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Cypress dome in fog

Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest

Protecting the headwaters of the Big Cypress Swamp south of the Caloosahatchee River, expansive Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest preserves the heart of wild South Florida.

LaBelle      ( 26.596008, -81.33467 )      24.0 miles

Known regionally as OK Slough, Okaloacoochee Slough is a vast watershed that provides the northernmost rainfall filtering into the Big Cypress Swamp.

Although much of its historic expanse have been converted to farms and ranches, this 32,000 acre swath of state forest helps ensure waterflow to its south.

White dew-soaked spiderwebs on a small pine tree Spiderwebs glistening in the understory (Chris Stevens)


Resources

Resources for exploring the region

50 Hikes in South Florida book cover South Florida Explorers Guide book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover Florida Trail Hikes 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: Felda
Headquarters: 6265 Keri Rd, Felda, FL
Primary Trailhead: 26.599232, -81.374260
Fees: $2 per person, payable at iron rangers
Restrooms: Vault toilet at campground
Land manager: Florida Forest Service
Phone: 863-612-0776

Open sunrise to sunset except if camping. Leashed dogs welcome. Campsites must be reserved. Food protection a must due to bears and panthers.

Seasonal hunting occurs throughout this forest. Check ahead before you make plans for outdoor recreation.

The forest is laced with a network of rough forest roads. Many may be underwater at certain times of year, following the seasonal hydroperiod.

Tall pine along swampy trail

Expect any and all trails to be flooded within the forest. Insect repellent a must.


Directions

 
The forest lies halfway between LaBelle and Immokalee off SR 29. From Interstate 75 at SR 82 in Fort Myers, follow SR 82 east for 25.3 miles to SR 29 at Felda. Continue north 7.5 miles towards LaBelle. Turn east on CR 832 (Keri Rd) through Spirit of the Wild WMA for 3.9 miles to reach the western edge of the state forest.

About the Forest

Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest lies southwest of Lake Okeechobee and northeast of Lake Trafford, north of Immokalee.

As one of the last strongholds of the Florida panther, it provides a significant amount of habitat for a feline with a fifty-square-mile range.

Pines and fog Fog settling into the pines (Chris Stevens)


As it is an integral part of the collection and dispersion of summer rains southward through the Florida peninsula, the forest experiences a distinct hydroperiod: wet in summer, dry in winter.

During times of high water, forest staff will close some of the roads to vehicles. Check ahead before making plans to visit.

Cypress dome and fog Cypress dome in Okaloacoochee Slough (Chris Stevens)


Hiking

Three distinct hiking trails and a nature trail encompass the marked pathways at Okaloacoochee Slough.

The boardwalk and the 5.6 mile Tram Loop are the first hikes you encounter inside the forest boundary along Keri Rd. Both are south off of Sic Island Rd.

The 0.4-mile round-trip nature trail leads to views from a boardwalk extending into a large wet prairie. Continue just shy of a mile down the forest road to reach the trailhead for the Tram Loop.

Bridge edged by alligator flag

Okaloacoochee Slough Tram Loop

Slightly elevated from surrounding swamplands, the Tram Loop at Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest travels through iconic South Florida prairies and pine forests that are home to the elusive Florida Panther.

Past the fire tower and forest headquarters, turn north on Twin Mills Grade to access the trailhead for the 2.5 mile Twin Mills Trail, another loop hike.

Far deeper in the forest, south of the primitive campground on Wild Cow Grade, the linear Rooney Island Trail extends nearly two miles into soggy landscapes.

Soggy pine flatwoods Wet pine flatwoods in winter (Chris Stevens)


Equestrian Trails

Just south of the campground and Rooney Island Trail is the marked equestrian trail system that jogs on and off of Wild Cow Grade, Mustang Grade, and Mustang Loop.

A large grassy area sits across from the entrance. This marked route provides more than eight miles of riding, with additional miles possible along the unpaved grades themselves.


Biking

Cycling is permitted on the network of forest roads within the state forest. With the exception of Keri Rd, the roads are unpaved and sometimes wet.

In addition, a dedicated mountain bike trail off Keri Rd at Dog Island offers off-road cyclists a challenging set of loops to explore.


Camping

Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest offers a primitive car camping area along Wild Cow Grade.

Panther Pond has sixteen sites, only one of which can handle a camper. The remainder are for tent camping only. Sites include a picnic table.

At the very remote end of Wild Cow Grade, Wildcow Primitive Group Camp can be reserved for groups of up to ten people. Pets are permitted here and at Panther Pond.

The forest also has two hunt camps that are open seasonally for hunters.

Picnic pavilion Picnic pavilion at Okaloacoochee Slough (Chris Stevens)


Other Activities

Fishing

Visitors with a Florida freshwater fishing license are welcome to drop a line in any of the ponds and sloughs found along the forest roads and trails.


Hunting

Seasonal hunting is permitted in accordance with FWC regulations for fall deer season and spring turkey season. Hunts run on a quota system.

Please consult the FWC Hunt Dates link below for quota information, a map of permitted hunting zones, and exact dates of upcoming hunts.

Two-track forest road with trio of palms Forest road at Okaloacoochee Slough (Chris Stevens)


Trail Map

Forest map for OK Slough Florida Forest Service Map


Explore More!

Video

A virtual walk in the woods on the 5.6 mile Tram Loop

Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Blaze post on prairie trail

CREW Marsh Trails

At CREW Marsh, a network of well-marked paths crisscrosses the northwestern tip of the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed, providing loops of up to 3.1 miles along a vast marsh.

Nobles Grade, Big Cypress National Preserve

Florida Trail, Big Cypress North

8.0 miles. An easy ramble from the I-75 rest area north along Nobles Grade, this wildlife-rich segment of the Florida Trail offers several loop options for day hikers and backpackers.

boardwalk to big cypresses in Corkscrew

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Weaving beneath a canopy knit by old-growth cypress trees in a majestic swamp forest, the boardwalk at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is one of Florida’s best hikes

Florida Panther NWR

Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge

The longer of two loops at Florida Panther NWR guarantees a wet walk through panther habitat of wet pine flatwoods and cypress domes


Trail Map (PDF) Hunt Dates Reserve Campsite Official Website

Category: Biking, Day Hikes, Equestrian, Florida State Forests, Hikes, Loop Hikes, Nature Trails, Off Road Biking, South Florida, Swamp Walks, TrailsTag: Big Cypress Swamp, Car Camping, Florida State Forests, Historic Sites, Immokalee, LaBelle, Primitive Camping, Wildflowers, Wildlife Viewing

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Our recent park & trail updates in this region

Well worn path through a wet pine flatwoods landscape

DuPuis Loop Trail

DuPuis Loop Trail
Bridge edged by alligator flag

Okaloacoochee Slough Tram Loop

Okaloacoochee Slough Tram Loop
Collier Seminole Hiking Trail

Collier-Seminole Hiking Trail

Collier-Seminole Hiking Trail
Collier Memorial at Collier-Seminole State Park

Collier-Seminole State Park

Collier-Seminole State Park

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