounds and trails for horses, bikes and atvs. Just getting out on the kayak was a treat. Sunsets are fantastic. Overall highly recommended See more..
Really fantastic afternoon. The weather was gorgeous and the trail was great. Had no idea there were big, white sand dunes along any river in FL. Trail is well marked, easy to hike, and it’s beautiful.See more..
Have a new fantastic trail for hikers - The Pioneer Trail. Hiking only, scenic (runs the North Fork Black Creek), surprising changes in elevation, overlooks, walkways, "stairways", bridge, and local historic cemetery. Linear trail with Section I is 2.4 miles, Section 2, is 2.5 miles, Section 3 is 3.4 Miles and if you extend on the Denn's Trail it is a total of 9.2 miles to that trailhead/Forest HQ. Parking at Indian Ford, Knights Landing, Ellis Ford, and Denn's (Long Horn Rd) trailheads.See more..
4.5Mutual Mine Recreation Area(5 reviews) - Great place to boondock Sunday: Nature & Wildlife Areas • Forests
We stayed a weekend at Mutual Mine recently. It was my first experience boondocking and I was a little hesitant. But I have to say, it was great! It was so quiet and peaceful, with lots of room between our campsite and the adjoining ones. There are no pets permitted at all on the 13 campsites. Each site has a fire ring, picnic table, and water spigot. The camp host (I think his name was Marty) was so kind and easy going. The only down point is you can hear a lot of highway noise. Make sure you make a reservation ahead of time because you need the gate code to get in! We will definitely be back!See more..
4.0Richloam Fire Tower Trailhead(4 reviews) - Hiking Richloam South Sunday: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails • Forests
This is by far THE BEST trailhead I've ever experienced. There are no restrooms, no picnic tables, no amenities except one spigot with potable water. There is, however, a fire tower! Not just a fire tower.. One that you can actually climb! At your own risk, of course, but unlocked, sturdy, and all the way to the cabin on top. Spectacular views in every direction. Happy! Happy! Happy! This is also the trailhead to several different loop trails. I chose to hike Richloam South with my puppy Buc on a beautiful winter morning. This loop is 12.5 miles and traverses some pretty amazing Florida terrain. Lots of wildlife, mostly birds. It's still hunting season and everything furry is hiding. Wonderful day hiking in the Withlacoochee State Forest and all for FREE. Highly recommended!See more..
The road coming in is rough. Dirt, potholes, uneven and beware standing water it hides some deep holes. Once in park you can see where it is maintained. Small playground for little kids. Trails are not marked great but can't get lost. The Ryals Branch trail is down. Can see where a bridge is gone and for long time. To bad looked cool if they would bring back. The bridge trail is highlight where there is observation area of the old great tree. The other path is excellent taking you through the swamp. It dead ends on a work road so follow to road turn and go back. One bathroom at entrance. A hike on every trail with some recovering is 3 to 3.25 miles roughly. Worth visit but road is something.See more..
3.5Hearthstone Gardens(3 reviews) - Lovely free gardens with something always blooming Spent 1-2 hours Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Forests • Gardens
A 35 acre botanical experience featuring a palette of gardens: children's, rose, butterfly-hummingbird, Japanese, tropical. All native and Florida friendly plants in garden designs that can be replicated in the home landscape. The Learning Center provides space for programs and workshops. A walking trail around Mirror Lake leads to trails through the cypress woods. Abundant birding opportunities.See more..
4.5Lake Panasoffkee WMA(3 reviews) - Wonderful quiet campground. Spent More than 3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails • Forests
First time at this no frills campground. Picnic tables and fire rings are all that’s there. The area is very level and grass covered. There were only four other campers in the area. We were well separated so there was no unwanted noise. You can use your generator from 0700 to 2200. We were trying a new solar panel and only used the generator a few minutes in the morning and evening to microwave meals. The area is super quiet. The loudest noise we heard was an owl in the evening. We very highly recommend this campground. Price was FREE with prior registration on their website.See more..
4.0Lake Proctor Wilderness Area(2 reviews) - Ok hike in peaceful area. Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Forests
I did the Lake Proctor Wilderness Loop Trail. It is 5.6 miles long and is relatively easy hike. You will get plenty of views of the lake, some wildlife and powerlines that run through part of the trail. I hiked on a Wednesday early afternoon and was the only hiker there. I highly recommend you use a trail hiking app as some parts of the trail are misleading.See more..
5.0Lake George State Forest(1 review) - Awesome hiking trails! Sunday: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails • Forests
Spent a weekend morning hiking through the forest with my bff Buc. Started out at Bluffton Recreation Area and hiked the interpretative trail. Beautiful park right on St Johns River, and the trail is very well done. Next we drove to Sandy Drain and hiked there for a couple hours. Saw several deer, which is rare during hunting season. Also saw raccoon, owl, hawk, scrub jay, etc... Just no bear. They are like unicorns. All the roads are easy to follow and very well maintained. Enjoyed a wonderful day hiking and never saw another human. Gotta love the forest. If you need to unplug for awhile, this is the place. Highly recommended! These roads would be great for biking also. No facilities or running water so bring what you need and please do not litter.See more..
CREW Marsh Trails(0 review) Sunday: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails • Forests The CREW - Marsh Trails provide hikers and campers with four distinct ecosystems - pine flatwoods, sawgrass marsh, pop ash slough, and oak hammock. Each is a unique habitat, allowing a wide variety of plants and animals to exist there. Over five miles of trails are available including an observation tower overlooking the Corkscrew Marsh. Primitive camping is available with a permit.See more..
