This Florida, Silver Spring 80 X 100 Lot is snuggled on the edge of the Ocala National Forest where you will find some of the nicest Parks, Lakes and Campgrounds. Lake Eaton and the Loop / Sinkhole trails are only 5 min's away. This lot is located 600 feet off of 314A, which is a main paved road from CR 40. The east coast and Daytona Beach is only a 50 min's drive. Stores, Gas, Restaurants are 3 miles west on SR 40. The center of Ocala is 16 miles and about a 25 min ride. Schools are nearby with the school bus stop at the entrants of this subdivision.
| Parcel Number |
16560-026-00 |
| Acreage |
Under 1/4 |
| Lot Dimension |
80 X 100 |
| Zoning Click Here |
R4 |
| Taxes |
$65.65 |
| County |
Marion County |
| Paved Road |
No |
| Electric |
Yes at lot |
| Phone | Yes at lot |
| Water |
Must install a well |
| Septic |
Must install |
| Deed |
WD |
 |
 |
 |
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About Ocala
About the Ocala National Forest
Nearly three-quarters of the Ocala National Forest is in Marion County. The Forest offers 383,573 acres of unique ecological sites, trails, natural springs. There are hundreds of camping sites throughout the forest offering everything from full-service campgrounds to more rustic sites. The National Forest also has designated trails for horseback riding. Hunting is permitted in designated areas where the enforcement of state regulations is strict. Recreation areas include Alexander Springs, Fore Lake Recreational Area, Juniper Springs, Lake Eaton Loop Trail, Lake Eaton Sink Hole, Mill Dam Recreation Area, Salt Springs and Salt Springs Trail.
Specially marked walking/hiking trails are located throughout this wonderful resource. Lake Eaton Sinkhole and the Lake Eaton Loop are only two of the trails that allow the visitor to explore the area on easily traveled interpretive trails.
Fore Lake Recreation Area is a day use and camping area that is open year-round. A 250-foot sandy beach provides swimming and sunbathing opportunities. Fishing and boating in small, non-gasoline powered craft are allowed, and a fishing pier is at the southeast corner of the lake.
For further information, call (352) 236-0288.
Other attractions and recreation:
FLORIDA FRESHWATER FISHING SERIES - LAKE GEORGE  Lake George is the second-largest freshwater lake (only Lake Okeechobee is bigger) in the Sunshine State and the largest along the trace of the St. Johns River. Covering some 46,000 acres (14 miles by 6 miles), George lies approximately halfway between the headwaters of the St. Johns River (the Melbourne/Palm Bay area) and the river's closure with the mighty Atlantic Ocean at Jacksonville. As with most Florida lakes and rivers, Lake George has a number of very specific 'personal' traits and characteristics which give it a distinctiveness all its own. First, it has possibly the most consistent bottom structure possible. Once you have moved across the shallow areas bordering the shorelines and out past the sloping drop-off, from six into 10 feet of water, the bottom topography of 'Big George' has hardly any variation in its entire length and width. We cruised a large portion of the lake with an Eagle graph recorder and found virtually no variations, save the normal drop-line that follows the shoreline. Second, George has a significant salt content. In fact, the saline level is high enough that numerous salt-water fish and plant species thrive in its waters. There is a large blue crab fishery that forms a significant part of the local economy. The St. Johns River waters, entering the lake at the South end, contain a good amount of salt from the run-off waters and springs, which enter between Lake Harney and George. In addition, three feeder creeks (Juniper, Silver Glen Spring Run, and Salt Springs) on the West side of George add a salty water influx. Salt Springs Creek, as the name would imply, is particularly salty. The waters gradually dilute as the river flows to the North, particularly when the clean, fresh waters of the Oklawaha River enter. The sources of the salt are the massive, underground marine deposits left from eons ago when the St. Johns basin, and the lands to the East, were still a part of the Atlantic Ocean floor. The third trait of Lake George is the lack of vegetation, except along the shallow shorelines. Within the areas of open water, there is virtually no natural cover or growth. And, finally, the fourth item is the active Armed Forces bombing range, which lies along the East-central portion of the lake. This is an approximate nine-mile by two mile rectangle used for the training and certification of pilots and bombardiers. There are some features of the range area, which are of fishing and boating significance, and we will cover these in our usual tour of the lake. For our tour, let's start mid-way along the eastern