SPORTS & RECREATION / PARKS & NATURE

Central Florida Parks & Forests

Rock Springs Run State Reserve
Apopka
407-884-2008
https://floridadep.gov/parks
14,000 acres in Orange and Lake counties serves as habitat preservation, watershed protection, and a popular destination for recreational activities.

Tosohatchee State Reserve
Christmas
407-568-5893
https://myfwc.com/recreation/lead/tosohatchee/
28,000 acres border 19 miles of the St. Johns River in east Orange County, creating a mosaic of freshwater marshes, swamps, pine flatwoods, and hardwood hammocks.

Blue Spring State Park
Orange City
386-775-3663
https://floridadep.gov/parks
Much more than a scenic area for canoeing and swimming, the park plays a critical role in the survival of one of Florida’s most beloved residents, the manatee.

Anastasia State Recreation Area
St. Augustine
904-461-2033
https://floridadep.gov/parks
One of the state’s busiest state parks is only 1.5 miles from historic downtown St. Augustine, offering coastal camping, fishing, sun bathing, surfing, sail boarding, swimming, nature trails, and picnicking.

Faver-Dykes State Park
St. Augustine
904-794-0997
https://floridadep.gov/parks
1,450 acres along Pellicer Creek forms an aquatic preserve for fishing, boating, and canoeing in a setting of pine flatwoods and mesic hammock that offer a rich habitat for wildlife.

Highlands Hammock State Park
SR634, Hammock Road
Sebring 863-386-6094
https://floridadep.gov/parks

Tomoka & Bulow Creek State Parks
Ormond Beach
386-676-4050
https://floridadep.gov/parks
Tomoka is ideal for camping, boating, fishing, canoeing, and hiking. Bulow Creek encompasses 3,230 acres of upland forest, hardwood swamp, saltmarsh, and tidal creeks.

Silver River State Park
Ocala
352-236-7148
https://floridadep.gov/parks
5,000 acres include nearly 20 miles of river frontage and springs to support 14 distinct plant communities.

De Leon Springs State Park
De Leon Springs
386-985-4212
https://floridadep.gov/parks
603 acres are highlighted by the 72-degree spring for seasonal swimming and fishing. This recreation area provides access to Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge.

Hontoon Island State Park
DeLand
386-736-5309
https://floridadep.gov/parks
1,650-acre island park is accessible only by private boat or a passenger ferry service, offering an island paradise for fishing, camping, hiking, boating, canoeing, picnicking and nature study.

Highlands Hammock State Park
Sebring
863-386-6094
https://floridadep.gov/parks
4,896-acre park is home to a virgin hardwood forest, cypress swamp, pine flatwoods, sand pine scrub, scrubby flatwoods, bayheads, and marsh.

Lake George State Forest
De Leon Springs
386-985-7822
https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service
St. Johns River borders 3.5 miles of the forest to offer a wealth of ecologically valuable communities and riverfront recreation.

Lake Griffin State Park
Fruitland Park
352-360-6760
https://floridadep.gov/parks
425 acres of woodlands and freshwater swamp offers some of the state’s finest bass fishing. Campsites combine with boat ramp, picnic area, and nature trail.

Lake Louisa State Park
Clermont
352-394-3969
https://floridadep.gov/parks
4,372-acre park lies on the shores of Lake Louisa, part of a 13-lake chain connected by the Palatlakaha River. Activities include swimming, picnicking, horseback riding, fishing, canoeing, and nature study.

Lake Kissimmee State Park
Lake Wales
863-696-1112
https://floridadep.gov/parks
5,930 acres offer outstanding fishing, bird watching, picnicking, camping, boating, and hiking on 13 miles of scenic trails.

Little Big Econ State Forest
Geneva
407-971-3500
https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service
Forested land supports a wide variety of wildlife and provides a roaming corridor linking the Econ Basin to the Tosohatchee State Preserve and public land along the St. Johns River.

