Ocala National Forest

Ocala National Forest spans a total area of about 430,000 acres of land in central Florida. The forest can easily be accessed using several roads including US 17 and US 301, FL 19, FL 40, FL 42, and FL 314. Some of the cities and towns located close to the forest include DeLand, Ocala, Palatka, and Eustis. The forest was established in 1908 and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. 

Visitors to Ocala National Forest can experience a lot of intriguing features when in the protected forest land. For example, the forest features Big Scrub, which is the largest stand of Sand Pine trees in the world. Furthermore, the Ocala National Forest is the southernmost forest in the U.S. and is also the oldest national forest that is east of the Mississippi. 

Other features that visitors may be interested in include a 67-mile section of the Florida National Scenic Trail and the Juniper Springs, which is a semi-tropical environment that is specific to this national forest system. In addition, the Ocala National Forest is home to several plant and wildlife species. 

Besides these features, visitors to this protected forest land can also get to enjoy several amenities including dispersed camping, three group camps, 14 campgrounds, two cabins, boat ramps, picnic sites, canoe rentals, fishing piers, rifle range, trails, and visitor centers. 

There are many facilities that enhance the experience of the forest and allow visitors to participate in activities like boating, hunting, water-skiing, camping, fishing, canoeing, swimming, sailing, hiking, mountain biking, snorkeling, horseback riding, and OHV riding. 

For visitors that have dogs, the Ocala National Forest welcomes dogs, but certain restrictions are designed to prevent damage, destruction, and disturbance to the forest's resources. For example, certain areas of the forest are out-of-bounds to dogs and other pets. Visitors with dogs should stay away from such areas. Additionally, dog owners are expected to keep their dogs leashed and away from any trouble.