New observation decks on the Lake Eaton Trail for overlooks on the lake, plus new stairs, decks, and kiosks on the Lake Eaton Sinkhole Trail are some of the improvements planned for this summer to this pair of popular day hiking trails in the Ocala National Forest.
The short loop to the sinkhole on the Lake [...]

A military plane crash in the vicinity of Pat’s Island on Sunday evening has forced closure of FR 10, the Pat’s Island Trailhead, and the Yearling Trail while crews work on cleanup in the Juniper Prairie Wilderness. Portions of SR 19 may be closed during cleanup operations. Consider alternate routes through the area.  The Florida [...]

Since 1983, veteran Florida Trail volunteers Lou and Rachael Augspurg have hosted an annual campout for New Year’s Eve in the Ocala National Forest. This year, this major outdoor event is at Camp Kiwanis off SR 40 at Mill Dam. There is no need for reservations - just show up if you feel like ringing [...]

In an effort to help hikers with planning their treks along the Florida Trail in the Ocala National Forest, I’m pulling together & transcribing information to create a full picture of the hike. I’ve added several segments this week to the overall journey, plus have updated the overview to allow easy access for annual subscribers [...]

For immersion into the world’s largest sand pine scrub forest, take a journey along the Florida Trail through the Juniper Prairie Wilderness. It’s perennially a getaway for backpackers thanks to Hidden Pond, a beauty spot of a campsite set between a spring and an open prairie. This segment of the Florida Trail went through some [...]