Tate’s Hell State Forest
The forest supports a rich diversity of wildlife, including Bald Eagles, Florida Black Bears, Gopher Tortoises, and Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. Tate’s Hell is also known for its dwarf cypress trees, which only grow up to 15 feet high although some are over 150 years old. Visit the observation tower at the Ralph G. Kendrick Dwarf Cypress Boardwalk (https://maps.app.goo.gl/hZwvZ1RiGwyifYxD8) to get a good view of these tiny ancients. The forest supports a variety of ecosystems, including wet prairies, wet flatwoods, strand swamps, bottomland forests, baygalls and floodplain swamp, and is home to several rare plant species. We recommend visiting two areas of the forest, High Bluff Coastal Hiking Trail and Deep Creek Tract. The drive time between them is about half an hour.
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Sites At This Location
West Entrance
Catch a glimpse of the vast, 202,437-acre Tate's Hell State Forest on this scenic trail. From either of the two parking areas on US 98, a nature trail leads 4 miles through sand pine scrub good for Brown-headed Nuthatches, Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Eastern Towhees year-round.
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
High Bluff Coastal Hiking Trail
Catch a glimpse of the vast, 202,437-acre Tate’s Hell State Forest on this scenic trail. From either of the two parking areas on US 98, a nature trail leads 8 miles or two loops of 4 miles through sand pine scrub good for Brown-headed Nuthatches, Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Eastern Towhees. Listen for Yellow-breasted Chats and Orchard Orioles singing in spring/summer. Bald Eagles have nested northeast of the eastern parking area, so listen for their distinctive calls and watch for flyovers! Florida Black Bears frequent this area; look for tracks and other signs along the trail especially during the fall.
Site Information
This Site is Free to Enter
View Seasonal Hunting Information
Managing Agency
FL Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Forest Service
Operational Hours: sunrise to sundown
Size: 596 acres
Entrances
East Entrance
Address: 2533 Big Bend Scenic Byway Coastal Trail, Carabelle, FL 32322
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West Entrance
Address: 2533 Big Bend Scenic Byway Coastal Trail, Carabelle, FL 32322
Deep Creek Tract
Two miles of dirt roads along the Deep Creek Tract give you quick, easy access to a wet prairie in the Apalachicola River basin. Insect eating pitcher plants line the ditches around this prairie, which measures several hundred acres. Watching for other recreational users, bird Tower Rd. by foot or from your car, as well as the first 0.75 miles of Deep Creek Rd., which divides the prairie in two. Watch for overwintering sparrows like LeConte’s, Grasshopper and Henslow’s. Swallow-tailed Kites use the cypress domes from March to August; wading birds like Snowy Egrets and Little Blue Herons are most concentrated from March to June. In winter, ducks use the prairie’s interior and American Bitterns may be seen along the edge. In the fall, Florida Black Bears are frequently spotted in the area.
Site Information
This Site is Free to Enter
View Seasonal Hunting Information
Managing Agency
FL Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Forest Service
Operational Hours: dawn to dusk
Size: 26,582 acres
