Okaloacoochee Slough
State Forest
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Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest lies mostly within Hendry County, with a section located in Collier County. The state forest was purchased under the Conservation and Recreation Lands (CARL) Program using Preservation 2000 and Save Our Rivers funds.
The management objective for Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest is to provide multiple-use under the direction of the Florida Division of Forestry. Multiple-use management practices on the forest focus on ecosystem restoration, silvicultural and watershed management, recreation and wildlife management, as well as archaeological and cultural resource management.
History
Aerial view of Okaloacoochee Slough. |
The area of Okaloacoochee Slough was heavily logged in the early 1900s as timber was ideal for making railroad
crossties for a growing railroad system that was developing in southern Florida. During this time, sawmills began to spring up producing small towns dependent on these sawmills. One of these early towns, Sears, stood on the northern border of the forest. After
a fire destroyed the sawmill, the town of Sears
went into decline and eventually disappeared.
During that same time period , the Atlantic Land Improvement Company (ALICO), Inc. continued
harvesting operations by utilizing two portable sawmills,
which were referred to as the Twin Mills. Although the sawmills no longer exist on the forest, remnants of sawdust piles can be found on the forest near Twin
Mills Grade.
Location
Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest is located approximately thirty miles east of Fort Myers, in
southeastern Hendry and northeastern Collier counties.
Access: The forest can be accessed
along CR 832, marked by the various self-service
pay stations.
Natural Features
The Okaloacoochee Slough, the forest's namesake, is a 13,382 acre
pristine slough that is oriented north-south through the forest. The natural systems of
the Fakahatchee Strand and Big Cypress Preserve
are dependent on the water supplied by the Okaloacoochee
Slough. The Okaloacoochee Slough is one of the few places in south Florida in which the pre-Columbian landscape, north of the Everglades or Big Cypress National Preserve, can be observed.
This unique natural system provides a
large roaming area of contiguous habitat for a
variety of wildlife species. The forest is home
to listed, threatened, and endangered species
such as the Florida panther, Florida black bear,
sandhill crane, wood stork, and gopher tortoise.
Recreation
The forest offers
a variety of recreational activities for visitors. There are
many miles of open forest roads available for
hiking and bicycling. Fishing opportunities are
plentiful in the numerous canals, ponds, and ditches
that are accessible by vehicle. Several “hidden”
areas can be found for those who enjoy a hike to an isolated fishing spot. The forest’s
wetlands provide opportunities for wildlife viewing.
Hunting is a popular activity on Okaloacoochee
Slough State Forest. All hunts are done on a quota
system and include: spring gobbler hunt, archery
hunt, general gun hunt, special hog hunt, and
a dove hunt. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission coordinates all hunting activities
held on the forest. Visit MyFWC.com/hunting for information.
In keeping with its mission to protect and manage Florida's
forest resources, the Division of Forestry has developed
rules which apply to all State Forest visitors. Find out more about state forest fees and rules.
Trails |
Campsites |
Other |
Hike |
Bike |
Horse |
Canoe |
Camp
sites |
with
Electric |
Leashed
Pets OK |
More Activities |
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none |
none |
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none |
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Fishing, Hunting |
Contact Us
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