If you find yourself needing to grab some fresh air but don’t want to be surrounded by people, we have the perfect place in Florida. The Ocala National Forest has tons of different hiking opportunities for you to choose from, but this one offers up some unique history of the area, too. Enjoy the sunshine and seclusion of the area when you tackle the St. Francis Trail in Florida.
The St. Francis Trail in Ocala National Forest is a 7.8-mile hike, moderate in difficulty, that is one of the most beloved hikes of the entire forest.
AllTrails Jamie Meloni
This easy-to-navigate, extremely scenic hike will take you through the southeastern portions of Ocala National Forest.
AllTrails Jamie Meloni
What makes this hike so fascinating is that St. Francis used to be a thriving river port back in the 1800s.
AllTrails Jamie Meloni
The area was once a place where farmers used to grow all different varieties of vegetables and fruits, from cabbages to watermelon and beyond, and load them up onto the steamboats for transport.
AllTrails Jamie Meloni
However, unfortunately in the late 1800s, hurricanes brought in flooding, freezing weather shook Central Florida, and growers no longer were able to load steamships with their produce.
AllTrails Jamie Meloni
Eventually, the land was purchased by Ocala National Forest, allowing hikers to enjoy the historic vegetable farms and other beautiful scenery.
AllTrails Jamie Meloni
Today, you can walk through the floodplain forests and pine flatwoods, stopping to admire the variety of flora and fauna offered by the Florida trail.
AllTrails Jamie Meloni
The next time you’re itching to get out of the house and disappear into the woods, check out St. Francis Trail in Florida.
AllTrails Christian Leonel
Have you ever hiked the St. Francis Trail in Florida before? Share with us your experience in the comments section! Or if you’re looking for more information about this wonderful trailhead, check out the AllTrails website.
AllTrails Jamie Meloni
AllTrails Christian Leonel
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