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Lake Eaton

Lake Eaton Trail

Gently descending from ancient dunes down to the forested shores of its namesake lake, the 2.3-mile Lake Eaton Trail provides a great deal of habitat diversity in a short hike

Ocala National Forest  |  Salt Springs
( 29.262917,-81.855537 )      2.3 miles

407 shares

4/17/2023 UPDATE: A reader says the trail is entirely unmaintained and difficult to follow. On the USFS website, the current Recreation Area Status says “Area Status: Temporarily Closed.”


Two trails, one trailhead. The Lake Eaton Trail is in the heart of the Big Scrub, part of the “Lake Eaton Trails” on the northeast side of Lake Eaton in the Ocala National Forest.

From the air (or satellite photo) you can see Lake Eaton is one of the larger lakes in the Forest. There are several access points to it. This one requires the longest walk, but it’s a satisfying trip.

It’s a gradual downhill from sand pine scrub to the forested edge of the lake and out onto boardwalks that provide panoramas of this beauty spot, and then a gentle ascent back to the trailhead.

Lake Eaton eastern shore
Looking across to the western shore of Lake Eaton from the boardwalk along the Lake Eaton Trail

Resources

Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover 50 Hikes in North Florida book cover Five Star Trails Gainesville Ocala book cover

Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.


Overview

Location: Lake Eaton
Length: 2.3 mile loop
Trailhead: 29.262917,-81.855537
Fees: Free
Restroom: Vault toilet at trailhead
Land manager: Ocala National Forest
Phone: 352-625-2520

Leashed dogs welcome. Use insect repellent here for chiggers, ticks, and the mosquitoes that persist around the lakeshore.

It’s warm in the scrub, so carry more water than you normally would for a hike of this length.

Lake Eaton Trail


Directions

 
From Interstate 75 in Ocala, follow SR 40 east through Ocala and Silver Springs. Right after you cross the long, tall Ocklawaha River bridge, you reach the traffic light at Nuby’s Corners. Turn left and drive 8.6 miles north along CR 314. Soon after you pass CR 314-A, look for FR 50 on the right, the first major unpaved road beyond past the paved turnoff for the FWC Youth Camp. Drive uphill and turn right. The trailhead is on your left. Sand can be soft on this access road at times.

Hike

Cross the forest road you came in on to reach the trailhead kiosk. Keep right at this junction to walk counterclockwise around the loop.

Not far down the trail is a bench surrounded by a variety of scrub plants, including Chapman oak, sand like oak, and the fragrant silk bay. You hear the calls of Florida scrub-jays in the distance.

Lake Eaton Trail Sign at the entrance to the trail


The trail crosses a firebreak and continues ever downwards towards the tall pines that define the skyline ahead. Fallen branches are cloaked in a fuzzy blanket of gray-green shield lichens.

This is Florida’s desert, underlain with ancient sands that gleam white in the sun and reflect heat. At a half mile, a second bench sits among the scrub oaks.

Lake Eaton Trail Walking through the scrub forest on the descent to the lake


As the trail descends beneath a shady canopy of oaks, pines, and sweetgum, dried leaves crackle like cornflakes underfoot.

The pines rise taller, signaling the edge of the denser hardwood hammock along the lake edge, as the trail comes up to the first boardwalk out to the lake.

Lake Eaton Trail While alligators can’t climb on the boardwalks, you don’t want to swim in this lake


The boardwalk, which can be slippery if covered in needles, leaves, and lichens, works its way through floodplain forest to the cypress-lined shore.

It emerges at a view of Lake Eaton and a cove dotted with water lilies after 0.8 mile.

Lake Eaton
A cove in Lake Eaton from the boardwalk

Return to the main trail. It stays along the rim of the floodplain forest, and the closer it gets to the cypresses, the worse the mosquitoes are.

The trail stays on a broadening path that feels like an old road from pioneer days in the forest.

Lake Eaton Trail Hiking under Spanish moss not far from the lakeshore


A side trail leads to the next boardwalk, which offers more of a panorama of the middle of the lake.

This boardwalk has a bench and some frontage to allow a loop back to the main trail.

Lake Eaton Trail The longest frontage on the lake has a bench built in


Back on the main trail, walk beneath stately cabbage palms, with standing water in shallow depressions around the trail.

The final lake access is is down a boardwalk to an observation platform over a small cove in Lake Eaton at 1.3 miles. This is a good birding spot.

Lake Eaton Trail This cove is the last overlook on Lake Eaton


Leaving this final boardwalk, turn right. The trail continues along the floodplain for a short distance more, then turns left at a fence that directs the footpath back uphill into the scrub.

One of the main reasons for walking the trail counterclockwise is to guarantee more shade on the return from the lake.

Lake Eaton Trail A six-lined racerunner scurrying through the leaves on the footpath


The footpath drops through a little swale, perhaps dipping off to a hidden sinkhole. The forest is heavy on scrub oaks and sand pine and rather dense.

Older sand pines create a very tall canopy, with muscadine grape and paw-paw beneath them. After a rain, a fresh pine needle smell rises from the duff.

Lake Eaton Trail Ascending through the dense scrub forest


Sand pines rise against the deep blue sky. Another trailside bench tempts you with the opportunity to sit and drink some water.

Climbing upward into open scrub, the trail leaves the shade and develops a distant horizon line.

The trail closes the loop at the kiosk. Continue straight ahead to end this 2.3 mile hike at the parking area.

Lake Eaton Trail Walking through oak scrub in the final part of the loop


Trail Map

Lake Eaton Trail MapThe Lake Eaton Trail is the loop on the left


Explore More!

This same trailhead provides access to the Lake Eaton Sinkhole Trail in the opposite direction.

Scrub forest Lake Eaton Sinkhole

Lake Eaton Sinkhole Trail

Go deep into the Ocala National Forest on a staircase leading into a massive sinkhole along the Lake Eaton Sinkhole Trail, a 1.8 mile loop in the Big Scrub

Slideshow

See our photos of the Lake Eaton Trail


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Florida rosemary and sandpine

Florida Trail, Eaton Creek to CR 316

11.9 miles. North of Eaton Creek, the Florida Trail showcases spectacular sand pine forests and unique species adapted to this arid environment within the Big Scrub.

Crooked boardwalk through swamp

Florida Trail, CR 314 to Eaton Creek

11.4 miles. In the damp southwest corner of the Ocala National Forest, the Florida Trail navigates boardwalks across a swampy subtropical jungle.

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

Salt Springs Loop

Salt Springs Loop

An easy walk of 2 miles, the Salt Springs Loop in the Ocala National Forest is a popular hike, since it leads to an observation platform on Salt Springs Run.

Trail Map (PDF) Official Website

Category: Day Hikes, Hikes, Loop Hikes, North Florida, TrailsTag: Birding, Dog-friendly, Favorites, Lakefront, National Forests, Ocala National Forest, Salt Springs, Silver Springs, Wildflowers, Wildlife Viewing

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