We’re making a habit of meeting in the parking lot of the Umatilla Ace Hardware and then carpooling up into the Ocala National Forest. Getting closer to completing my goal of hiking the Florida National Scenic Trail through the Forest, the stretch from Pat’s Island to Hopkins Prairie is the latest section my hiking friends and I have covered. This is a very short section, less than 5 miles out and back, but worth a visit!
First Thing to Love: Shade
Nearly the entire section is shaded! During the August heat, this is an important quality, and we thoroughly enjoyed the shade.
Second Thing to Love: Sinkholes
Heading north from Pat’s Island Trailhead, and just past an unnamed sinkhole on the left, we crossed Forest Road 50. Big Sink is on the right just past Forest Road 50. It is large and deep, and always has water in the bottom. The far side appears to have steps leading to the water, but we were not able to find the spur trail. We’ll go back to look again, because there’s no public water supply at the Hopkins Prairie Campground.
Third Thing to Love: Sand Live Oak Canopy
After Big Sink, the trail runs right along Hopkins Prairie under lovely sand live oaks. It is difficult to describe how beautiful this is. The oaks grow as if they have no desire other than to shade hikers. The troubles of the “real” world fall away as you walk beneath these branches. Looking to the left, the Prairie stretches to the north and west, offering opportunities for bird watching and like Payne’s Prairie, this is a habitat that gets more interesting the longer you look.
Fourth Thing to Love: The Prospect of Bats
Just before we reached the campground, we stumbled upon a bathouse. It is currently unoccupied, but maybe the bats will move in or return soon. If I were a bat, I’d love to live here.
Fifth Thing to Love: Campsites
As soon as the night temperatures drop below 75, I hope to solo camp here for a couple of nights. The Hopkins Prairie campground is primitive, meaning no electricity and no public water supply. There are vault toilets but no showers. However, you can drive in to your campsite! So bring all the water you’ll need and don’t worry about finding a bear canister because there are bear-safe food vaults on every campsite. Campsites also have picnic tables and fire rings with grill grates. There’s a camp host at this campground.
Some of the sites have clearly not been used in quite some time, as evidenced by the small fungus growing on the table where we stopped before heading back to the car.
We enjoyed this hike so much that we’ve just made plans to drive to the campsites and continue hiking north for an hour or so just to see if the next few miles are as gorgeous as the short jaunt from Pat’s Island to the campground. I would be surprised if there’s not just as much to love as we proceed north!