Ocala Area
The site of the Timucua village Ocali from the 16th century is where the small present-day city of Ocala is now located. The Timucua village was apparently abandoned following Desoto's exploration of the area. The current city of Ocala was originally established in the mid 1800s, and it was an important centerpoint of citrus production that lasted into the late 1800s. In the mid 1900s, the first thoroughbred horse farm was established in Ocala, and soon after, one of the horses at the farm won a horse race, and became the first horse from a Florida farm to win a Florida race. Today, Ocala is considered as the horse capital of the world, with over 1200 horse farms in the area. To the east of Ocala, the town of Silver Springs, now part of the Ocala Metro Area, formed near the site of the Silver Springs. In the 1800s, Silver Springs was Florida's very first tourist attraction.
The most prominent hiking destination near Ocala is Ocala National Forest. Ocala National Forest is the southernmost national forest in the US. It is also one of Florida's most popular hiking destinations. A long stretch of the Florida Trail passes through the sand pine scrub forests of Ocala National Forest, as well as prairies such as Juniper Prairie and Hopkins Prairie. The forest contains one of Florida's few federally designated wilderness areas: Juniper Prairie Wilderness. Additionally, Silver Springs State Park, which protects Silver Springs, offers more recreational possibilities in the Ocala area. A couple other newer restoration areas, such as Ocklawaha Prairie Restoration Area, on the south side of Ocala National Forest can be considered for hiking.
The most prominent hiking destination near Ocala is Ocala National Forest. Ocala National Forest is the southernmost national forest in the US. It is also one of Florida's most popular hiking destinations. A long stretch of the Florida Trail passes through the sand pine scrub forests of Ocala National Forest, as well as prairies such as Juniper Prairie and Hopkins Prairie. The forest contains one of Florida's few federally designated wilderness areas: Juniper Prairie Wilderness. Additionally, Silver Springs State Park, which protects Silver Springs, offers more recreational possibilities in the Ocala area. A couple other newer restoration areas, such as Ocklawaha Prairie Restoration Area, on the south side of Ocala National Forest can be considered for hiking.