shore, at Pine Island camp grounds and fish camp. John and Mary Solmonson, who manage the facility, gave us a general orientation and 'map-talk', plus some pointers on seasonally fishing the lake. Exiting from the small, short canal that leads from the ramp to the lake, we turn North, up along the eastern shoreline. As we start this turn, we note the large, wooden pilings far out into the foggy mist that shrouds the main lake. These we file away for later reference. The area in near the shoreline is very shallow and generally bordered by reeds and some standing grasses. To the outside of the reeds, we find significant amounts of eelgrass, mixed with some peppergrass. The eelgrass usually thins out and disappears when the depth gets to 4-5 feet. From that point, out to the gentle, rolling main drop-off, there appears to be no vegetation to speak of. It is generally 100-400 yards from the natural shoreline, out across this flat, to the main drop-off into the main lake. Once past the drop (into 10-12 feet) and in the deep water, we found no vegetation, either. This shoreline and vegetation pattern seems to hold constant all around the main lake body. You will note old pilings scattered along the shoreline flats, with some extending out to the edge of the deep water. Those, which reach close to the deeper area, have potential for bass. We found a plastic worm to work well. Obviously, a Springtime lure would also be a spinner bait. These pilings also indicate that for each one we can see, there are possibly 10 underwater hidden from view. A 'word to the wise' says to confine your high-speed motoring to the deep-water areas and only idle in the flats. On the Northeast shoreline, marked on the map accompanying this article, is an area of special interest to bass anglers. The Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (FG&FWFC) has designated this stretch of water as off-limits to fishing during the prime bass spawning season. It is well marked with large poles and brightly-colored signs. Approximately mid-way of the restricted area are the remains of an old target ship. Lying on its side in the shallow waters, this relic of a war era gone by spends the remainder of its days rusting away and serving as a curiosity to the visitors. The intent of this restricted area effort is prohibit the taking of bedding bass and insure a maximum spawn. The hatched fry are then sampled to determine a density count in the area. The FG&FWFC biologists compare this count to counts taken in other parts of Lake George to determine if the taking of bedding bass has any significant effect on the results of the spawn. So far, the answer is no, it appears to have no appreciable effect. Apparently, two factors strongly influence this finding. First, few large, bedding female bass are actually taken. Most are very reluctant to strike any live bait or artificial. Second, these trophy-size bass constitute only a small portion of the overall spawning population. At the North end of Lake George, we find Drayton Island. The main river channel and lake exit passes to the East of the island, with numerous marinas and camp areas along the East shoreline. To the West of the island, another passage exists. This one is not a main passage, but most boaters can navigate it easily if they follow the deeper water. The area around Drayton Island is Coquina stone, a form of compressed small stones, sand and shells. This provides some very hard and clean bottom structure and has some nice drop-offs and deep bank areas. The West side of Drayton Island, in-between Kinsley and Rocky Points, was found to have a very sharp drop from 6 into approximately 12 feet of water. A medium-depth crank plug (we used a Bagley DB II and a Rebel Deep Wee-R, as examples) produced good, chunky largemouths all along the West drop-line. The drop on the East side was not as steep and a plastic worm seemed to work better there. As a suggestion, this area would appear to be best on windy days, when strong southerly or northerly winds would push induced water currents through the channel. We suspect that the bass gather to feed on this artificial current flow. As we start down the West shore, we first come to Salt Cove. This is fed by the influx of the already-mentioned Salt Springs Creek. This section of Lake George is usually the first to experience a spawn of both bass and speckled perch (crappie). This is primarily because the entering spring waters run a constant 72 degrees (F) year-round. Also, the northern portion of a lake always gets more of the warming late-Winter/early-Spring sun and the northerly winds of Spring have less effect in this area. At the lower corner of Salt Cove is a small feature known as Lisk Point. There is a good amount of eelgrass in this area and it produces some fine bass angling. Just