Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest: Experience Florida’s Wilds!

// February 5th, 2010 // Adventures, Florida, Florida Trailwalker, Hiking

My attempt to expose my friend Laura to the wilds of Florida in her visit to Florida proved more than successful at Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest. The slough is a wildlife haven and certainly worth the trip.
We started off on this 2.6 mile trek and found it well marked but not well maintained. The overgrowth at times can mislead you into thinking there is no trail there at all. Only the metal orange trail marker posted on a tree encourages you to forage ahead. We have come to realize a hiking stick and previous bushwhacking experience is a definite PLUS on this trail! The first two miles leads you into a jungle-like forest of cabbage palms and hardwoods full of a variety of Epiphytes and ferns.

Giant Airplant along the trail

Just before you enter the Pine Forest we noticed a large hill resembling an Indian mound. As I climbed to the top, I noticed the soil underfoot was spongy. It is a large mound of sawdust left over from the Old Twin Mills lumber mill that operated here during the logging days in the early 1900′s. Amazed by our historical encounter, we head into the pine forest where we both encountered our first Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake. Preoccupied with birds up high, I caught myself as I almost stepped on a four foot rattler as he coiled poised ready to strike. My friend Laura yelled “SNAKE” as I abruptly stopped midstride! I jumped back to take a few photos before leaving the trail to avoid escalating this confrontation.
The Pine forest led us out back onto the forest road for the last mile to finish the loop. Although this road appears civilized and out in the open, this part of the hike was not without excitement. The road is surrounded by water with a slough on one side and wet

Coiled Eastern Diamond Back Rattler

prairie on the other. We saw an abundance of Woodstorks, Little Blue Heron, Louisiana Heron, Egrets (Great and small), Ibis, and a pair of Sandhill Cranes. We had to keep our wits about us as we encountered several gators sunning on each side of the road. Finally we made our way back to the parking area. As we drove off I couldn’t help but think ….”The slough is a wonderfully wild place!”

For more photos visit Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest on Flickr