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Ocala National Forest
A part of the fabric of everyday life for thousands of people who live in communities inside and around its boundaries, the Ocala National Forest is a significant public resource for residents and visitors alike.
Deer hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, horseback riding and canoeing are all traditional uses that continue today, along with more modern additions such as OHV trails.
Dispersed Camping: Many enjoy the solitude and primitive experience of dispersed camping - camping away from developed campgrounds and other campers. However, no services and little to no facilities are provided. Additional responsibilities and skills may be necessary for a successful trip and it is your responsibility to know your limits and abilities before you try this experience. Camping rules and regulations apply; they make your experience safe and they keep forest settings scenic and unspoiled for fellow campers.
Want to see a full-screen interactive map of the Ocala? Click here.
The new interactive visitor map is a work in progress and will be updated as additional information becomes available. The map currently includes information for most national forest recreation sites and roads.
Pets: Dogs are welcome on most areas of the forest, but must be on a leash at all times. Dogs are not allowed on the beach at swimming areas. For more information on the Ocala National Forest pet policy please call the Lake George District Ranger Office at 352-625-2520.
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Permits info
Facilities
Hopkins Prairie Campground Campground
List of CampsitesOverview
There are only 21 sites at Hopkins Prairie. All are well-shaded in an oak hammock on a peninsula surrounded by the prairie, where cool breezes blow in when there is a little water in the prairie.
Recreation
- Depending on water levels in the prairie, you may be able to launch your canoe or jon boat to drift across the deeper spots in this vast ecosystem. Boat ramp available - $3 per vessel launch fee
- Hopkins Prairie is a designated camping area with minimal facilities, open seasonally.
- The vast expanse of Hopkins Prairie has ponds and shallows. Depending on water levels, it may be possible to fish from the bank or launch a canoe or jon boat to access the deeper areas.
- With a year-round trailhead providing access to the Florida Trail, Hopkins Prairie is a popular destination for day hikers to wander off in either direction along the trail, or complete a section down to the Pat's Island Trailhead or Juniper Springs.
- Hopkins Prairie is an excellent destination for birding, since the interface between open prairie and scrub forest is usually busy with songbirds, while wading birds pick through the ponds. Even when the campground is closed, you can meander from the Hopkins Prairie Trailhead along the Florida Trail to enjoy birding. It's also a perfect spot where you can peer out from the shade of an oak scrub forest beneath gnarled limbs to an expanse of grasslands shimmering in the sun.
Facilities
- Vault Toilets
- 21 Sites
- Water Available via Hand Pump
- Boat ramp
Natural Features
An island of shade amid a broad, winding grassland, the Hopkins Prairie Campground is a seasonal destination for campers looking to get a bit off the beaten path. It sits right along the Florida Trail and offers opportunities for fishing and birding along miles of prairie shoreline.
