Ocala 5 trip thread

“Keep me posted about the March trip.”

“The bummer is that the nicest camping in the forest is at none of those places. I've never had a ranger hassle me for camping out of bounds during that time (and I have more than a few times) but honestly in the 12+ years of hiking there I've never seen a ranger along the trail.

I think you are going to spend a lot of miles saying "Dang that would be a good spot to camp"


I've never camped at Clearwater or seen the campground. I'm no help there.

Farles prairie camping area is a wide spot in a fairly busy (read dusty at times) forest service road. There is a pump and pit toilet. I'd rate it "Meh". Not much of a place to camp unless you can get up close to the little lake there. If the Rainbows are around I'd plan to miss it.

Hopkins is a nice and quiet car campground. Good place on the prairie. There is a pump and pit toilet.

Grassy Spring is another wide spot in the trail. Not particularly nice but it's off the roads and there is a little pond to get water from and nothing else.

Alexander and Juniper Springs are full on car campgrounds. They are nice and you get access to the springs.

The best camping during this time is within the Juniper Prairie wilderness area. Lots of nice spots like Hidden Pond and bunch of unnamed spots along the prairie.”

“I would like to go west on the alternate Florida Trail from ONF to the Gulf Of Mexico.
last edited: 10/21/11 5:36:22 AM”

“Does anyone know of any good shuttle services in the OCALA area..

It looks like we hit the trail Dec 24rd at either the north or south boundary of Seminole State Forest and hike up to Buckman Lock. (84 or 92 miles.) Hoping to get off of trail late Dec 30th or early 31st to celebrate the new years.. (Or hit Disney)..”