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Florida Trail Big Scrub near Farles

Florida Trail, Alexander Springs to Farles Prairie

8.6 miles. Dive deep into the world’s largest sand pine scrub forest on this hike through the Big Scrub

Florida Trail, Ocala  |  Ocala National Forest
( 29.078871, -81.577816 )      8.6 miles

660 shares

The reason the Ocala National Forest exists is the Big Scrub. This particular section of the Florida Trail does a great job of immersing you in the ebb and flow of this immense sand pine forest.

You’ll encounter sand pine stands of various ages, including one long segment with a dense understory of Florida rosemary.

Where elevation changes the surrounding habitats, there are prairies, ponds, and islands of longleaf pine within the scrub.

Connecting a first-magnitude spring with one of the more beautiful lakes in the Ocala National Forest, it’s a delightful day hike.


Resources

Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover The Hiking Trails of Floridas National Forests Parks Preserves book cover Florida Trail history book  
Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.

Guthook GuidesGuthook Guides GPS-driven map-based guide to the Florida National Scenic Trail with thousands of waypoints from The Florida Trail Guide. Works offline. For iPhone and Android.



Overview

Location: Altoona
Trailhead: 29.078871, -81.577816
Length: 8.6 miles linear
Fees: None to hike. $6 per person day use fee at Alexander Springs. $5 to park at Farles Lake
Restrooms: Vault toilet at Farles. Flush toilet at Alexander Spring
Land manager: Ocala National Forest, Seminole Ranger District
Phone: 352-669-3153

If you choose to park along CR 445 to access the trail, be cautious of soft sand on the shoulders. Parking at the SR 19 trailhead is free.

For safety reasons, do not leave cars overnight in either location. Overnight parking is no longer allowed at Farles Lake Recreation Area.

Random camping is permitted except during general gun (deer hunting) season. Wear bright orange if hiking during any hunting season. Check the link at the bottom of this page for hunt dates.

If camping, protecting your food from animals is necessary. Bears are frequently seen. The Ocala National Forest requires that you either bear bag or use a bear canister. Raccoons will also try to steal unprotected food and gear.


Directions

 
Alexander Springs: From the junction of SR 19 and SR 42 in Altoona, drive north along SR 19 to CR 445. Turn right. Follow this road through the forest up to the Alexander Springs Recreation Area on the left.
 
You can also approach this recreation area via SR 40, turning south on CR 445A in Astor and south again on CR 445. Follow the signs.
 
Farles Prairie Recreation Area: Continue north along SR 19 (or south from CR 445A / SR 40) to the sign for Farles Lake, which is 4.6 miles south of SR 40 along SR 19. Turn west. FR 535. The road jogs after a half mile and becomes FR 595C.
 
After another 0.9 mile, turn right on FR 595-2 and continue 0.9 mile. The road becomes FR 595. Drive another 1.2 miles – following signs all the while – to get to the parking area. Pay your day use fee at the iron ranger.

Hike

Start your hike by following the blue blazes from the campground at Alexander Springs Recreation Area. If you’re already on trail, subtract a half mile from the mileage.

You’ll cross CR 445 en route as you walk through sandhills habitat for a half mile to the trail junction with the Florida Trail. Turn right at the orange-blazed junction.

The trail crosses a dirt road and climbs up a hill. Longleaf pines tower overhead as you continue through the forest to cross CR 445 again at 1.4 miles.

Longleaf pines
In the longleaf pines west of CR 445

The trail rises up into longleaf pine flatwoods and then into the open scrub, a desert-like place with diminutive trees. Listen for the swoosh of wings and a blur of blue as Florida scrub-jays settle into the branches.

The next paved road you encounter is SR 19, at 3.8 miles. Use particular caution crossing here, as traffic moves at high speed.

Just beyond is a short blue-blazed side trail leading to an official trailhead parking area along SR 19. This is an alternate starting point where there is no fee to park, shortening your hike to 4.8 miles.

