Camping
Overview and Background
The
Apalachicola National Forest offers
a range of camping opportunities in the National
Forest's tradition of quality, rustic outdoor settings.Our
developed recreation areas are quiet, well maintained
campgrounds in natural settings,
but with an eye
to providing a safe environment with modern conveniences
like hot showers, electric hook-ups, and dump stations.
For a truly remote and rustic experience,
our less developed sites such as river landings and
hunt camps are more remote and offer fewer or no
conveniences. Camping can be enjoyed during all seasons
on the Apalachicola.
Developed Recreation Areas
The Apalachicola National Forest has five developed recreation areas (fee areas) with camping: Camel Lake, Wright Lake, Whitehead Lake, Mack Landing, and Hickory Landing.
Note: Fee changes from $3 per vehicle to $5 per vehicle are proposed for day use at Silver Lake and Camel Lake and for camping at Hickory, Mack, and Whitehead Landings. Day use fees at Hickory, Mack, and Whitehead Landings would be discontinued. Submit comments to cbriggs@fs.fed.us by December 5, 2008.
Camel Lake
Camel Lake Recreation Area is small and quiet and surrounded by natural scenic beauty. The campground and day use area are tucked away in an long leaf pine and scrub oak setting with an understory of grass that turns to cypress trees, covered in Spanish moss, by the lake. Camel Lake is the focal point of the recreation area. The lake and white sand beach attracts swimmers, boaters and anglers. Hikers will enjoy the nearby Florida National Scenic Trail.
From I-10, to Bristol, take County Road 12 South. Turn left (east) on Forest Road 105 and drive 2 miles to campground entrance
Miscellaneous: Camel Lake Recreation area is open year round.
Electric trolling motors or paddle boats are welcome on the lake.
The recreation area is fairly level and easily. Accessible for persons with disabilities.
Site
Amenities: the ten campsites
are equipped with a picnic table,
fire ring, grill and lantern
post. Half the campsites have
electric and water.
The bathhouse includes hot showers and flush toilets. The day use area includes a swimming beach, a picnic shelter, picnic tables and grills.
Florida National Scenic Trail can be accessed within Camel Lake Recreation Area and from other trailheads. The 1,300 mile hiking trail meanders throughout Florida's unique habitats including Gulf Island National Seashore and Big Cypress National Park.
Fees:
Day Use
Fees - $3.00 per vehicle per day
Camping Fees - $10 per campsite plus $5 for electric hookups.
Wright Lake
Directions: To get to Wright Lake Recreation Area take State Route take State Route 65 to Franklin County and 1.5 miles south of the Liberty County line. Turn west on Forest Road 101 for 1.5 miles and turn right on the entrance road to Wright Lake Campground.
Site Information: Wright Lake Campground is a quiet scenic lakefront recreation area that offers a host of amenities and activities for campers and day-trippers. The clear, spring fed lake is perfect for fishing, swimming and boating. Swimmers can enjoy the white sand beach. A nearby bathhouse includes flush toilets and hot showers.
Picnic tables and grills are scattered among trees with views of the lake. The campground includes 18 campsites with picnic tables, grills, tent pads and fire rings. The recreation area is fairly level and easily accessible to people. Hikers can enjoy a 5-mile interpretive trail that winds around the lake. A volunteer host lives on site.
Fees:
Day Use Fees - $3.00 per vehicle per day
Camping Fees - $10.00 per campsite per night
Facilities/Amenities: camping, restroom/shower building, picnic tables, fire rings, lamp posts, pedestal grill, day use picnic, campground, RV space, bathhouse, flush toilets, drinking water, fishing, swimming, hiking, accessible area.
Season and Hours: Open year-round from 8 a.m. to 8 pm. (6 p.m. in winter)
Whitehead Lake
Directions: From Tallahassee, take SR20 west. Turn left on to CR 375. Turn right on FH13. Turn left at the sign for Hickory Landing. Drive approximately 1 mile to the end of the entrance road. The campground is at the end of the road. Turn left for the boat ramp and boat parking area. The access road to the boat ramp is frequently underwater, making the boat ramp unaccessible.
Site Information : Whitehead Landing and Hunt Camp is a small campground on a tributary to the Ochlockonee River. The river may be accessed by boat from the concrete boat ramp. Campers can select campsites under the trees.
Fees: $3 per vehicle for camping or day use
Facilities/Amenities: campground, tent space, no hookups, each campsite: picnic table, grill, fire ring, SST restroom (not flush), no showers, drinking water available, concrete boat ramp with parking area, hunt camp - 14 day camping limit not in effect for general gun hunting season.
Season & Hours: open year round, quiet hours 10pm to 6am
Hickory Landing & Hunt Camp
Directions: From Sumatra Florida, take State Highway 65 South for 1.6 miles. Turn right (west) on Forest Road 101 and go 1.5 miles. Turn Left (south) on Forest Road 101B and go one mile to hunt camp entrance. Turn right on Forest Road 101 and go 1.2 miles to Hickory Landing
Site Information: Hickory Landing and Hunt Camp, a designated hunt camp, is a picturesque campground situated among cypress groves along the bank of Owl Creek. Boaters can gain access to the adjacent Apalachicola River from the nearby Hickory Landing.
Fees: $3.00 per vehicle per night
Facilities/Amenities: camping - 10 sites with picnic table and grill, vault toilet, picnic tables, fishing, boat launch, drinking water, hiking,fee required. A volunteer host resides at this campground
Season and Hours: Open year-round
Mack Landing
Directions: From Tallahassee, take SR20 west. Turn left on to CR 375. Turn right at the sign for Mack Landing. Drive approximately 1.5 miles to the end of the entrance road. The campground is on the left. The boat ramp is straight ahead.
Overview: Mack Landing and Hunt Camp is a quiet campground on a ridge about the Ochlockonee River. The river may be accessed by boat from the concrete boat ramp. Campers can select campsites under the trees.
Fees: $3 per vehicle for camping or day use
Facilities/Amenities: campground, RV space, tent spaces, no hookups; each campsite has: picnic table, grill, fire ring, SST restroom (not flush), no showers, drinking water available
Host on site (October - March)
Concrete boat ramp with paved parking
Hunt camp - 14 day camping limit not in effect for general gun hunting season
Season & Hours: open year round, quiet hours 10pm to 6am
Hunt Camps and Dispersed Recreation Areas
Camping is allowed anywhere on the Apalachicola National Forest for a maximum of 14 days, except during general gun season. During General Gun season, camping is only allowed in hunt camps and at developed recreation areas. In the hunt camps, campers may stay from 14 days prior to general gun season to 14 days after general gun season. Hunt Camps are heavily used during hunting season.
Hunting season (General Gun season) dates vary each year but include Thanksgiving weekend (Thursday-Sunday) and December and January. The official dates and designated hunt camps are identified each year in the Apalachicola Wildlife Management Area brochure published by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and available at their website.
State hunting license fees pay for portable restrooms and dumpsters at many hunt camps during hunting season. At sites without dumpsters, plan to take your trash home with you (Pack it in, Pack it out).
List of Hunt Camps:
- Brown House Hunt Camp
- Pope Still Hunt Camp
- Otter Camp Hunt Camp
- Pine Creek Hunt Camp
- Smith Creek Landing and Hunt Camp
- Big Gully Landing and Hunt Camp
- Twin Poles Hunt Camp
- Harper Hunt Camp
- Magnolia Landing and Hunt Camp
- Cliff Lake Hunt Camp
- White Oak Landing and Hunt Camp
