Osceola National Forest Tour Preview

The Mount Carrie Trail is an interpretive roadside hike that walks you through Longleaf Pine habitat. Located off of US Highway 90 and Mt Carrie Road just 10 miles east of Lake City, Florida the Mt Carrie interpretive roadside trail is a superb example of a restored Longleaf Pine Ecosystem. The trailhead parking entrance has three interpretive panels exhibiting the some of the various ecosystems and recreational opportunities found on the Osceola National Forest. A small foot bridge starts the journey with a series of interpretive panels that guide the hiker through the 3 mile loop.

Walking along the trail at Mt Carrie gives you a sense of what was once millions of acres of pine forest, one of the most extensive forest ecosystems in North America covering an estimated 90 million acres.

Longleaf Pine is considered a keystone species with hundreds of species of animals and plants dependant on its health, such as the gopher tortoise and red-cockaded woodpecker.

Halfway through Mt Carry Trail one passes the historic locations of the McCloskey Lumber and Turpentine Refinery, the O Camp and the Town of Mt. Carrie, which were all located by the tracks of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad. These temporary camps were established to house workers as they worked the crop of pines for turpentine production. A crop consisted of a tract containing enough trees to hang 10,000 cups, it was usually worked for 5-8 years. The company town of Mt. Carrie was purchased by the forest service in 1936. There are no markers for these historic locations other than the railroad track and our imagination.

Fanny Bay is located off of the I-10 Rest Area on the Osceola. Trailhead parking can be found up the road from Cobb Camp, over the 1-10 overpass and then turning left at the Fanny Bay Trail Sign. The 3-mile interpretive trail goes through upland pine and hardwood forest that includes, Loblolly Bay, Magnolia, Mulberry and Jasmine. It leads to a boardwalk that takes you into a Cypress and Tupelo swamp. Some of the oldest cypress in the Osceola Forest can be found at the end of the boardwalk. The surrounding swamp protected the cypress from the logging crews during the timber harvesting era (1850-1931). Swamps are dominated by trees, but are home to a variety of other plants including epiphytes. Epiphytes have no attachment to the ground or other obvious nutrient sources and are not parasitic on the supporting plant. Species include orchids, tillandsias, mosses, ferns and liverworts.

Alligators, frogs, bears and many other animals live in these swamps. These animals are adapted to fluctuating water levels. The shadowy tree root system and cypress knobs provide a rich, sheltered habitat for nesting birds, as well as fish, amphibians and reptiles.

Years of wise stewardship has left the Osceola National Forest with an abundance of natural and cultural resources. As stewards of this fascinating ecosystem, the Forest Service advocates a conservation ethic in promoting the health, productivity, diversity, and beauty of forest and associated lands.

The Trample Track Trail is located on the south end of Ocean Pond in Olustee Beach recreation area. Parking is $5.00 with access to a boat ramp, beaches, fishing pier and interpretive trails. Swim along a shallow sandy beach and watch the water birds wade through the cypress. There are bathrooms and hot showers, picnic tables, grills, drinking water and a group picnic shelter. Next door, the Group Landing Campground accomodates up to 50 people and has a private beach, bathouse with showers, 4 electric and water hookups and pavillion. Reservations can be made at https://www.reserveamerica.com/.

A walk along the Trample Track Trail tells the story of the post-Civil War logging and turpentine history. The trail itself is a short hike on an old logging railroad bed leading to a boardwalk. You will see a small part of the 50 miles of track that crisscrossed the forest to harvest the pine for the re-construction era and war effort.

After the Civil War, the land making up the Osceola National Forest was used for the economic development of turpentine and assorted wood products. Cypress in the large swamps were removed for cross ties. Turpentine is a chemical developed from the sap of pine trees that became an important asset to our growing economy. Workers would scar longleaf pine trees (the scars are often referred to as cat faces) which would cause the gum, or resin, from the tree to run. They would attach a cup and gutters to the tree to collect the resin. This resin would then be distilled in a large still to create pitch.