Big Scrub
In a tunnel of scrub forest near SR 19

Framed by rusty lyonia, myrtle oaks, and Chapman oaks, the trail settles into a tunnel of scrub, with some undulations that remind you these are ancient sand dunes.

You pass a sinkhole mostly hidden by the scrub before emerging into a clearing at an old Jeep track. Several Florida rosemary bushes, distinctly rounded, thrive in the open spots under the pines.

After emerging from the forest again to cross a Jeep track in soft sand under a powerline, the trail reaches FR 57 – an old railroad line and graded road – at 4.8 miles.

Tunneling back into the scrub, you’ll notice notable changes in elevation as the trail dips and curves through the scrub forest, slipping past prairie views en route to Dora Pond.

Dora Pond
Dora Pond, a beauty spot along this hike

This is a pretty place to camp and a reliable water source at 5.6 miles. Just beyond it is the first junction with a blue-blazed side trail, the Buck Lake Loop.

The loop circles a major lake with a recreation area and group campground on the far side. The recreation area has a pitcher pump and vault toilets at the picnic area.

Passing the second junction for the Buck Lake Loop at 6.7 miles, the trail is flanked by Florida rosemary and short oaks in a dense understory beneath tall sand pines that clatter together when the wind blows.

Florida Trail Big Scrub near Farles
Tunneling through the Big Scrub north of Buck Lake

This is where you immerse deeply in the sand pine scrub for most of the next two miles.

You glimpse a grassy prairie off to the left before the trail comes around to its edge. It usually has a small pond in it.

Farles Prairie Recreation Area
Farles Prairie Recreation Area

A few minutes later, the trail emerges onto the road that passes through Farles Prairie Recreation Area, reaching the trailhead with its sweeping view of Farles Lake. This completes the 8.6-mile hike.

NORTHBOUND: Florida Trail, Farles Prairie to Juniper Springs
SOUTHBOUND: Florida Trail, Clearwater Lake to Alexander Springs


Explore More

Slideshow

Our slides from hiking this segment of the Florida Trail


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Alexander Springs

Alexander Springs

Surrounding one of Florida’s most picturesque first magnitude springs, Alexander Springs is a prime destination for a summer swim or snorkel

Hiker on a boardwalk in jungle like forest

Timucuan Trail

While less than a mile long, the Timucuan Trail at Alexander Springs Recreation Area is the best place to sample the Big Scrub habitats of the Ocala National Forest while enjoying lush habitats along a spring run.


USFS Trail Map Hunt Dates Official Website

Category: Backpacking, Central Florida, Day Hikes, Florida Trail, Hikes, Trails, Wildlife Management AreasTag: Alexander Springs, Astor, Birding, Deland, Developed Camping, Dog-friendly, Eustis, Florida Trail, FT Ocala, National Forests, Ocala, Ocala National Forest, Primitive Camping, Springs, Wildflowers, Wildlife Viewing

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The Florida Trail GuideThe comprehensive mile-by-mile guidebook to planning section and thru-hikes along the entire length of the Florida Trail. 356 pages, $19.95 + tax and shipping.

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Florida Trail HikesFifty of the best day hikes, overnights, and weekend trips on the Florida Trail, plus nine of the best section hikes. Full hike descriptions and maps, full color. 376 pages. $24.95 + tax and shipping.

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Discovering the Florida Trail

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Our virtual walk along the length of the Florida Trail, covering more than 1,500 miles from the Everglades to Pensacola Beach. Hardcover, 196 pages. $24.95 + tax and shipping.

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Our history of the first 50 years of the Florida Trail, from its founding in 1966 to becoming a National Scenic Trail to volunteer efforts today.

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Florida Trail Updates


Get periodic recaps of changes to the Florida Trail, which we accumulate between editions of our guidebook. Find all official Trail Closures & Notices here.

Hiking the Florida Trail

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