Hiking

With more than 100 miles of the Florida Trail, Florida’s own National Scenic Trail, running through the region, hiking opportunities abound. You can plan a  week-long backpacking trip, or simply stop for an easy stroll with the kids along a creekside boardwalk where you can watch tiny springs bubbling at the bottom of a crystal-clear waterway. All of the public lands along the Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway offer a variety of hiking opportunities. Stop in at the Ocklawaha Visitor Center along SR 40 east of Silver Springs to pick up regional maps and guidebooks to plan your hiking adventures.

The Florida Trail in the Ocala National Forest is certified as the Florida National Scenic Trail and has been called the “crown jewel” of the Florida Trail System. The trail traverses a range of natural stands of long leaf pines, home to the largest stand of sand pines in the world, other short leafed pines and scattered stands of hardwoods. The trail also skirts open prairies and ponds that are excellent for viewing wildlife.