Juniper Prairie Wilderness

"Our very own Wilderness in Central Florida is in our beautiful Ocala National Forest. No hunting here. The deer and bears roam freely and so can we humans. Listen for the sound of Sandhill Cranes in the morning and owl calls aplenty while camping in the cool seasons. The star veiwing is about the best you can get in Central Florida. There is always something to enjoy on this Prairie."

"Nice walk to hidden pond today. Easy flat hike from the campground around 6 miles each way. Finished with a dip in the spring to cool off perfect. Plenty of parking and the $11 entry pp was worth every cent."

"We camped about 20 minutes from Hidden Pond in December. It was really nice being able to swim and refill drinking water. It got pretty chilly hammocking at 40 degrees, but at least there were no mosquitoes! This is my favorite place to camp so far, and we're coming back in a few months."

"This is our favorite hike in the Ocala National Forest. This is an out-and-backhike, not a loop trail. The trail winds through scrub habitat, pine forest, and prairies. This is a primitive hike through wild, unspoiled Florida. There are no places to get water or any amenities, so plan accordingly. Check online with the Forest Service before you drive out to one of the trailheads because it has been closed before due to excess bear activity. Hidden Pond on the trail is a popular place to pitch a tent for overnight camping. Dogs are allowed, motorized vehicles are not. If you're lucky, you'll get to see the endangered Florida Scrub Jay, if you know what to look and listen for. If you find them, take only pictures and don't feed them, it's against the law. We've done the trail many times, mostly to see the jays. It's a beautiful hike through wild Florida worth the time."

"If you want to see what natural, untouched Florida is like, this is the place to come. It is very remote and a great spot for backpacking to camp at Hidden Pond. If you hike, it's a great day trip from Juniper Springs to Hidden Pond and back (11mi round trip). Make sure you leave early enough to get back before the sun goes down. Black bears are active close to the campground especially in the fall."