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Hopkins Prairie, Ocala National Forest

Florida Trail, Ocala

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


<< Orlando << Western Corridor HIKING DETAILS Northeast Florida >>

Along Hopkins Prairie

Sand cordgrass at Hopkins Prairie

February 19, 2009    Sandra Friend

Hiking around Hopkins Prairie for the third time, I have my first encounter with the Rainbow People and meet backpackers along this scenic stretch of the Florida Trail.

Before the Burn: Juniper Prairie Wilderness

Florida Trail, Juniper Prairie Wilderness

March 26, 2009    Sandra Friend

What did the Juniper Prairie Wilderness look like before the fires of 2009? Here’s what I photographed on a hike just a few weeks before the devastating blaze.

Florida Trail, Alexander Springs to Farles Prairie

Florida Trail Big Scrub near Farles

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

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

Florida Trail, Clearwater Lake to Alexander Springs

Florida Trail near Paisley

Florida Trail, Ocala  |  Ocala National Forest
( 28.976418,-81.550423 )      10.5 miles

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, Farles Prairie to Juniper Springs

Florida Trail, Ocala  |  Ocala National Forest
( 29.103519, -81.674882 )      9.7 miles

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

Florida Trail, Hopkins Prairie to Salt Springs

Hopkins Prairie, Ocala National Forest

Florida Trail, Ocala  |  Ocala National Forest
( 29.276587, -81.687867 )      9.6 miles

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, Juniper Springs to Hopkins Prairie

Juniper Prairie Wilderness

Florida Trail, Ocala  |  Ocala National Forest
( 29.180100, -81.712900 )      10.6 miles

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

Florida Trail, Lake Delancy to Rodman

Riverside Island north of FR 11

Florida Trail, Ocala  |  Ocala National Forest
( 29.428644, -81.788477 )      6.7 miles

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

Florida Trail, Pat’s Island to Hidden Pond

Florida Trail, Pat's Island to Hidden Pond

Ocala National Forest  |  Pat's Island
( 29.25734,-81.681152 )      8.4 miles

One of the most scenic segments of the Florida Trail, the hike from Pat’s Island to Hidden Pond immerses you in the Big Scrub en route to an oasis in Florida’s desert.

Florida Trail, Rodman to Buckman Lock

Cross Florida Barge Canal near Buckman

Florida Trail, Ocala  |  Ocala National Forest | Cross Florida Greenway
( 29.545365, -81.728781 )      6.5 miles

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

Florida Trail, Salt Springs to Kerr Island

Florida Trail Salt Springs S of 314

Florida Trail, Ocala  |  Ocala National Forest
( 29.342217, -81.734356 )      10.4 miles

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

Friends in the Forest

April 29, 2013    John Keatley

We met Ruth at the Florida Trail Association Conference in March and spent time hiking with her on the Panhandle Trace. At both events, she invited us to come hike in her backyard and visit. With five hikes left for Five Star Trails Gainesville and Ocala, we headed to North Gainesville, staying at the Best …

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