The oldest national forest east of the Mississippi, protecting Florida's iconic sand pine scrub, springs, and blackwater rivers.
Ocala National Forest
Ocala National Forest is the second largest nationally protected forest in the U.S. state of Florida and the oldest national forest east of the Mississippi River. Established in 1908, it covers a vast tract of North Central Florida between the Ocklawaha and St. Johns rivers, spanning parts of Marion, Lake, and Putnam counties. The forest is renowned for its distinctive sand pine scrub ecosystems, especially the expansive Big Scrub, as well as its more than 600 natural lakes, spring-fed rivers, and hydric hammocks.
The forest protects some of the most significant inland scrub habitat remaining in the southeastern United States, including the world's largest concentration of sand pine and important stands of longleaf pine. It is also a vital recharge area for the Floridan Aquifer, one of the country's most productive groundwater systems. With dense populations of Florida black bears, healthy populations of reptiles and amphibians adapted to the sandy soils, and manatees frequenting its inland waterways, Ocala stands out as both an ecological stronghold and one of the most-visited natural areas in Florida.
Beyond its ecological value, the forest carries strong cultural ties. The region inspired Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Yearling, and prehistoric burial sites found within the forest date back roughly 12,000 years to the Paleo-Indian period. The landscape also supports a wide range of recreation, from paddling clear spring runs to driving off-highway vehicle trails, making it one of the most diverse outdoor destinations in the Sunshine State.