below Lisk Point, there is a shallow flat that extends far out into the main body of the lake. There are some pilings out on the edge of the deep water, which nearly always seem to hold bass. If the bass are not in against the pilings, move out on the drop and try a very deep crank plug (such as a DB III or Magnum Hellbender) and a plastic worm. There are some remains of an old pier or some structure that collapsed and slid off into the deep water, right at the base of the drop-off. These remains have rotted away significantly, but can still hang up a lure. Hunt for them and you should also find a bass or two. In the Summer, crappie will also hang out on this deep cover. Approximately two-thirds of the way down the West shoreline, we come to Silver Glen Spring Run. About two miles further South, we find Juniper Point, just above the entrance of Juniper Creek. From Silver Glen Spring Run to Juniper Point is another of those FG&FWFC off-limits areas to fishing during the bass spawning season. Again, it will be well marked and easily detectable. All three creeks on this side of the lake are very good bass fishing, especially when heavy rains have made the creeks run strongly. Try the areas around the mouth first and then move into the creeks for a distance. Since all three run at the constant 72 degrees (F), the cover and flats near their mouths are good for spawning bass. Striped bass also make good spawning runs into the creeks (although they do not actually reproduce in these waters), particularly the more-saline Salt Creek. We were told that this Striper migration usually occurs in the Spring. From the mouth area of Juniper Creek to Volusia Bar, there is a line of submerged pilings. Some are visible, especially when the water levels are low. Bass and crappie are regular inhabitants. We suggest you motor carefully in this area and place a few marker buoys to reference the piling line. Juniper Cove is rated as very good for drift fishing for crappie. A the extreme South end of Lake George is the entrance of the St. Johns River. Through years of river flow, a very large and shallow slit area, called Volusia Bar, built up across this entrance. In order to retain navigational freedom, a channel is maintained. A portion of this man-made entrance point is lined with rock and some timbers and is locally referred to as the 'Cow Pen'. Many different species of fish gather at this moving-water location to feed. Largemouth and striped bass are the two most commonly found. Watch for surface feeding action in and around the Cow Pen and use spoons, top-water lures and Shad-A-Lac (vibrating, free-running crank plug) style lures. Also, be sure to toss crank plugs and plastic worms near the obstructions present. In the Southeast corner of the lake is Jones Cove. Surface schooling bass use this location well during the May/June and September/October periods. Some of the lake's larger crappie are taken drifting live minnows and small jigs a few hundred yards out from the shoreline. Nine-mile Point is the next feature and lies just up the lower East shoreline. On the bank, you will note a bombing range control tower and a microwave communications tower. Directly in front of this complex, a line of old pilings runs from the shore out to the drop into deep water. At the end of these pilings, some 250 yards into the lake, there are the remains of a deteriorated dock. While the squared-off set of dock pilings are mostly still visible, the platform materials have long since rotted and sunk. Some of the old boards and timbers are in amongst the remaining pilings, while other slid off into the deeper zones. On our visit to George, we took a good string of 2-3 pond bass off the dock remains and the outer 100 yards of pilings. A Texas-rig plastic worm was used in the more snag-prone dock area, while a Carolina-rig worked extremely well around the individual pilings. Nine-mile Point is bordered by an outer growth ring of eelgrass and an inner ring of reeds and small pads. Some peppergrass is mixed in. This entire point is rated excellent bass fishing by all the local anglers we talked to. We were told to work the eel grass using spinner baits (in the Spring and Fall) and plastic worms (year-round.) A slowly fished, weedless Johnson Spoon, with a plastic trailer, was recommended for hot weather. Willow Cove was indicated as a good spawning location for bass and crappie. Willow Point has a large stand of isolated reeds out in the open water. This was the only place in Lake George that we noted this condition, although there may be others. The water in the reeds is 4-6 feet deep and there is no grass or other hindering growth. A spinner bait or worm can be cast far into the reeds and retrieved back with no far of hanging up. My partner and I found a huge school of small bass (1-2 