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Juniper Prairie Wilderness

Florida Trail, Ocala

72.3 miles. The birthplace of the Florida Trail and home of the world’s largest sand pine scrub forest, the Ocala section is Florida’s top backpacking destination

Florida National Scenic Trail  |  Paisley, Palatka, Salt Springs | Ocala National Forest
( 28.976709, -81.550201 )      72.3 miles

769 shares

Florida Trail, Ocala

72.2 miles   Eustis, Ocala, Ormond Beach, & Palatka

If there is one place that is the heart of the Florida Trail, it is the Ocala section, where the trail first began.

In October 1966, Florida Trail Association founder Jim Kern and a handful of hikers with a dream painted the trail’s first blaze at the beginning of this segment at Clearwater Lake.

This piece of the trail quickly grew to the state’s first 26 mile section for backpacking.

It grew to 72 miles of unbroken wilderness hiking through sandhills, prairies, pine flatwoods, and the beautiful Big Scrub.

The Ocala section is now a prime destination for backpackers who want to spend a week on the Florida Trail.

The footpath is well maintained and well worn, and signage at road crossings helps you figure out exactly where you are.

Although there are a number of designated campsites, you may camp anywhere you wish, as long as it’s not deer hunting season.


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Resources

Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide 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.


Trip Planning

CAMPING

A bear bag or bear canister is required for backpackers in the Ocala National Forest. Be absolutely sure to properly protect your food from bears when camping here.

The Florida Trail Association has partnered with the US Forest Service and Buck N’ Bass Sports Center in Salt Springs to offer free loaner bear canisters: a 10 liter Backerpackers Cache 812 model. Deposit required. Reserve at 352-685-0200.

Random camping is permitted along the Florida Trail in the Ocala National Forest except during deer hunting season in the fall. Unlike the Apalachicola National Forest, no designated campsites exist for backpackers use.

During deer hunting season, you ARE permitted to random camp anywhere within Juniper Prairie Wilderness.

There have been many bear incidents centered around Hidden Pond, so parts of that area may be signposted as closed for restoration.

DOGS

This is an excellent section of the Florida Trail for hiking and backpacking with dogs, since the trail is largely dry.

Dogs are not allowed in the recreation areas at the springs, but they are permitted to be in the campgrounds at those recreation areas.

WILDLIFE

Bears are frequently seen along this portion of the trail. Keep a safe distance away if you spot one.

Deer and wild turkey are also common, as well as sandhill cranes in the open prairies. We’ve seen otters in prairie ponds.

WATER

When other parts of the Florida Trail are under water, the Ocala is not.

This is a high and dry section of trail, which also means that water sources are very limited in certain areas, particularly north of The 88 Store.

HUNTING SEASON

Wear a bright orange shirt or vest during hunting seasons in the Ocala National Forest. Check the FWC website for hunting season dates.

During general gun (deer) season, backpackers must use designated campsites and recreation areas (fee camping). Random camping is permitted at all other times.

RESUPPLY

Resupply for long distance hikers isn’t easy through this section, so be sure to stock up in Paisley if northbound, or in Palatka if southbound.

The 88 Store has some basic munchies and ice cream, but not enough for a resupply, so the only viable resupply is at Salt Springs, 2.5 miles off the main trail via a blue blaze.

PARKING & SHUTTLE

Vandalism has been reported at trailheads to vehicles left overnight.

It’s generally smart to leave a car behind the gates of a recreation area or campground than at a roadside crossing or trailhead. Recreation areas do charge a fee for leaving cars overnight. Call ahead to confirm costs.

If you need assistance with a shuttle, join the Florida Trail Hikers Facebook group and ask for assistance.

There are a number of volunteers in the area who can help. Be sure to compensate them for their gas and time.

SAFETY

During the winter months, the “Rainbow People” migrate into the forest and set up primitive camps, often along the Florida Trail.

These folks live a nomadic lifestyle much like followers of the Grateful Dead used to do.

Use your smarts when you meet non-hikers. If the situation is uncomfortable, keep moving.

The muffled thunder you sometimes hear are when bombs are being dropped on the Pinecastle Bombing Range south of Juniper Springs.

This is a tradition started with training for fighter pilots in World War II. Low-flying bombers may also startle you on weekdays near Farles Prairie and Juniper Springs.


