In the western half of the Osceola National Forest, this segment of the Florida Trail ties together numerous points of interest.
Pine trees tower over vast expanses of saw palmetto and Florida scrub, interrupted occasionally by seepage bogs and cypress swamp.
The trail passes through nesting grounds for the red-cockaded woodpecker, seepage bogs with the hooded pitcher plant, and longleaf pine restoration efforts.
But be prepared to get your feet wet in a couple of spots, as Osceola National Forest supports one of the largest intact watersheds in the eastern United States.
It is home to 29 threatened and endangered species including the eastern indigo snake, Florida black bear, gopher tortoise, and wood stork.
This 11.4 mile trail segment can be hiked as a day-long linear hike by leaving a car at each trailhead.
Conversely, you could camp at West Tower for a weekend and hike the north section one day as an in-and-out, and the south section the next day.
Turkey Run trailheadThe hike begins at the Turkey Run Trailhead on NE Greenfield Tower Rd. (CR 233), which has ample parking for day hikers.
The trails are mostly well-marked and easy to follow, and are fairly dry with a couple of notable exceptions, explained below.
At the 6.3 mile point, the trail intersects a blue-blazed trail that leads to West Tower Hunt Camp, which has potable water and portable toilets.
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Overview
Location: Olustee
Length: 11.4 miles linear
Trailhead: 30.279284, -82.480162
Address: NE Greenfield Tower Rd (CR 233), Lake City
Fees: Free
Restroom: Portable toilets at West Tower Hunt Camp
Land Manager: National Forests in Florida (Osceola Ranger District)
Phone: 386-752-2577
Open daily sunrise to sunset. Overnight parking at trailheads is not recommended.
Leashed dogs welcome. Foot travel only. Wear blaze orange during hunting season. Bring bug spray, sunscreen, and plenty of water.
Primitive camping is allowed in Osceola National Forest. Random camping is allowed except during deer hunting season. Bear bags or canisters must be used at all times.
The West Tower Hunt Camp at the midpoint of this section has numerous first come-first served primitive tent sites, potable water, portable toilets, and a flush toilet and outdoor shower (currently temporarily closed).
Directions
Heading west on Interstate 10, take exit 324 toward US 90 W. Keep left and follow signs to Olustee/Lake City and turn left onto US 90 W. After 6.9 miles, turn right onto CR 250A. Continue for 7.3 miles (past Ocean Pond Campground) to NE Greenfield Tower Rd. Turn right and in 0.1 miles the Turkey Run Trailhead will be on your left.
Hike
Just past the entrance into this section from the trailhead, the trail passes through an old cattle gate and enters a thick slash pine and scrub forest area.
In 0.2 miles, the trail comes to a logging road and turns left. You will stay on this road, which shows evidence of off-road vehicles use, for 1.6 miles.
At several points along this path, the road dips down and is filled with tannin-stained water and soft mud. Depending on the season, these can be ankle to knee deep and 50-100 ft across.
Several of these water obstacles have walk-arounds (some very overgrown) and one has a boardwalk adjacent to the road.
But one or two do not provide any alternative to wading through, so you will get your feet wet.
One of several water obstaclesAt 1.8 miles, the trail leaves the logging road to the right into a typical slash pine forest .
It soon meets up with a seepage bog, a couple of short boardwalks, and a mostly spongy trail with a variety of mosses to study.
If you go slow through here, you may come across clumps of the elusive hooded pitcher plant.
The hooded pitcherplantAfter the bogs, the trail enters a lovely forest of mostly slash pine, with a scattering of loblolly and longleaf pine throughout.
There are at least a dozen pines here that have been tagged and marked with a white band, identifying them as nesting trees for a colony of red-cockaded woodpecker.
Bands and tags marking woodpecker nesting treesAt 3.2 miles the trail turns onto and unused and grassy old logging road. There is a “Y” here so follow the right-most path, but it’s well blazed so you shouldn’t miss it.
The trail leaves the logging road to the right after another 0.4 miles. The trail comes to another seepage bog at 3.9 miles, with dense undergrowth and a boardwalk.
Just past this bog, at 4.0 miles, you will encounter an open forest of very young longleaf pine, probably planted as part of a longleaf pine restoration project.
Longleaf pine restorationAt mile 4.4 the trail crosses FR 234 and passes through a wooded gate, onto another unused grassy logging road and enters an older slash pine forest.
