BECOME A TRAILWALKER Tings to Know When Visiting Florida Forest Service Te Florida Forest Service invites you to become . involved in the Trailwalker program. Participants Florida’s State Forests in this hiking program have the opportunity to experience the beauty of the State Forests, exercise and be rewarded at the same time. Put on CAMPING: Enjoy our full-facility campgrounds, • Florida your hiking boots and hit the trails. Participants primitive camp areas and youth/group areas. must hike 10 trails in fve diferent participating Explore your options at Floridastateforests. forests to complete the frst level and become a reserveamerica.com. Most sites require a Trailwalker. By completing an additional 10 trails reservation through Reserve America or the local State Forests on participating forests, hikers achieve the second ofce. Florida State Forest camping destinations provide unique Florida overnight experiences. level and become a Trailblazer. To achieve the third level in the program, participants must hike STATE FOREST USE PERMIT: A few State Forests another 10 trails on participating forests to achieve require visitors to obtain a State Forest Use Permit the distinction of Trailmaster. For those who have for entrance onto the forest or for certain activities. come to enjoy hiking on the State Forests, the In addition, any group activity on a State Forest Trailwarrior level ofers milestones requires that a State Forest Use Permit be obtained for 250 miles, 500 miles, 750 miles, in advance. Contact the local State Forest ofce for and fnally 1,000 miles. To obtain a permit information. brochure, please contact your local Florida Forest Service forest ofce. OPERATING HOURS: Some State Forests have 24-hour access, while others permit daytime use only. Please consult the directory in this guide for location and contact information for individual State Forests. Recreation areas in State Forests Love the State Forests? So do we! usually open at 8:00 a.m. and close at sundown.

Te Friends of Florida State Forests is a direct- FEES: Fees are generally charged at developed recreation areas and campgrounds. Fees are either support organization of the Florida Forest Service. collected at the State Forest ofce during business It is dedicated to ensuring Florida’s State Forests are hours or through Reserve America. Annual passes available for future generations to enjoy. Make a are available. diference by joining today to help protect Florida’s forests. PETS: Pets are welcome on Florida’s State Forests in designated areas and must be kept on a 10-foot or less hand-held leash. Pets are not permitted on Membership dues go to the State Forests for swimming beaches and may also be restricted in conservation and improvement projects. To join other State Forest areas as posted. Friends or for more information, visit: RULES AND REGULATIONS: In an efort to www.FloridaStateForests.org protect and manage Florida’s forest resources, the Florida Forest Service has developed rules that #_'7~t~~> apply to all visitors to Florida’s State Forests. For more information, visit: FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ~RiENts~iitii1iAY AND CONSUMER SERVICES , St tie Fores.t¾ www.FDACS.gov/FLStateForests ' iuq,W. florJdas ttJlefotts\'>,oil\ DACS-P-00142 Rev. 2-2021 Forestry Recreation Welcome to Florida’s State Forests! Te primary Nature, adventure, and self-reliance are yours to mission of the Florida Forest Service is to protect discover on more than 1,000,000 acres of diverse Florida and its people from the dangers of wildland ecosystems within Florida’s State Forests. Te fre and manage the forest resources through a variety of resource-based recreational activities stewardship ethic to assure they are available for ofer visitors the opportunity to enjoy nature and future generations. Management strategies center the great outdoors. on the multiple-use management concept. Multiple-use management for Florida’s State Forests TRAILS: Get out and explore State Forest trails that will be accomplished with the following strategies: utilize historic road beds, fre lines, and single track trails. Whether by bicycle, horse or on foot, visitors • Practice sustainable forest management for Withlacoochee State Forest can experience, frst-hand, the same outdoors that efcient revenue generation and to support early settlers once experienced. Te trails may state forest management objectives. be enjoyed in conjunction with bird-watching, photography or geocaching. • Provide for resource-based outdoor recreation opportunities for multiple interests. OHV: (Motorcycles, ATV and UTVs) Designated OHV areas and trails ofer a variety • Restore and manage healthy forests and native ecosystems, ensuring the long-term viability of experiences, from challenging trails to relaxing of endangered, threatened or rare populations rides that ofer scenic vistas and wildlife viewing and species, along with supporting biological opportunities. diversity including game and nongame wildlife and plants. EDUCATION: Te Florida Forest Service’s educational goal is to expose visitors to the natural • Protect known archaeological, historical, beauty and function of sustainable State Forests and cultural and paleontological resources. Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers at a man-made cavity insert to inspire a lifelong appreciation that will result in frequent visits and continued patronage. • Restore, maintain and protect hydrological functions related to water resources and the CAMPING: Set up camp in the designated health of associated wetland and aquatic communities. State Forest areas and relax under the stars of the beautiful Florida sky. Enjoy our full-facility Ecosystem restoration activities include prescribed campgrounds, primitive camping areas and group burning, reforestation, thinning of overly dense areas. forests, planting or reseeding groundcover, and restoring plant and animal populations. WATER ACTIVITIES: Numerous rivers, streams, lakes and creeks provide recreational opportunities Florida’s State Forests provide habitat to a number such as swimming, fshing, boating and paddling. of diferent species of wildlife. Some of these species include: gopher tortoise, red-cockaded HUNTING: Most of Florida’s State Forests are woodpecker, red shouldered hawk, wild turkey, managed as Wildlife Management Areas through bobcat, bald eagle, rabbits, coyotes, white tailed Silver Lake Campground a cooperative agreement with the Florida Fish and deer, fox squirrel, and bobwhite quail. When you Florida Forest Service Wildlife Conservation Commission. For more visit Florida’s State Forests, you may get the chance 3125 Conner Blvd. C25 information on hunting, contact the Florida Fish to observe some of these species. Tallahassee, Florida 32399 and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 850/488- (850)681-5884 4676 or online at www.myfwc.com. www.FDACS.gov/FLStateForests