pounds) dispersed throughout this reed stand. John Solmonson, at the Pine Island Marina indicated that the East shoreline was his overall choice for the better fishing and that it helped the angler avoid the common easterly winds from the coast. For certain, he indicated, this shore was the best for shellcrackers and big, bull bluegills in the June-August timeframe. The West shore, particularly near the creek entrances seem best during the late-Winter/early-Spring. When we started the tour of Lake George, we noted a cluster of pilings out in the lake. There are actually three of them and they are laid out in a circular pattern and serve as 'targets' for the bombing range. The center cluster is the largest and is significant because it has a ship sunk in the middle of the piling circle. Local anglers, who know the ship is there, find it a fine place to take crappie year-round. In the months of May through July, the lake's striped bass population often provided great surface action in the bombing range area, particularly near the pilings. Watch for them and you can get the kinks out of your line in a hurry. There are numerous fish camps and facilities around Lake George, particularly along the upper, Northeast section. Another is located at the South end, at Volusia Bar, and, of course, the Pine Island facility is on the East side. Additionally, the town of Crescent City is only 15 minutes East of Lake George and has ample facilities for overnight stays. |
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AboutOcala
Named an "All America City" in 1995, Ocala is the county seat, and has a present population of 46,453 making it the largest city in the county. Drive down Fort King Street in the Ocala historic district, and you will be impressed by the obvious care taken with the renovation and preservation of the area's homes.
The Ocala Historic District, offers the opportunity to take a walking tour through stately neighborhoods of lovely Victorian homes. Fort King Street was named after the military post of Fort King, the site of which is within city limits. Fort King was built prior to the Second Seminole War of Florida (1835-1842) according to archaeologist Gary Ellis. Three substantive archaeological surveys have been conducted in the vicinity and the findings of these earlier studies led to a new study in 1993-94 identifying two distinct prehistoric components. The investigation of the history of Fort King is still ongoing with plans to offer the public a chance to learn more about life in those times.
Our walking tour will travel from prehistoric finds, to the modern day, within a few blocks. In 1998 the Ocala/Marion County Veterans Memorial Park was dedicated on Fort King near 25th Avenue. The four acre park is just north of the Marion County Governmental complex and has been created to honor veterans from all military conflicts and serves as a gathering place for special celebrations.
Downtown Ocala has been revitalized during the past several years with renovations to the town square, and the beautification of historic buildings surrounding it. The Ocala Down-town Development Commission and a coalition of citizens, property owners, and public officials are working steadily to continue the economic revitalization of downtown. In the past year the Ocala Police Department moved into new quarters on South Pine Street; Ocala Electric Utility built a new Customer Services Office adjacent to City Hall; and the City Auditorium which has served as a focal point for a wide range of community activities. Early in 2003, the Ocala Recreation & Parks Department will move into new quarters off Sanchez Avenue, an attractive addition to the Tuscawilla Park campus.
In addition to the Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce building, the Ocala Public Library, a variety of large and small restaurants, Brick City Center for the Art, shops, financial institutions, and commercial businesses are located around the square or within a short walk. The center of Ocala has come to life in the evening with a number of restaurants, clubs, and special events bringing people back downtown. On Friday and Saturday evenings, horse drawn carriage rides bring a touch of the past to visitors. Distinctive neighborhoods with lovely homes are situated throughout the city in price ranges for every budget. Each spring dogwoods, azaleas, and other colorful flowers invite visitors to drive along
About the Florida beaches.
Florida has some of the nicest beaches in the world. Several of these beaches routinely receive awards by various rating organizations. The waters are generally warm compared to the the rest of the US. Surf tends to be higher on the Atlantic coast with relatively little surf on the Gulf coast. Surf temperature is also warmer on the Gulf coast throughout the year.
