SALT SPRINGS RECREATION AREA
Salt Springs Recreation Area is one the recreational jewels of the Ocala National Forest, with a spectacular natural mineral spring that gives the area its name. Plenty of outdoor activities keep campers and day-use visitors busy, including swimming in the springs, fishing, snorkeling, hiking and boating. Salt Springs is located between the St. Johns and Ocklawaha Rivers, 35 miles east of Ocala, Florida.
The national forest spans four counties and 383,000 acres. It is the southernmost and oldest national forest east of the Mississippi River, and protects the world's largest, contiguous sand pine scrub forest.Salt Springs is the largest campground in the Ocala National Forest and the only one with full hookups for RVs. The facility offers spacious campsites for RVs and trailers, as well as a designated tent-only area, which is a short walk from the parking area. Sites are nicely shaded and well away from the busy day-use area.
The recreation area and campground are located in the community of Salt Springs, which has a gas station, grocery store, several restaurants, bait and tackle shops, a post office, laundromat and visitor center.The semi-tropical region gives the campground a mixture of pines and palms, with lush greenery and warm temperatures. Within the recreation area, a natural spring rises from cracks deep within the earth. The presence of potassium, magnesium and sodium salts give the waters a slight salinity - hence the name Salt Springs.Salt Springs is very close to Lake George, a great fishing destination.The natural springs, nearby Lake George and many surrounding rivers and streams provide ample opportunity for water recreation. Anglers can try a good fishing spot on Salt Springs Run, downstream of the swimming area, boat ramp and marina. Boat rentals are nearby.
For those who wish to explore on land, the facility has basketball courts and a horseshoe pit. Hikers have easy access to the Bear Swamp Trail and a segment of the 1,400-mile Florida National Scenic Trail.
Alexander Springs Recreation Area
Alexander Springs Recreation Area is located in the Ocala National Forest near the beautiful, turquoise waters of Alexander Springs. With forested scenery and abundant water, the recreation area offers camping, swimming, canoeing, scuba diving for certified divers, hiking, birding and wildlife viewing. The Ocala National Forest, located in north central
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Big Bass Campground
Spend your next short- or long-term camping trip at Big Bass. With the occasional black bear sighting, this the perfect location to escape the hustle of the city and get back to nature. We offer both tent and RV camping on the south edge of the Ocala National Forest, not far from the Ocklawaha River.
Big Bass is a seasonal campground in the southern
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Big Scrub Campground
Perennially popular with off-road vehicle enthusiasts, Big Scrub Campground sits in the Ocala National Forest in central Florida. A trailhead within the facility offers riders campsite-to-trail access.
14 day stay limit in a 30 day period in ALL Ocala National Forest Campgrounds
Big Scrub can accommodate tents, campers and RVs. The campground is
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Camel Lake Campground
Camel Lake Recreation Area provides a quiet place to relax and take in the beauty of the longleaf pine forest.
Camping, swimming, hiking, and boating opportunities are all available, focused on the crystal-clear waters of Camel Lake.Nearby, several boat landings provide access to the numerous creeks that feed into the Apalachicola River.
The
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Clearwater Lake Recreation
Clearwater Lake Recreation Area offers a quiet getaway along the southeastern edge of the Ocala National Forest, just outside the community of Paisley, Florida. With a shaded campground, day use picnic area, beach and a nature trail that winds through the pine woods and scrub around Clearwater Lake, this facility has plenty of activities to keep campers
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Fore Lake Campground
In the stillness of the morning fog, a red-shouldered hawk calls out with an echo across Fore Lake. Bounded by marshes, this lake in a scrub ecosystem is an excellent spot for birding from the shores of Fore Lake Recreation Area, where visitors can picnic and swim, or make a night of it in one of the 31 campsites tucked away between the saw palmetto and oak
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Juniper Springs Recreation Area
Juniper Springs Campground is one of the most popular campgrounds in the Ocala National Forest. The location offers deeply shaded sites within walking distance of some of Florida's most beautiful natural springs. The surrounding recreation area has plenty of activities to entertain visitors, including swimming, picnicking, canoeing, snorkeling, hiking,
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Lake Delancy West OHV Campground
Lake Delancy West is an OHV recreation area along Lake Delancy that houses OHV corrals, access to numerous marked OHV trails along the Ocala North OHV Trail System and camping along the lake. The recreation area also serves as a trailhead and designated campground along the hiking-only Florida Trail. Sites 14 - 120 are dispersed camping anywhere in the
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Lake Dorr Campground
A massive patch of blue in a sea of green - that's Lake Dorr, one of the prettiest big lakes in the Ocala National Forest. Experience outdoor recreation at either the Lake Dorr Recreation Area - campground or day use - or by renting the cabin for your family or group. Along the northwest shore of the lake, the recreation area is set under the deep shade of
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Lake Eaton Campground
A large, shallow lake cradled by the Big Scrub, Lake Eaton offers many distinctive faces. As a seasonal access area, the Lake Eaton Campground has only 14 sites. At the end of the road, the Lake Eaton Boat Launch and Pier offers opportunities for boating and fishing.
14 day stay limit in a 30 day period in ALL Ocala National Forest Campgrounds.
Wright Lake Campground
Wright Lake is located approximately 25 miles from the Gulf of Mexico in an area known as the Forgotten Coast. Wright Lake and nearby Hickory Landing provide easy access to the Apalachicola River, known for its sport fishing, boating and paddling. You will never run out of things to do
The Apalachee Savannahs Scenic Byway is part of a nationwide program
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