Osceola National Forest Overview

The 200,000-acre Osceola National Forest has almost completely regrown since the days when it was nearly denuded by heavily timbering in the early part of the 20th century. The result is a natural, lush, and healthy forest.

With a high water table and poorly drained soil, longleaf and slash pines, saw palmettos, and wire grass dominate this region of sandy ridges. Cypress, black gum, bay, and maple trees are found in the Osceola's marshier terrain.

The Osceola National Forest was also home to a major Civil War battle, one of those the Union lost. The forest has one wilderness, 14,000-acre Big Gum Swamp. Running through 35 miles of the most beautiful sections of the Osceloa is the Florida Trail, which the ambitious hiker can follow from the Florida Panhandle all the way to the Everglades.

Hike the Red Trail
The Red Trail passes through pine flatwoods and cypress sloughs, and is approximately 20 miles long, with an excellent view of Robinson Branch River. This is one of the few trails that will keep you high and dry during the wet season. Start at West Tower trailhead. For a shorter journey, take the cutoff in the middle of the trail and save 10 miles.

Bike to Falling Creek Falls
The roads are magnificent through the National Forest, smooth, lightly traveled and scenic. In short, a biker's dream. The 30-mile route from Ocean Pond Campground to White Springs and the Stephen Foster State Folk Culture Center touches the northern limit of Lake City before heading north. Watch for Falling Creek Church 1 mile after turning onto CR 131. This weathered, all wood church has been in service for more than 100 years. Its longevity is owed to its construction of heart pine, the resinous heart wood that is termite resistant. If your seat needs a break from the bike seat, take the trail across the road to Falling Creek Falls.

Fish Rowell Lake
You'll find there's a pretty good chance of catching bass and panfish at Rowell Lake. The lake also has good sunshine bass, bream, and crappie fishing. Cast your line along the outer edge of the emergent vegetation and along the part of the lakes where the cypress lines the shoreline.

Visit Olustee Beach
Swim along a shallow, sandy beach and watch the water birds wade through cypress knees. Water ski along the glassy, windless lake or watch the white caps roll on windy days. You may also enjoy fishing, picnicking or hiking here. Anglers are sure to like the barrier-free pier.

Drive a Battlefield Loop
The 15-mile Olustee Battlefield Loop begins at a civil war battle site and circles around a popular recreational lake, through forested swamps and pine-covered ridges that are home to the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. Visit all kinds of Civil War battlefields and memorials, and get a gander at Okefenokee Swamp and Olustee Beach.

Spot Some Wildlife
The pinewoods abound with rufous-sided towhees, pine warblers, Bachman's sparrows, brown-headed nuthatches, northern bobwhites, rattlesnakes, and fox squirrels. Near dusk or dawn, you may be lucky and spot wild turkey, white-tailed deer, gray fox, or bobcat. American swallowtail kites soar over open places in spring and summer. The cypress swamp boardwalk is a good place to view pileated woodpeckers and warblers. Also keep a look out for the endangered gopher tortoise sunning himself outside his gigantic burrow. The gopher tortoise, as a species, is about 16 million years old.