Trail Map

Florida Trail Ocala section map


Mileages

Important landmarks starting with mile 0 at Clearwater Lake trailhead and ending at mile 72.2 at St. Johns South adjoining Buckman Lock. $$ – fee charged for parking. ** – designated camping during hunting season (fee charged)

0.0 – Clearwater Lake trailhead (Clearwater Lake 0.2E **)
10.1 – Alexander Springs Recreation Area** 0.5W ($$)
13.6 – SR 19 trailhead
18.2 – Farles Prairie trailhead ($$)
27.9 – Juniper Springs Recreation Area** 0.5E ($$)
36.7 – Pat’s Island trailhead
38.5 – Hopkins Prairie trailhead (Campground 0.1W **)
45.2 – Salt Springs trailhead 2.9E
52.7 – 88 Store
53.2 – CR 316 parking
59.1 – Lake Delancy West trailhead (Campground**) 0.2E ($$)
65.9 – Rodman trailhead
66.6 – Rodman Recreation Area
67.7 – Rodman Campground ** 0.2W ($$)
72.1 – St. Johns South **


Trail Segments

Each of these segments are aligned south to north along the trail route through the Ocala section.

Florida Trail near Paisley

Florida Trail, Clearwater Lake to Alexander Springs

10.5 miles. Hike the original miles blazed by Florida Trail Association trailblazers in 1966 along one of the most beautiful sections of the Florida Trail in the Ocala National Forest

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, Farles Prairie to Juniper Springs

9.7 miles. Follow a ribbon of tall grasses and lily-dotted ponds along Farles Prairie before trekking miles through classic sand pine scrub to the Juniper Prairie Wilderness

Juniper Prairie Wilderness

Florida Trail, Juniper Springs to Hopkins Prairie

10.6 miles. Marvel at a mosaic of ancient scrub forest, vast prairies, and pine islands while crossing the Juniper Prairie Wilderness

Hopkins Prairie, Ocala National Forest

Florida Trail, Hopkins Prairie to Salt Springs

9.6 miles. Sweeping along the shoreline of one of the largest prairies in the Ocala National Forest, this section of the Florida Trail lingers on prairie panoramas

Florida Trail Salt Springs S of 314

Florida Trail, Salt Springs to Kerr Island

10.4 miles. Crossing a patchwork of scrub ridges and longleaf pine islands, the Florida Trail makes its way southwest of Salt Springs around Lake Kerr to The 88 Store

Florida Trail sinkhole near Delancy

Florida Trail, Kerr Island to Lake Delancy

6.4 miles. Across a mosaic of sandhills and scrub, expect black bear and scrub-jay sightings on this Florida Trail segment north of Salt Springs

Riverside Island north of FR 11

Florida Trail, Lake Delancy to Rodman

6.7 miles. Experience a sense of perspective on a piece of the Florida Trail traversing rolling hills topped with a majestic forest of longleaf pines

Cross Florida Barge Canal near Buckman

Florida Trail, Rodman to Buckman Lock

6.5 miles. Providing views across the Cross Florida Barge Canal from a high levee, the Florida Trail between Rodman and Buckman Lock mainly follows the Cross Florida Greenway


Recent Articles

Ocean Pond Olustee

National Forests in Florida Implement New Fees

July 24, 2019

Effective July 26, 2019, fees go up at many National Forest campgrounds, boat ramps, and recreation areas

All Articles & Hikes Interactive Map

Category: Backpacking, Central Florida, Day Hikes, Florida Trail, Hikes, North Florida, TrailsTag: Best Florida Trail Backpacking, Florida Trail, Locations, National Forests, Ocala, Ocala National Forest, Paisley, Palatka, Salt Springs, Silver Springs

Have an update? Contact us.

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Our Florida Trail Books

The Florida Trail Guide

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 Hikes

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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The Florida Trail

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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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The Florida Trail App

Comprehensive logistics and offline maps all in one: The Florida Trail Guide is now also an interactive map-based mile-by-mile app by Guthook Guides.

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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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Florida Trail by Section

Porter Lake, Apalachicola National Forest

Florida Trail, Apalachicola

Florida Trail, Apalachicola
Florida Trail Big Bend view

Florida Trail, Big Bend

Florida Trail, Big Bend
Florida Trail Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Blackwater

Florida Trail, Blackwater
Florida Trail Nokuse

Florida Trail, Central Panhandle

Florida Trail, Central Panhandle
Eglin Weaver Creek

Florida Trail, Eglin

Florida Trail, Eglin
Florida Trail Kissimmee

Florida Trail, Kissimmee

Florida Trail, Kissimmee
Florida Trail at Rice Creek

Florida Trail, Northeast Florida

Florida Trail, Northeast Florida
Juniper Prairie Wilderness

Florida Trail, Ocala

Florida Trail, Ocala
Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail

Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail

Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail
Florida Trail, Okeechobee

Florida Trail, Okeechobee

Florida Trail, Okeechobee
Florida Trail at Forever Florida

Florida Trail, Orlando

Florida Trail, Orlando
Florida Trail Seashore Dunes

Florida Trail, Seashore

Florida Trail, Seashore
Florida Trail along a canal south of Clewiston

Florida Trail, Seminole

Florida Trail, Seminole
No Name Creek

Florida Trail, Suwannee

Florida Trail, Suwannee
Cypress Lakes Preserve

Florida Trail, Western Corridor

Florida Trail, Western Corridor

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