Florida National Forests

The three National Forests of Florida — Ocala, Osceola, and Apalachicola — cover nearly 1.2 million acres and showcase ecosystems found nowhere else in the National Forest System. These forests protect longleaf pine savannas, sandhills, coastal plains, cypress swamps, pitcher-plant bogs, karst springs, and extensive wetland networks. Ocala National Forest is famous for its crystal-clear springs such as Juniper, Silver Glen, and Alexander Springs, which support subtropical hammocks, scrub ecosystems, black bear habitat, and some of the largest sand pine scrub stands in the world. Osceola National Forest contains vast swamps, longleaf pine uplands, and habitat for red-cockaded woodpeckers, while Apalachicola National Forest is one of the most biodiverse temperate forests in North America, home to pitcher-plant prairies, bogs, rare orchids, and large expanses of wet pine flatwoods. Recreation includes swimming in natural springs, paddling blackwater rivers, off-highway vehicle trails, hiking segments of the Florida Trail, and year-round camping. Dispersed camping varies by forest but is widely available outside sensitive wetland zones. Each forest provides exceptional wildlife viewing, from swallow-tailed kites to black bears to the Florida scrub-jay.