You may notice occasionally that the pine on both sides is planted in rows, probably planted by loggers after a previous harvest 20-30 years ago.
At 6.3 miles the trail comes to a sandy forest road and junction. Take the blue-blazed path along the sandy road to the right to reach West Tower Hunt Camp.
This quarter mile side trail leads to the camp, which has potable water and portable toilets, making it an important stop.
West Tower campsiteAfter taking a break and filling your water bottles at West Tower, return to the junction and take the orange-blazed trail to the left.
Hike northwest on a comfortable mowed path, where you’ll see and hear an abundance of mockingbirds, catbirds, and woodpeckers.
Cross a footbridge. Follow the orange blazes for another 1/4 mile and cross FR 233. At mile 7.2, cross another footbridge over a creek.
Two more follow in the next half mile. The bridges were damaged from a prescribed burn. Tread carefully.
Damaged footbridgeBear left at a double blaze at 7.8 miles. There are numerous road crossings and junctions along this somewhat muddy path, so keep your eyes open for orange blazes at decision points.
The road becomes a water-filled gully by 8.4 miles, where a double blaze indicates a right turn towards a series of footbridges to avoid the water.
At 8.7 miles, the trail veers right off the logging road you’ve been hiking on. This area is still mostly pine forest but now interspersed with live oak.
The trail intersects another logging road at 9.2 miles. Turn right, then bear left, following the orange blazes.
Moss-edged shallow pondEnter an open area with a wet, grassy/mossy, shallow pond to the right at 9.6 miles. Listen and watch for red-shouldered hawks, which nest in this area.
Take a sharp left at a double blaze to cross FR 237 and head back into the woods on a well-defined route for the next mile.
At 11 miles, turn right at a double blaze. The Deep Creek trailhead is just shy of another half mile, with a small grassy area and information kiosk.
Deep Creek TrailheadNorthbound, thru or section hikers would exit the trailhead and turn left to roadwalk west 4.6 miles into the Suwannee section to the next “in the woods” section off NW Cansa Rd at Big Shoals State Park.
Southbound / Northbound
Florida Trail, Turkey Run to Deep Creek In the northwest corner of Osceola National Forest, this 11.4 mile segment of the Florida Trail offers strong contrasts between pine flatwoods and bogs.
Florida Trail, Big Shoals 4.6 miles. Showcasing Florida's only Class III whitewater, the hike from Bell Springs to Big Shoals is one of the most scenic segments of the Florida Trail along the Suwannee River.Suggested Articles
Plan your Florida Trail Hike Thinking of section hiking, thru-hiking, or simply backpacking the Florida Trail? Plan ahead with this step-by-step guide of what to do in advance of hiking the Florida Trail. 
Florida Trail Backpacking Backpackers will appreciate the many places the Florida Trail provides a pleasant overnight, three-day-weekend, or multi-day hiking experience to escape to the outdoors.
Section Hiking the Florida Trail Section hiking the Florida National Scenic Trail provides some logistical challenges, but a sense of satisfaction in being able to complete an 1,100-mile walk across Florida at your own pace.
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Explore More!
Learn more about Osceola National Forest and the Northeast Florida section of the Florida Trail
Osceola National Forest The smallest of Florida's national forests, the Osceola National Forest carries the weight of history hidden in its dense stands of longleaf pine.
Florida Trail, Northeast Florida Connecting public lands on this 123 mile stretch, the Florida Trail walks into the past through farms and timberlands between Palatka and Osceola National Forest.Nearby Adventures
Florida Trail, Nice Wander Loop In the Osceola National Forest, this short loop along the Florida Trail adjacent to Olustee Battlefield is one of the easiest places in the state to see red-cockaded woodpeckers.
Mount Carrie Wayside The short, easily accessed Mount Carrie Wayside in Osceola National Forest showcases an old growth longleaf pine forest with a population of red-cockaded woodpeckers.
Olustee Battlefield Trail The hike through Olustee Battlefield is short, but its historical significance is great. More than 2,000 men died in this forest on February 20, 1864, when Confederate and Union forces met and fought Florida's bloodiest battle
Trampled Track Trail An interpretive walk with extensive details on timbering history, the Trampled Track Trail leads to a waterfront view on Ocean Pond.
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