Sand consistency in the northwest along Pensacola, and Panama City Beaches is fine and very white. Clearwater Beach also shares this same fine and very white texture. Beachesalong the Atlantic tend to shade towards light beige with a somewhat coarser texture. Daytona Beach is unique with its hard packed sand suitable for driving motor vehicles.
Recreational Activities: Ocala |
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Camping | Swimming & Picnicking | Hiking | Mountain Biking | Boating | Canoeing | Off-Road Vehicles | Horseback Riding | Hunting & Fishing So Much To Do & See |
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Water plays an important part in a variety of recreational opportunities on the forest. There are huge springs, twisting streams and lakes for fishing and water skiing. Many of the scenic lakes were formed when limestone bedrock dissolved, permitting the surface layer to slump and fill with water. The cool crystal-clear water of Juniper Springs, Alexander Springs, Salt Springs and Silver Glen Springs entice many visitors to take a cool dip. Snorkelers frequently find a thrilling underwater view of fish, swaying vegetation and cavernous springs. No wonder the Ocala National Forest is one of the most heavily used National Forests in the United States. Some recreational activities require a pass or permit. Please see Passes & Permitsfor more information. Be Bear Aware! You are in Bear Country.
AlligatorsAlligators are present in this forest. They are an important part of Florida’s ecology and may be found wherever there is a body of water. They have a natural fear of man, but may lose that fear by being around people especially if they are fed. When this happens alligators can be dangerous. For this reason alligators should not be fed or molested in any way. CampingCabins| Developed Campgrounds| Primitive/Dispersed Camping| Group Campgrounds Camping can be enjoyed during all seasons on the Ocala. Visitors are welcome to stay as long as fourteen days in most campgrounds and even longer in other campgrounds, depending on the season. The majority of camping is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Salt Springs, Juniper Springs, Alexander Springs and Clearwater Lake now take reservations through ReserveUSA, in addition to a first-come, first-serve basis. You may make reservations onlineor by telephone, toll free: 877 444-6777. All of the group campgrounds and cabins are by reservation only. Camping can be divided into three classes based on the type of facilities offered and fees charged; developed campgrounds, primitive campsites and dispersed tent camping. Developed campgrounds provide a variety of amenities including; showers, restrooms, picnic tables, charcoal grills, fire rings, lantern holders, drinking water, sanitation facilities and trash receptacles. Primitive campsites provide very few if any of these amenities. Dispersed tent camping is for the adventurous that prefer no facilities at all and is permitted throughout the general forest area. Fees at developed areas range from $4.00 to $20.00, while primitive and dispersed camping is free. Camping permits and discount passports for senior and disabled U.S. citizens are available. Please see Passes & Permitsfor more information. Be Bear Aware! Never feed a bear! Bears that are fed by humans, either on purpose or by accident, learn to associate people with food and lose their natural fear of humans. Bears that show no fear of humans may be dangerous and may have to be destroyed. Please take care not to accidentally feed bears:
Please, do not let your carelessness lead to the injury or death of a person or bear! CabinsLarge families and small groups will enjoy a cabin either at Lake Dorror Sweetwater Spring. The Lake Dorr cabin is nestled on the south end of Lake Dorr and can accommodate 10 persons. Sweetwater Spring cabin can accommodate 12 people and is situated on a freshwater spring that flows into Juniper Run. These cabins are very secluded in the general forest area and have their own secured entrances. Guests have the exclusive use of the cabins for a week. Both of these facilities are managed by Recreation Resource Management, a concessionaire contracted by the Forest Service. Since availability is limited, a lottery drawing for dates is held annually for the following year. Long range planning is necessary for these two gems of the forest. For more details call: (352) 625-0546. Developed CampgroundsThe word Ocala is thought to be a derivative of a Timucuan Indian term meaning “fair land” or “big hammock”. The Ocala’s vegetation lives up to its name, as