Apalachicola National Forest

Apalachicola National Forest
Map showing the location of Apalachicola National Forest
Map showing the location of Apalachicola National Forest
LocationFlorida, USA
Nearest cityTallahassee, FL
Coordinates30°14′10″N 84°39′56″W / 30.23611°N 84.66556°W / 30.23611; -84.66556
Area632,890 acres (2,561.2 km2)[1]
Max. elevation184 ft. (56 m): 30.4326, -84.3855
CreatedMay 13, 1936 (May 13, 1936)[2]
Governing bodyU.S. Forest Service
WebsiteApalachicola National Forest

The Apalachicola National Forest is the largest U.S. National Forest in the state of Florida. It encompasses 632,890 acres (988.89 sq mi; 2,561.2 km2)[1] and is the only national forest located in the Florida Panhandle. The National Forest provides water and land-based outdoors activities such as off-road biking, hiking, swimming, boating, hunting, fishing, horse-back riding, and off-road ATV usage.[3]

Apalachicola National Forest contains two Wilderness Areas: Bradwell Bay Wilderness and Mud Swamp/New River Wilderness. There are also several special purpose areas: Camel Lake Recreation Area, Fort Gadsden Historical Site, Leon Sinks Geological Area, Silver Lake Recreation Area, Trout Pond Recreation Area, and Wright Lake Recreation Area. In descending order of forest land area it is located in parts of Liberty, Wakulla, Leon, and Franklin counties. [1] The forest is headquartered in Tallahassee, as are all three National Forests in Florida, but there are local forest ranger district offices located in Bristol and Crawfordville.

  1. ^ a b "Land Areas of the National Forest System" (PDF). U.S. Forest Service.
  2. ^ Proclamation 2169, 49 Stat. 3516 (May 13, 1936).
  3. ^ "Apalachicola National Forest".