Osceola National Forest, Florida's Gateway Gem

The Osceola National Forest is located just North of Lake City Florida. Established in 1931, the forest is made up of approximately 200,000 acres of pine flatwoods and cypress hardwood swamps. There are a wide range of opportunities for outdoor adventures such as camping, hiking, swimming, fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and much more. 

Morning mist in the pine flatlands

I have spent a lot of time hiking and driving through this forest and still have not seen it all. A 23 mile section of the Florida National Scenic Trail meanders its way through the area as well as sections of the Great Florida Birding Trail. Many miles of sandy roads criss-cross the forest offering access to anyone.

A redheaded woodpecker observes observers

A red cockaded woodpecker nesting tree

This is one of the best areas to view the endangered Red-Cockaded Woodpecker and their unique nesting habits. These rare birds prefer old growth long leaf pine with an open understory to construct their nests. They find trees which are hollow but retain a healthy outer layer. Over the course of a few months to several years, they excavate a nesting hole and bore small holes around the entrance. This causes the tree to excrete sap, creating a white, waxy and sticky barrier that keeps predators like snakes from entering the nest. They are facing extinction due to loss of habitat and there may be less than 10,000 left in the wild.

Lone sentinel at Ocean Pond

Fishing in the forest

In addition to Ocean Pond, a 1760-acre natural lake, the Osceola Forest is dotted with small ponds and borrow-pits throughout. These offer great fishing locations as well as local swimming holes. Camping is allowed anywhere in the forest except during hunting season. There is a designated campground on Ocean Pond that offers waterfront sites allowing guests to enjoy the water or fish right from their campsite. A beach area, boat ramp, drinking water, hot showers and restrooms are located in the campground.

Olustee canon

The forest is also home to the Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park. The Battle of Olustee was fought on the afternoon of February 20th, 1864 and was the largest battle fought in Florida during the Civil War. 5,500 Union and 5,000 Confederate troops met in a vicious contest that claimed over  2,000 lives, making this the second bloodiest battle of the War for the Union. The battle was historically significant because the Union losses caused Northern authorities to question the necessity of further Union involvement in the state of Florida.

Olustee Battlefield

The Osceola National Forest is truly a gem in the National Forest system. To get to the area, travel East from Lake City on Highway 90 to the Ocean Pond and Olustee Battlefield area, or North on 441 and take one of the many access roads to the East.

Fishing afar

Mirror image

Seeing the forest for the trees

Springs Diving in North Florida

When most folks think of scuba diving, the first thing that comes to mind is gliding over colorful coral reefs and vast schools of tropical fish, or maybe exploring the decks of a long sunken ship. Many years ago, when I lived in Lake City Florida, I fished the Suwanee River and would occasionally see people diving the many springs that feed the river. I promised myself if I was ever in possession of a dive certification, I would come back and try diving the springs.

25-ish years later, a writer’s conference was drawing me back to the area. Fishing buddy Jim VanPelt and I were headed up for a couple days so I saw my chance. After checking with old friends in the area, I called Scuba Monkey Dive Center, a family run shop catering to open water certified divers, in Alachua. Tim and Tracey Boehnlein opened the full service dive shop 7 years ago and it has become one of the largest in the region offering full gear rentals and sales, certification classes and onsite hydro testing while still maintaining that personal family run feel. After making plans with Tracey over the phone, Jim and I stopped by the shop on Thursday to meet up with Tim and go over the next day’s agenda.

Scuba Monkey Dive Center

Scuba Monkey Dive Center is in the heart of spring country and convenient to I75. While checking out the gear, I asked Tim why he chose to open a dive shop in a landlocked town so far away from any coastal diving areas. “I love diving the springs. They are so quiet and peaceful. There is nothing else quite like it” Tim said. We decided to meet up at Troy Springs the next morning for our dive.

Checking out the latest gear

Troy Springs State Park is just outside of Branford, about a half hour West of Lake City. We arrived as the park opened and aside from a couple of guys testing out dive gear, we were the only people there. A narrow winding road lead to a small bluff overlooking the springs. Although I have more experience scuba diving than Jim, it was soon apparent that we both needed a little refresher. Tim was patient and informative and soon we were geared up and headed down the path to the entry platform. Troy Spring is a 1st magnitude spring that is over 60 feet deep and has a circular limestone basin over 100 feet in diameter. The cold clear aquifer water runs about 300 feet to the warmer and tannin stained waters of the Suwanee River. The water temperature hovers around 70 degrees, so it took a minute to acclimate.

Troy Springs

Water as clear as an aquarium

Floating over the center of the spring, I looked down into the green tinted, clear water. The limestone walls formed a steep slope down to the inky blackness below. As we descended I noticed how clean the ledges and floor of the spring was. Other than a log or two, and some natural debris, it looked much like it has for centuries. A few mullet swam by and the occasional turtle would launch across our path from it’s mossy hiding place. The sunlight penetrated the water to illuminate the whole area like a great underwater colosseum. At the bottom of the spring looking up, the surface seemed a mile away. Tim had it right, it was quiet and peaceful.

Jim ready to dive

GoPro still photo by Jim

A couple of turtles on the way down

Jim descending

That fish was this big!

Our adventure wasn't quite over. We surfaced and headed over to the spring run. As we floated over exposed limestone bottom passing curious turtles and schools of mullet, something interesting came into view. I quickly recognized the basic frame of a sunken wooden vessel. Turns out this was the river steamboat Madison, owned by James M. Tucker. During the Civil War the Union Navy imposed a blockade of southern ports that gradually eliminated steamboat traffic on coastal rivers. By the fall of 1863, as the fighting got closer to the Suwannee Valley  region, Tucker scuttled his ship to prevent it from falling into Union hands. He may have  intended to raise his steamboat after the war, but by the time the fighting ended in 1865, scavengers had removed much of the ship's machinery and planking. All that remains today are the ribs and joists.

Mullet school

The Riverboat Marion

Back at the truck, Tim, Jim and I talked about the vast numbers of springs in the area. Tim obviously had spent a lot of time learning about and diving the region’s springs. Jim was hooked as well and was discussing a return visit to check out a few other dive spots. As for me, I don't know if I will be back to dive the springs again. It took me 25 years for my 1st time, and I loved it, but there are still so many things left to do. I would encourage anyone who has ever thought about diving one of Florida's beautiful springs to contact Tim and Tracey at www.scubamonkeydivecenter.com .

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