you will discover towering palms, huge live oaks and scrubby sand pines. Developed campgrounds in the Ocala are nestled in each of these settings. Of the twenty developed campgrounds, only Salt Springs offers full hook-up service. However, several campgrounds have dump stations and shower facilities. The remaining campgrounds offer fewer amenities. All of Ocala’s campgrounds allow pets, but they must be kept on a leash no longer than six feet and are not permitted in designated swimming and picnicking areas. Many swimming areas also prohibit alcohol. An annual pass is available for several of the campgrounds. Because these campgrounds have fewer amenities, the proceeds from the sales of the passes go towards improvements. These annual passes are part of the fee demo program and are sold at Ocala’s visitor centers and ranger stations. Use the following chartto find the best area for your camping experience. Accessible campsites, restrooms, showers and walkways are available throughout various campgrounds in the Ocal National Forest. Call the appropriate district to determine if the facility you have chosen will suit your needs. Contact information is located on the Contact Uspage of this website. Primitive and Dispersed CampingPrimitive Camping| Dispersed Tent Camping The “Leave No Trace” ethic is a consideration for all visitors whether they are dispersed camping, primitive camping or developed camping. To leave no trace of ourselves each time we use the Forest can be challenging, but every effort to maintain the natural state of the area will contribute to protecting it from overuse. Remember to remove all garbage and trash, “pack it in, pack it out”. Leave vegetation intact, replace sticks and logs that were moved to clear areas for tents and campfires, and preserve water systems. Erasing evidence of our presence will keep each individual’s impact on the Forest at a minimum. Primitive campsites Dispersed Tent Camping Group CampgroundsLake Shore| River Forest| Mill Dam| Doe Lake| 4-H Center Groups of various sizes are sure to appreciate one of the 4 group campgrounds available. These areas offer exclusive use, varying amenities and are used by reservation only. Lake Shore Group Campground River Forest Group Campground Mill Dam Group Campground is available for overnight stay as well as those desiring only day use rental. It is available for reservations October 1 – March 15. (The remainder of the year, Mill Dam is a swimming and picnic area, open to all.) Groups up to 150 people may reserve the area on a first come, first serve basis by calling the Lake George Ranger Station at (352) 625-2520. Mill Dam is located on the 168 acre Mill Dam Lake. Water play is popular here and campers bring their boats for easy access to lake activities. A large swimming beach adjoins the area and is accessible by wheelchair. A new restroom facility was constructed in 2003. Other amenities include a picnic shelter, group grills, picnic tables, flush toilets and a 70 car parking lot. The fees for this area depend upon the number of people in a group. Up to 99 people is $50/night with a two night minimum. For 100-150 people, the fees are $75/night with a two night minimum. Included in this fee is a $25 non-refundable deposit. Reservations and payment must be made no later than 20 working days in advance. Doe Lake Recreation Area Camp Ocala 4-H Center
Let Camp Ocala’s relaxed natural atmosphere be the setting for your group’s next meeting, retreat, training session, reunion or picnic. The staff at Camp Ocala will help make your event a success by customizing programs to suit your professional, educational or personal needs. Programs can be tailored for groups of any age or size. For more information write t Camp Ocala 4-H Center, 18533 NFS 535, Altoona, FL 32702 or call: (352) 759-2288. Click here to see the location of Camp Ocala. Swimming & PicnickingDay Use Areas are among the many recreational opportunities in the Ocala National Forest. Swimming and picnicking areas are available in almost all of the campgrounds shown on the recreation and trails map. In each area, day use fees can be unique from or the same as a camping fee or parking fee. It is wise to check a recreation schedule to determine what kind of fee is applicable in each recreational area. Many boat ramp areas in the Ocala National Forest incorporate swimming and picnicking also. Click here to view recreation and trails map. HikingFlorida National Scenic Trail| Salt Springs| Lake Eaton Sinkhole| Lake Eaton Loop| St. Francis| Yearling Trail Florida National Scenic TrailThe Ocala portion of the Florida National Scenic