Lake City Area
The town of Lake City is nowadays a notable point at the intersection of two of the nation's longest interstate highways: I-10 and I-75. Several hundred years ago, what is now Lake City used to be a Seminole Indian village called "Alpata Telophka". This stands for "Alligator Village". In 1830, a Euro-American town was established near the Indian village. It was named Alligator, and the name was later changed to Lake City. Just east of Lake City, near the community of Olustee, took place Florida's only major Civil War battle in 1864: The Battle of Olustee. By the early 1900s, Lake City was becoming an important point, as it was located at the junction of four different railroad lines. By the mid 1900s, forestry was one of the main reason for Lake City's good economy.
Lake City is conveniently located near the Suwannee River Valley and near Osceola National Forest, two areas that provide the best hiking in north-central Florida. There are a lot of different places that one could hike at in the Lake City area, but as a noverview, it is important to note that some of Florida's best hiking trails lie to the northwest of Lake City along the Suwannee River, in the Big Shoals Conservation Area and on the Suwannee River Valley Florida Trail segment. It is here where Florida's only Class III whitewater rapids are found. Also, in nearby Osceola National Forest, located to the northeast of Lake City, there are several hiking trails that extend up to the Georgia border. Several other smaller conservation areas can be found near the towns of Live Oak and Jasper, all within the Suwannee River Valley.
Lake City is conveniently located near the Suwannee River Valley and near Osceola National Forest, two areas that provide the best hiking in north-central Florida. There are a lot of different places that one could hike at in the Lake City area, but as a noverview, it is important to note that some of Florida's best hiking trails lie to the northwest of Lake City along the Suwannee River, in the Big Shoals Conservation Area and on the Suwannee River Valley Florida Trail segment. It is here where Florida's only Class III whitewater rapids are found. Also, in nearby Osceola National Forest, located to the northeast of Lake City, there are several hiking trails that extend up to the Georgia border. Several other smaller conservation areas can be found near the towns of Live Oak and Jasper, all within the Suwannee River Valley.