Little Lake George Wilderness

Area Status: Temporarily Closed

At 2,883 acres, the Little Lake George Wilderness is the smallest of the wilderness areas on the Ocala National Forest, but it’s the only one that boasts a shoreline.  Located near the confluence of the St. Johns and Ocklawaha Rivers at the northeastern corner of the Ocala National Forest, this remote area is best explored on a paddling trip.

As a wilderness area, it remains roadless, untouchable by motorized vehicles or equipment. This special designation provides certain challenges in a flammable habitat such as the sand pine scrub, since firefighting options are limited. As a result, portions of the wilderness may seem denuded after a forest fire. But the scrub regenerates quickly, pushing up saw palmetto and young sand pines to provide shade and habitat for wildlife.

The wilderness contains a mosaic of habitats bound together by the flow of open prairies, many with ponds, across the landscape. By hiking, backpacking or paddling through the wilderness, visitors can enjoy the flora and fauna of pine flatwoods, hardwood swamps, shallow lakes, grassy prairies, sand pine scrub, oak scrub, sinkholes and sawgrass marsh.

Backpacking

  • Backpacking is one of the more popular ways to see the wilderness.

Boating

  • Canoeing is a great way to see the variety of ecosystems and abundance of wildlife. Launch your canoe at the Ocklawaha River put-in near Davenport Landing along SR 19 or at Fort Gates to reach the Little Lake George Wilderness, which is just upstream from the Fort Gates Ferry crossing and across from Welaka State Forest.

Camping -- Primitive/Dispersed

  • When it's not general gun hunting season, visitors are welcome to pitch tents anywhere under the stars. 

At a Glance

Current Conditions: Expect full recreation sites during weekends. Have backup plans. Sites may close when capacity is reached.
Fees: Free
Usage: Light
Restrictions:
  • Motorized vehicles are not permitted.
  • Visitors must pack in their drinking water and pack out any waste.
  • Camp at least 200 feet from trails/roads and 100 feet from water sources.
  • Follow Leave No Trace Principles: Plan ahead and prepare; travel and camp on durable surfaces; dispose of waste properly; leave what you find; minimize campfire impacts; respect wildlife and be considerate of other visitors.
Checking in at a district office is a good idea, to inform someone of your travel plans and get the latest info on weather conditions. The staff can also inform you about any campfire ban in effect during times of high fire danger.
Information Center: See an interactive map of the wilderness area.

General Information

General Notes:

Amenities

  • None

Licenses and Passes 

Boating 

  • Boating in the National Forests in Florida is regulated by the state of Florida. Please visit our boating web page before you grab your personal floatation device and head out onto the water.  

Camping – Dispersed/Primitive Camping 

  • Many people enjoy this solitude and primitive experience, but knowing your limits, skills and abilities is a must. Following certain rules and regulations will help make your experience safer and ensure settings remain unspoiled.  

Fishing 


Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Activities

Dispersed Camping

General Info:

General Notes

Amenities

  • None

Licenses and Passes 

Boating 

  • Boating in the National Forests in Florida is regulated by the state of Florida. Please visit our boating web page before you grab your personal floatation device and head out onto the water.  

Camping – Dispersed/Primitive Camping 

  • Many people enjoy this solitude and primitive experience, but knowing your limits, skills and abilities is a must. Following certain rules and regulations will help make your experience safer and ensure settings remain unspoiled.  

Fishing 


Lake and Pond Fishing

Backpacking

General Info:

General Notes

There are no old roads or trails into the area. It’s a dense swamp of red maple, gum, ash, cabbage palm and cypress trees draped with Spanish moss, with small areas of loblolly and slash pine on the drier western edge.

Licenses and Passes

Boating 

  • Boating in the National Forests in Florida is regulated by the state of Florida. Please visit our boating web page before you grab your personal floatation device and head out onto the water.  

Camping – Dispersed/Primitive Camping 

  • Many people enjoy this solitude and primitive experience, but knowing your limits, skills and abilities is a must. Following certain rules and regulations will help make your experience safer and ensure settings remain unspoiled.  

Fishing 

Hunting 


Boating - Non-Motorized

Recreation Areas

Recreation Activities

Location

 
  Latitude : 
29.4571

  Longitude : 
-81.7070