Known as flatwoods because there is virtually no elevation change, Osceola National Forest [24874 US-90, Sanderson, FL 32087] is home to cypress-hardwood swamps and pine flatwoods, a perfect place for the endangered red cockaded woodpecker.
Only 50 miles from Jacksonville the forest is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts who love to camp, fish, and hike. If you’re just passing through, the Fanny Bay Trail is accessible from the I-10W rest area, with no one else around it sure felt like a hidden gem – maybe they didn’t even know it existed.
The one mile roundtrip hike is perfect for stretching your legs on a long road trip. Walk beneath the towering cypress trees where everything seems still.
Boardwalks allow you to see scenes that the swamp would have swallowed.
Keep your eyes peeled for ever present gators in the shallow water.
Butterflies enchanted the trail, dozens were floating from flower to flower.
Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park is within the boundaries of the park, with its Battlefield Trail and the adjacent Nice Wander Trail, a 1.6 mile loop. For a longer experience, note that there are over 20 miles of the Florida National Scenic Trail that run through the park. You can also take a swim at Olustee Beach, the sandy beach at Ocean Pond.