Railroads were built throughout the forest as early as 1860 and the “The Depot” located on US 90 at the entrance to Olustee Beach served as both a passenger and freight station and played a significant role in the development of north Florida. The Florida, and Atlantic Railroads passed by the Olustee Depot transporting everything from Civil war soldiers to mail, timber, cattle, citrus and turpentine. There was a military base in Olustee and the Depot served as the hub of the community till 1960’s. The old freight room has been restored and there are interpretive displays and videos that tell the story of this time. The Depot is open at various times throughout the year. Please call the District Ranger office to find out about current times at 386-752-2577.

Ocean Pond Campground is located just off of I-10 at the Sanderson and Olustee Battlefield exit. The campground is just a few minutes east of Lake City and less than an hour drive from Jacksonville off of US Highway 90. The campground is open 24 hours a day on a first come first serve basis. Visitors can drive through the campground but only campers can use the facilities. Ocean Pond is a popular destination for both recreation vehicles and primitive campers. Campers have access to boating, fishing, swimming, hiking and a variety of amenities.

The Florida National Scenic Trail is accessible from the campground and makes a nice day hike to Turkey Run Trailhead or West Tower. A recently installed plant trail describes some of the native plants found in an upland area of the forest. The plant trail was developed by the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) over two summers.

The modern history of this area started in 1931, when it was declared a National Forest by President Hoover. In 1933 the Civilian Conservation Corp arrived and constructed a work camp with 5 rectangular barracks, 2 piers and a lodge. It was on this site that the campground was developed in 1946.

The lodge was removed in 1960’s to make room for camp sites. In 1999 there was an expansion for more camp sites, new beach area and new shower house.

Today there are electric, water and primitive campsites with rates ranging from $ 12.00 for primitive to $ 30.00 for electric. The campground is very popular all year round due to its close proxmity to US 90, Interstate 10 from Jacksonville and the I-75 North and Southbound corridor.

The Olustee Battlefield is open 7 days a week from 8 AM to 5 PM. The open grounds and picnic areas are a great way to spend a day enjoying the grounds while learning about the unique events that took place in the area.

A self serve museum tells the story of the battle and surrounding events. A walk along the 2 mile interpretive trail leads you through the ebb and flow of the decisive Civil War battle that took place in this pine forest. The trail steps you through the events that led up to the battle, the tactics used during the battle, and the aftermath, all from personal accounts, diaries and letters from soldiers who fought in the battle.

Olustee Battlefield is unique in that it represents the only near-complete First Magnitude Civil War battlefield (10,000+ engaged forces) within the 193 million acres of the US Forest Service (USFS). Of the total 1,417 acres that comprise Olustee Battlefield, 688 acres are jointly-managed by the Osceola National Forest of the US Forest Service and also by Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park of the Florida Park Service (FPS), which owns a 4-acre inholding at Olustee Battlefield with a war monument, interpretive center, Ranger’s residence, and a workshop. These individually and jointly-managed USFS and USFS/FPS lands commemorate the Battle of Olustee, a Confederate victory which marked the bloody end of the Union Army’s Florida Campaign of 1864, during the American Civil War.

Each Presidents’ Day weekend in February, the Florida Park Service and the Osceola National Forest jointly host the Olustee Battle Reenactment at the site of this historic battle. This 3-day annual educational and reenactment event plays host to almost 20,000 participants, spectators, and event staff each year, representing the highest-attended annual public event for the National Forests in Florida. Recent economic impact studies undertaken by the University of Florida and the Florida Division of Historic Resources in 2005 and 2010 indicate that the annual reenactment at Olustee Battlefield and the associated Olustee Festival in nearby Lake City generate nearly $4 Million in direct and indirect economic impact for Baker and Columbia County, Florida – including 25.4 total jobs created.

The Florida National Scenic Trail passes through the Osceola at the entrance trailhead. Hikers can walk the 21 mile trail across the forest ending up at Deep Creek on the northwest side of the forest along Hwy 441 or hike segments to Ocean Pond Campground or Cobb Camp Campground.

An equestrian trailhead is open for parking during daylight hours. Horse can ride outside of the battlefield on the soft sandy roads that make up that side of the forest.

Events such as plant walks, star gazing and battlefield tours occur during the winter and spring. Contact the District Ranger office to be placed on our mailing list. 386-752-2577 x 4509