While hiking recently we had a few magnificent wildlife sightings and wanted to write about them here. In Ocala National Forest if you are lucky you can sometimes spot a Florida Black Bear and in this case we were blessed with such a sighting of not just one, but two! Read on...
Long Leaf Pine Tree Forest
It was near Lake Delancy in The Ocala National Forest heading southward on the Florida Trail towards Grassy Pond. It was in here in the middle of this section where we spotted a larger bear and it's cub by it's side. This area of the forest is mostly upland pine forests with rolling hills and mixed with scrub habitats throughout, perfect for bears and they are known to be here.
Florida Scrub Habitat
It was just past the scrub habitat where we saw these two bears. As we entered this part of the forest I knew if we were going to see bears this would be the perfect place.
The trail began to narrow with thick hammock and shrub plants on either side. Perfect for animals to hide in and as we came around a bend it was just up ahead about 75 to 100 feet or so where we saw a little bear walking against the brush on the trail it must have came out of. Then a moment later a larger adult bear come out next to it, this most likely was the mama bear. The smaller bear huddled up against the larger bear and both starred at us from a distance.
The feelings of fear and excitement rushed over me have you ever felt so vulnerable in nature? I did in this case and felt a fear like none other as I knew at any moment the larger bear could rush us to protect it's cub. With the narrow trail backwards was the only escape. Though perhaps it sensed that we weren't a threat as we both kept our distance and peace.
Florida Black Bears on Trail
Just as we spotted both bears together we hurried to get our zoom lens ready for snap shot. It was just then that a coyote jumped out in front of us! It darted across the trail about 10 feet ahead into the surrounding woods. It happened so fast I just caught a glimpse. It was large with gray and white coloring. Was it following the bears? We weren't sure, but just after this we managed to get a picture of the bears right before they slipped off into the forest.
Florida Black Bears on Trail
I reflected back on the sightings and can't help but feel truly blessed by nature for this sighting even though it was scary, I feel it was a great and valuable experience.
The Florida black bear is the largest native land mammal in Florida. It is believed that at one time there were as many as 12,000 black bears living throughout Florida. Today only about
1,500 black bears remain.
Kiosk at Trailhead of Rice Creek Entrance (SR 100)
Rice Creek is named after the fields of rice and indigo harvested here in the 1780s, by British loyalists Thomas Forbes and William Panton. They fled from the American Revolution in Georgia to Florida, then a British colony. Applying for a land grant, they received land west of modern-day Palatka. Using servants to ditch dikes and build drainage canals, they established fields of rice and indigo here.
Wooden Trail Bridges
This forest extends south from State Road (SR) 100 to just south of SR 20 in Putnam County, approximately six miles west of Palatka, Florida. On this hike we began at the Trailhead off of (SR) 100, you turn into a side dirt road to access this trailhead. You'll notice a sign there as you enter. From the parking area as we began I noticed how beautiful the early morning skies were against the backdrop of the treeline. You'll notice a lot of pines here and it taints the air with a nice pine scent. They still have some areas here where they harvest the trees. The temperature was a nice 65 degrees or so and sunny skies, perfect for hiking! Winter time is known as our main hiking season here in Florida because the weather is so nice. In the beginning you'll notice a trail kiosk, here you can find out more about the history of the place and view a map of some of the trails as there are many here.
Florida Trail Kiosk
From the kiosk we hiked down the forest road to the split where the white trail is. You'll see a trailer here sitting on the trail to your right. That is the path we took and this leads you down along the white trail and eventually you will come to an intersection for the Florida Trail. You'll see a mailbox and kiosk where you can sign into the Florida Trail log book. Here you can hike north or south and this hike we traveled southward.
Rows of Long Leaf Pine Trees
You leave the pine forest area and enter a dense cypress swamp hammock. The trail is narrow and crosses by and over many creeks and ditches. Many areas have boardwalks and wooden trail bridges to help keep your feet dry. Along these areas take a look in the distance and notice the beautiful cypress trees, listen closely you may hear woodpeckers, hawks and owls in the distance. I remember the sun rays shining brilliantly through the trees, a slight cool breeze and the sounds of nature around me, quite peaceful.
Old Cypress Tree 8th Largest in Florida
On this section of trail we hiked about 2.5 miles or so until we came upon the boardwalk that leads you the 8th largest cypress tree in Florida. It may be ranked 7th currently but either way this massive tree is a sight to see! You will walk the boardwalk to the end where there is an observation deck with a couple benches. It is here where you'll see ahead of you the huge cypress tree off in the swamp a short distance. This tree measurements are 107 feet tall, 24 feet 9 inches in circumference, and a crown spread of 48 feet by 42 feet. You can't miss it, it is the one with the thickest trunk in the surrounding trees. This was just one of the highlights of this hike and this tree is amazing to glance at it. I pondered at it, wondering how old it was and how it survived here in this forest for so long. After all this area has been plundered and harvested for hundreds of years. Glad to know that actions have been taken to preserve this tree as their aren't many left here in Florida. If you go here please take care not to damage the tree.
Hoffman Crossing
From here we continued on the boardwalk into the swamp and eventually came upon "Hoffman Crossing". This is one of the longest boardwalks I've been on and it goes for a half mile or so and is very narrow but sturdy just be cautious. It is a beautiful part of the hike as you traverse above the swamp floor and experience a dense cypress swamp around you.
Raccoon in a Tree
It is hear where we saw some wildlife. I saw a big deer in the brush, but quickly ran off upon hearing us walk on the boardwalk. Make sure to look up in the trees, it was high above us on a nearby tree we saw a pretty raccoon just hanging out, literally. After snapping some pictures we continued on the boardwalk towards the end of it. At the end we saw some wild turkeys crossing the trail just ahead.
Rice Creek Hilton Camping Shelter
This trail takes you further on the Florida Trail but also branches off to a white blazed trail, we took this white trail as it loops back to the main trailhead. Along this white trail you'll notice a small blue spur trail with a camping sign hanging on a tree. We took this back to discover the Rice Creek Hilton camping shelter just a short ways back in the forest.The “Rice Creek Hilton” is a screened shelter popular with backpackers, with a non-potable pitcher pump adjoining it, with a fire ring and picnic tables. Such a nice shelter for to take a break at or set up camp!
From the shelter along the white trail it was a wider path and was lined with rows of long leaf pine trees, made for a pleasant hike back as the sun was setting and the air was cooling down. Eventually made it back to the trailhead and kept thinking of how much more there is to explore here! So many trails and forests to immerse yourself in. This place will have you coming back for more, this is just one hike I plan on many more visits here. I hope you get a chance to explore this place! I posted some videos below.
