Florida State Forests
In addition to its 4 national forests, Florida is home to 37 state forests covering a total area of over 1,070,000 acres (1,672 square miles or 433,014 hectares). Here, in alphabetical order, is a list of Florida’s state forests, each of which has its own individual website:
Florida’s state forests are administered by the Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Its mission is to “to protect and maintain the biological diversity of the many ecosystems found in and around the state forests while integrating public use of the resources.”
Recreational Opportunities
Florida’s state forests offer a variety of outdoor recreation activities. Hunting and fishing are permitted in some of the units. Other activities include camping, wildlife viewing, horseback riding, cycling, boating, geocaching, and hiking.
Hikers can participate in the Trailwalker Program. To get started, pick 10 trails from a trail list in a minimum of 5 state forests. At the trailhead of each trail hiked, pick up a postage-paid survey card. Fill it out and mail it after completing the hike. Once you have completed all 10 trails, you will receive a sew-on patch and a certificate from the Forest Service. There are 3 additional levels to this program. After completing the Trailwalker challenge, you can advance to the next level, Trailblazer. There is also a similar program for equestrians, the Trailtrotter Program.
The 1,300-mile-long Florida National Scenic Trail is a federally-designated, non-motorized recreation trail that runs through 7 of the state forests. They are:
For those interested in wildlife viewing, many of the state forests are part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. For those who enjoy photography, the Forest Service holds a quarterly photo contest for pictures shot in the state forests.
Camping options in the state forests include both developed and primitive campgrounds. Reservations can be made online at: the Florida State Forests Reserve America website.
- Belmore
- Big Shoals
- Blackwater River
- Carl Duval Moore
- Cary
- Charles H. Bronson
- Deep Creek
- Etoniah Creek
- Four Creeks
- Goethe
- Holopaw
- Indian Lake
- Jennings
- John M. Bethea
- Lake George
- Lake Talquin
- Lake Wales Ridge
- Little-Big Econ
- Matanzas
- Myakka
- Newnans Lake
- Okaloacoochee Slough
- Peace River
- Picayune Strand
- Pine Log
- Plank Road
- Point Washington
- Ralph E. Simmons
- Ross Prairie
- Seminole
- Tate's Hell
- Tiger Bay
- Twin Rivers
- Wakulla
- Watson Island
- Welaka
- Withlacoochee
Florida’s state forests are administered by the Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Its mission is to “to protect and maintain the biological diversity of the many ecosystems found in and around the state forests while integrating public use of the resources.”
Recreational Opportunities
Florida’s state forests offer a variety of outdoor recreation activities. Hunting and fishing are permitted in some of the units. Other activities include camping, wildlife viewing, horseback riding, cycling, boating, geocaching, and hiking.
Hikers can participate in the Trailwalker Program. To get started, pick 10 trails from a trail list in a minimum of 5 state forests. At the trailhead of each trail hiked, pick up a postage-paid survey card. Fill it out and mail it after completing the hike. Once you have completed all 10 trails, you will receive a sew-on patch and a certificate from the Forest Service. There are 3 additional levels to this program. After completing the Trailwalker challenge, you can advance to the next level, Trailblazer. There is also a similar program for equestrians, the Trailtrotter Program.
The 1,300-mile-long Florida National Scenic Trail is a federally-designated, non-motorized recreation trail that runs through 7 of the state forests. They are:
- Blackwater River State Forest
- C.H. Bronson State Forest
- Etoniah Creek State Forest
- Little Big Econ State Forest
- Pine Log State Forest
- Seminole State Forest
- Withlacoochee State Forest
For those interested in wildlife viewing, many of the state forests are part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. For those who enjoy photography, the Forest Service holds a quarterly photo contest for pictures shot in the state forests.
Camping options in the state forests include both developed and primitive campgrounds. Reservations can be made online at: the Florida State Forests Reserve America website.
You Should Also Read:
Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail (GFBWT)
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