Sebastian Inlet State Recreation Area
Melbourne Beach
321-984-4852
https://floridadep.gov/parks
Atlantic beach offers some of the finest surfing in Florida off the tips of two barrier islands. The area is a favored for picnicking, swimming, surfing, fishing, shrimping, clamming, crabbing, boating, snorkeling, scuba diving, and camping.

Seminole State Forest
Leesburg
352-360-6675
https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service
Known for its diversity, the forest features more than 13 different natural communities, each with unique plants, animals and physical characteristics.

Tiger Bay State Forest
Daytona Beach
386-226-0250
https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service
23,425 forested acres in central Volusia County extends north and south of U.S. Highway 92 to offer a wealth of recreational opportunities.

Wekiwa Springs State Park & Lower Wekiva River State Preserve
Apopka
407-884-2008
https://floridadep.gov/parks
7,000 acres of unspoiled scenery in the state park combines with the Lower Wekiva River State Preserve, showcasing 18,000 acres of environmentally significant land including miles of riverfront.

Welaka State Forest
Welaka
386-467-2388
https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service
Ecosystems include wetlands, flatwoods, hammocks, sandhills, and bayheads and a diversity of plant and animal life along the St. Johns River.

National Recreation Areas

Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge
De Leon Springs
386-985-4673
https://www.fws.gov/refuges/
Protecting abundant wildlife, the refuge surrounds the 2,200-acre Lake Woodruff, Lake Dexter, and scores of other waterways.

Ocala National Forest
Silver Springs
352-236-0288
https://www.fs.usda.gov/
This vast wooded region offers a wealth of natural getaways, from more than two dozen primitive campsites to complete resort facilities.

Osceola National Forest
Olustee
386-752-2577
https://www.fs.usda.gov/florida
The forest is crossed by a 21-mile segment of the National Scenic Trail with hundreds of miles of dirt roads for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

Regional Gardens

Dickson Azalea Park
100 Rosearden Drive
Orlando 407-246-2283
https://www.orlando.gov

Historic Bok Sanctuary
1151 Tower Boulevard
Lake Wales 863-676-1408
https://boktowergardens.org

Harry P. Leu Gardens
1920 North Forest Avenue
Orlando 407-246-2620
https://www.leugardens.org/

Ravine State Gardens
1600 Twigg Street
Palatka 386-329-3721
https://floridadep.gov/parks

Sugar Mills Botanical Gardens
950 Old Sugar Mill Road
Port Orange 386-767-1735
https://www.volusia.org/services/community-services/parks-recreation-and-culture/parks-and-trails/park-facilities-and-locations/historical-parks/sugar-mill-gardens.stml

University of Central Florida Arboretum
4000 Central Florida Boulevard
Orlando 407-823-2761
https://arboretum.ucf.edu/

Washington Oaks State Gardens
6400 North Oceanshore Boulevard
Palm Coast 386-446-6780
https://floridadep.gov/parks

County Recreation Resources

Flagler County Parks
386-313-4020
https://www.flaglercounty.gov/departments/parks-recreation

Lake County Outdoor Sports
800-798-1071
https://www.lakecountyfl.gov/

Orange County Parks & Recreation
407-836-6200
www.orangecountyfl.net

Osceola County Recreation
407-742-7800
Stadium & Sports Complex
407-933-5400
https://www.osceola.org/

Seminole County Parks & Recreation
407-665-2001
https://www.seminolecountyfl.gov/

Volusia County Parks
386-257-6000
386-736-5953
386-423-3300
https://www.volusia.org/services/community-services/parks-recreation-and-culture/

Additional Websites

Florida Division of Forestry
https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service

Florida Trail Association
https://www.floridatrail.org/

Florida National Forests
https://www.fs.usda.gov/florida

National Audubon Society
https://www.audubon.org/

National Wildlife Refuge System
https://www.fws.gov/refuges/

National Recreation Directory
https://www.recreation.gov/