Trailtraverses the forest north to south, winding through multiple ecosystems. Hikers can experience rolling hills in the open longleaf pine forest, vast prairies, wooden boardwalks through swamps, thick scrub oak – sand pine, and oak hammocks. The Trail meanders approximately 67 miles through the Ocala National Forest, making it an excellent choice for backpacking. Hikers may primitive camp while backpacking as long as campsites are at least 200 feet from the trail. Those who prefer not to rough it as much will encounter a spur trail to a developed campground about every 10 or 12 miles. These developed sites offer varying levels of facilities. Descriptions for these campgrounds may be found in the developed recreation and trails map. Backpackers are not required to have a permit nor register with the ranger station prior to their outing, although filing a hiking plan with family and friends is highly recommended. Primitive camping in the general forest area is prohibited during the general gun deer hunting season, which is November 8, 2003 to January 4, 2003. The only exception to this regulation allows primitive camping within the Juniper Prairie Wilderness, which is closed to all hunting. Click to view the Florida Trail Association(hikers) website. Many shorter loop trails are available for hikers looking for a less arduous experience. The Salt Springs Trail, Lake Eaton Sinkhole and Lake Eaton Loop Trails are among these, while the St. Francis Trail provides 2 loops 3 and 8.5 miles long. The Salt Springs Observation TrailThe Salt Springs run provides habitat to many species of wading birds such as; limpkin, little blue heron, great blue heron, snowy egret, and American egret. Eagles and Osprey are frequently seen along the run as are alligators. The Salt Springs Trail winds down to the run where an observation platform has been built. The trail is approximately 2 miles long, depending upon which route you choose, and has benches along the way. Click here to view a map of this trail. Lake Eaton Sinkhole TrailHigh in the sand pine - scrub oak forest is the Lake Eaton Sinkhole Trail, winding through palmetto and deer moss to a dry sinkhole about 80 feet deep and 450 feet wide. A choice of 3 different routes lead to the rim of the sinkhole, where an observation deck allows you to take in the magnitude of this geological feature. An interpretive board offers an explanation of the formation of sinkholes and a boardwalk and stairs allow you to walk down into the sinkhole. Here, at the bottom, the vegetation is similar to that of an oak hammock, featuring magnolias, live oak, dogwood, loblolly pine and the sabal palm. The total length of the Lake Eaton Sinkhole trail varies from 1 to 2 miles. Click here to view a map of this trail. Lake Eaton Loop TrailAcross the road from the Lake Eaton Sinkhole Trail begins the Lake Eaton Loop Trail. This trail wanders through several plant communities down to the lake itself, where an observation deck takes you out to the water’s edge. A little more than 2 miles of walking takes hikers through the fire-dependent sand pine scrub down to the hardwoods found along Lake Eaton’s shore. In mature sand pine scrub, the lower story contains scrub oaks, including sand live oak, myrtle oak and Chapman’s oak. Also found under the sand pine are rusty lyonia, known as crooked wood, and silk bay. Small balls of deer moss can also be found dotting the ground’s surface. In contrast to the sand pine scrub, red maples, cypress, water oak, loblolly bay and laurel oak flourish in the area surrounding the lake. Wax myrtle and button bush are among the many shrubs that live in the under story of these hardwoods. Click here to view a map of this trail. St. Francis TrailFor an historical adventure through the forest, hikers may enjoy walking the grounds of an old pioneer town on the bank of the St. Johns River. Originally known as “Old Town”, St. Francis was founded in 1887 and thrived as a shipping community for north Lake County. But the advent of railroads and the devastating freeze of 1894 spelled the doom of the small town. The St. Francis Trail is an 8.5 mile experience through riverine swamp and bayhead swamp to open flatwoods and oak hammock. The site of St. Francis is at the bank of the St. Johns River, however, the buildings no longer remain. Hikers can experience hiking along an old logging railroad bed or exploring an old levee, built to flood an area for rice cultivation. A small trail leads up to a natural spring and back around to the main trail, giving enthusiasts the option of a shorter trail or an additional trail for more avid hikers. |