Apalachicola National Forest
At over half a million acres, this is the largest national forest in Florida. Home to over 200 bird species, including the threatened Red-cockaded Woodpecker, the forest also hosts a wide variety of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and aquatic life. Its unique mix of wetlands, pine forests and hardwood swamps supports vibrant ecosystems, providing crucial habitat for species like the gopher tortoise and eastern indigo snake. We recommend five locations within the forest: Fort Gadsden Historical Site, Leon Sinks, Post Office Bay, Wright Lake and Road 22 Pond. Note that due to the forest’s large size these access points are more than an hour’s drive apart, so plan accordingly when deciding where to visit.
Featured Image: Red-cockaded Woodpeckers excavate cavities in live pine trees.
Sites At This Location
Wright Lake
Two trails at this site, a 0.25-mile lake trail and a 5-mile one, traverse stretches of basin swamp and longleaf pine-wiregrass community. Plants and animals in the latter community type have come to depend on frequent fire that keeps the understory low and open, stimulating pine seeds to germinate and wiregrass to flower. Since natural fire is feared by people, it’s been suppressed in much of Florida, allowing many remaining examples of this community to become overgrown and unsuitable for the animals that are uncompromisingly dependent on it. Here in the national forest, prescribed fire is used to keep pinewoods healthy, making it one of the best places in the United States to see Red-cockaded Woodpecker and Bachman’s Sparrow. Early mornings between April and June are best, when male sparrows are singing, and the woodpeckers are busy coming and going from their nest cavities. You may also see and/or hear Northern Bobwhite, Mississippi Kite (summer), Yellow-throated Vireo (spring/summer) and Brown-headed Nuthatch (resident). Keep an eye out for Fox Squirrels and Florida Black Bears as both have been spotted at this site. Note: Apalachicola National Forest: Wright Lake is temporarily closed to the public.
Site Information
Admission Fee Required for Entry
View Seasonal Hunting Information
Operational Hours: Open seasonally October 1 - May 31. Summer hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Winter hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Size: 7 acres
Road 22 Pond
While there are Red-cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) cavity trees ringed with white paint visible throughout the 571,000-acre national forest, this site offers the opportunity to park and hike to view the birds on foot without danger from passing traffic. From the small parking area, hike south to the small lake where ducks like Lesser Scaup may be found in winter. The west side of the lake is a good foraging and nesting area for the woodpeckers. Around the cavity entrances, you will notice sap running from holes drilled by the woodpeckers; this is thought to deter snakes from raiding the nests. Please take care not to approach the cavity trees too closely; Red-cockaded Woodpeckers are Federally Endangered. Patient observers will easily see the woodpeckers on spring mornings as they emerge and then begin bringing food to their chicks; early evenings are good, too. Please stay on the trails to avoid trampling some of the sensitive and rare plants that occur in this area.
Site Information
This Site is Free to Enter
View Seasonal Hunting Information
Operational Hours: sunrise to sundown
Size: 4 acres
Post Office Bay
This 6.6-mile, spectacular scenic drive passes through wet savannas and longleaf pine forest in some of the best condition you’ll find anywhere in the southeast. The stands of pitcher plants are spectacular in April and May, growing in the expansive wet savannas and roadside swales. Stop at roadside pull offs to explore, looking for Red-cockaded Woodpeckers and Bachman’s Sparrows; Swainson’s, Prothonotary and Hooded Warblers can be found along creeks especially where there are cypress and swamp titi trees. Winter can be good for rarer sparrows like Henslow’s and LeConte’s in the soggy flatwoods and savannas and Yellow Rail has been recorded. Butterfly viewing is good all year but best in fall. When the blazing stars (Liatris) are blooming, visitors may find impressive numbers and a wide diversity of species. Less common butterflies that occur here include Wild Indigo Duskywing, Florida Dusted Skipper and Berry’s Skipper. You may encounter Fox Squirrels, Gopher Tortoises and Box Turtles and if you are really lucky a Florida Black Bear. There is a family friendly campsite located 20 miles to the north at Camel Lake.
Site Information
This Site is Free to Enter
View Seasonal Hunting Information
Managing Agency
US Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service
Operational Hours: sunrise to sundown
Size: 538 acres
Leon Sinks
This recreation area in the east portion of the Apalachicola National Forest is different from the lower, longleaf savannah habitats of the tracts closer to the river. Here, higher sandhills of pine and turkey oak are broken by erosion in the underlying limestone, causing deep, dramatic crystal blue sinkholes which are rimmed with hardwoods. Upon entering the hiking trail, turn left at the T-junction for the shorter trail (1.7 miles) and return on the short-cut (0.5 mile) through a tupelo swamp. Listen for Barred Owls, Northern Parulas and Prothonotary Warblers near the wetlands, and watch for Blue-headed Vireos and Carolina Chickadees in the pinewoods. By turning right at the T-junction, you’ll choose the longer 2.5-mile loop past a series of large sinkholes. Watch for Wild Turkeys, Hermit Thrushes (winter) and White-eyed Vireos in the sandhills, as well as songbirds like Yellow-billed Cuckoos in hardwoods sloping into the sinks. In spring, wild azaleas along the Gum Swamp Trail attract many swallowtail butterflies. Little Wood-Satyr and Red-spotted Purple can occur in any wooded stretch. Near the sinkholes, look for Golden-banded Skippers. Bring water and sunscreen.
Site Information
Admission Fee Required for Entry
Managing Agency
US Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service
Operational Hours: 8am to sundown
Size: 647 acres
