Byway Traveler Resources

County Tourism

Visit these sites to explore food, lodging, events, and more in the byway region.

Visit West Volusia
visitwestvolusia.com

Visit Lake County
https://discoverlakefl.com

Visit Putnam County
putnamcountychamber.com/visit-putnam

Ocala/Marion County
ocalamarion.com

Parks & Recreation

	Florida State Parks: floridastateparks.org This site provides everything about Florida State Parks, including maps, park regulations, hours of operation, facilities, amenities, and contact information for planning your trip. Our byway features many parks and recreation areas, and this website offers information about camping and other options in our region. Here are some key areas included on the site: Rodman Recreation Area Cross-Florida Greenway Silver Springs State Park
	Florida Forest Service: FloridaForestService.com Florida Forest Service mission is to protect and manage the forest resources of Florida, ensuring that they are available for future generations. This is also a great resource for planning specific recreation along our byway, with an interactive map showing varieties of recreation in the forest land our byway runs through or any other forest in Florida: https://www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Our-Forests/State-Forests/State-Forest-Recreation
	Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: myfwc.com The FWC protects and manages more than 575 species of wildlife, more than 200 native species of freshwater fish, and more than 500 native species of saltwater fish. The goal is to balance these species’ needs with the needs of nearly 19 million residents and the millions of visitors who share the land and water with Florida’s wildlife. This is the site where you can get hunting permits and other licenses needed for activities along the byway, including commercial and charter licenses.
	Paddle Florida: paddleflorida.org Paddle Florida, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation organized to support canoeing and kayaking in Florida. Supported, multi-day paddling/camping adventures in each of Florida’s five water management districts showcase the state’s natural beauty and rich cultural heritage while promoting water conservation, wildlife preservation, springs restoration, and waterways protection. Paddle Florida also seeks to promote Florida as an international destination for nature-based tourism.

Check out this journey on the Ocklawaha along our byway that Paddle Florida highlights:

Paddling, Hiking & Biking

	Great Florida Birding Trail: FloridaBirdingTrail.com The Great Florida Birding Trail touches our byway, and is a great resource for planning birding into your byway itineraries here or anywhere the trail runs. Here is example information for birding at Salt Springs along the byway: https://floridabirdingtrail.com/trail/trail-sections/east-section/ocala-national-forest-salt-springs/
	Office of Greenways and Trails: FloridaGreenwaysAndTrails.com The Office of Greenways & Trails (OGT) within the Division of Recreation & Parks provides statewide leadership and coordination to establish, expand, and promote the Florida Greenways and Trails System. This site has numerous maps and resources for all trails in our state, including webinars and statewide bike and paddling brochures for download.
	Florida National Scenic Trail: floridatrail.org The Florida National Scenic Trail is a congressionally designated National Scenic Trail. It is approximately 1,300 miles long and is intended to offer a continuous, permanent non-motorized recreation opportunity for hiking and other compatible activities. Palatka, a gateway city for our byway, is also a gateway community for the Florida Trail. This trail weaves along our byway, and visitors could pinpoint a section they want to explore using the FT website.
	Florida Paddling Trails Association: floridapaddlingtrails.com The mission of the Florida Paddling Trails Association (FPTA) is to develop water trails, protect the environment along the trails, and be a resource and voice for paddlers. Their website has information on most water trails in Florida.
	The Bartram Trail: BartramTrailSociety.com The Bartram Trail Society of Florida is a civic organization committed to historical and environmental education, recreation, and preservation. It works to promote interest in developing public access recreational trails (paddling, hiking, and biking) and related activities along the routes taken by John and William Bartram through Florida and to coordinate a statewide unified effort toward that end. The part of the Bartram Trail that intersects with the Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway is the Putnam County segment, which is designated as a National Recreational Trail as of 2016. The Volusia segment includes the Bartram Oak and other designated Bartram sites. That part of the trail will soon be added to the overall Bartram Trail Society website in 2024.

National & Statewide

	Florida Scenic Highways Program: floridascenichighways.com The Florida Scenic Highways Program was established to showcase the outstanding intrinsic resources (cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, natural, and scenic) found along Florida’s highway system. The byway collection includes 27 state designated scenic highways. Of these, six are further designated at a federal level as National Scenic Byways (Black Bear is one of these), and two All-American Roads. This website features an interactive map, a PDF map brochure, and other resources to allow the traveler to see Black Bear Scenic Byway in the context of Florida alongside other byways.
	Florida Department of Transportation: https://www.fdot.gov/roadway/landscape-architecture/landscape-architecture-programs Florida Scenic Highways is a program of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Check FDOT if you are interested in roadway and trails projects along the byway corridor. As of 2024, FDOT has some significant projects underway to increase bear and animal safety on our byway.
	America’s Byways on the Federal Highway Administration Site: www.fhwa.dot.gov/byways America’s Byways is the umbrella term for the collection of 150 diverse roads designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation above and beyond each state’s designation. Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway is included in this rarified group as a National Scenic Byway.
	National Scenic Byway Foundation: nsbfoundation.com/florida-black-bear NSBF is a nonprofit organization serving as “The National Voice of Scenic Byways and Roads.” Its mission is to empower, strengthen, and sustain byways. NSBF includes byway trainers, leaders, and experts from across the U.S. This organization features basic information on all National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads.