| About Ocala National Forest |
|
|
| Clearwater Lake Recreation Area |
Content provided by |
|
|
|
Elevation:
5 - 10 Feet
Reservation Status:
First Come, First Served
Length of Stay:
14 Days
Number of Sites:
42
Reservation:
No
Season:
Year-round
From Paisley, FL, From State Highway 42 take Forest Route 536 north.
Location Information
Nestled in a beautiful oak hammock near Paisley, the recreation area is just six miles east of State Highway 19, or about 15 miles west of DeLand. As you walk around the one-mile trail surrounding the 32-acre lake, enjoy the tall, stately longleaf pine forest in the background. Once, longleaf pine forests surrounded with lush wiregrass stretched from Virginia through Florida and west to Texas. Today, the remaining longleaf pine forests only cover an area about the size of the state of Virginia. Most of the longleaf / wiregrass ecosystem was lost when lands were cleared for crops, citrus trees and grazing. This ecosystem is home to many sensitive, rare and endangered species. Visitors will find the Florida National Scenic Trail and the Paisley Woods Bicycle Trail sharing a joint trailhead on the entrance road to the recreation area. There are 42 campsites located within two camping loops. Some of the amenities include flush toilets, picnic tables, barbecue grills, fire rings, firewood, paved spurs and warm showers. Camping is $8.00 per site per day. There is a 14-day camping limit April 15 through October 15 and a six-month camping limit October 15 through April 15. Reservations are not accepted. Occupancy is based on a first-come, first-served basis. Canoe rentals are available on site. No boat ramp is available, but there is a carry-down access for anglers to launch small boats with electric motors or paddles. You can take a short hike of one mile around the lake to observe aquatic species, blue herons, ospreys and alligators. For the more experienced hiker, the Florida National Scenic Trail is adjacent to the campground. It is not a loop trail. While walking the trail, you may observe deer, turkey and perhaps even a black bear. A hike to Alexander Springs is approximately 10 miles, but many prefer to simply turn around and hike back at any point on the trail to shorten this distance. If you wish, you can also hike the Paisley Woods Bicycle Trail, a 22-mile loop trail to Alexander Springs and back. A shorter loop is available at the halfway point.
|
|
More Resources at Wildernet |
|
|
