Skip to Left Navigation Menu Skip to page content

Adam H. Putnam, Commissioner - James R. Karels, Director

Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest:
•	OSSF Brochure (pdf, 1.2M)
•	Birding Checklist (pdf, 585k)
Links:
•	Wildlife Management Areas (FWC)

Great Florida Birding Trail

Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail

Birding Checklist (pdf, 585k)

State Forests:

- State Forest Map
- State Forest Events

Recreation:

- Recreation Programs
- Fee Schedule
- Recreation At-A-Glance
- Mobility Aids

- Wetland Restoration
- Resource Management Plans
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Friends of Florida State Forests

Help keep Florida's forests healthy. Use ONLY firewood from the area where you plan to burn it: More Tips

Total Acreage: 32,349
Counties: Collier, Hendry

Florida Forest Service HOME > Forest Management > State Forests >

Okaloacoochee Slough
State Forest

History | Location | Natural Features | Recreation | Contacts

Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest lies mostly within Hendry County, with a section located in Collier County. The state forest was purchased under the Conservation and Recreation Lands (CARL) Program using Preservation 2000 and Save Our Rivers funds.

The management objective for Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest is to provide multiple-use under the direction of the Florida Forest Service. Multiple-use management practices on the forest focus on ecosystem restoration, silvicultural and watershed management, recreation and wildlife management, as well as archaeological and cultural resource management.

History

PHOTO: Aerial view of Okaloacoochee Slough.

The area of Okaloacoochee Slough was heavily logged in the early 1900s as timber was ideal for making railroad cross-ties for a growing railroad system that was developing in southern Florida. During this time, sawmills began to spring up producing small towns dependent on these sawmills. One of these early towns, Sears, stood on the northern border of the forest. After a fire destroyed the sawmill, the town of Sears went into decline and eventually disappeared.

During that same time period , the Atlantic Land Improvement Company (ALICO), Inc. continued harvesting operations by utilizing two portable sawmills, which were referred to as the Twin Mills. Although the sawmills no longer exist on the forest, remnants of sawdust piles can be found on the forest near Twin Mills Grade.

Map of Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest.

Location

Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest is located approximately thirty miles east of Fort Myers, in southeastern Hendry and northeastern Collier counties.

Access: The forest can be accessed along CR 832, marked by the various self-service pay stations.

Natural Features

PHOTO: A Primitive Campsite

PHOTO: White-tailed Deer

PHOTO: Cypress Dome.

The Okaloacoochee Slough, the forest's namesake, is a 13,382 acre pristine slough that is oriented north-south through the forest. The natural systems of the Fakahatchee Strand and Big Cypress Preserve are dependent on the water supplied by the Okaloacoochee Slough. The Okaloacoochee Slough is one of the few places in south Florida in which the pre-Columbian landscape, north of the Everglades or Big Cypress National Preserve, can be observed.

This unique natural system provides a large roaming area of contiguous habitat for a variety of wildlife species. The forest is home to listed, threatened, and endangered species such as the Florida panther, Florida black bear, sandhill crane, wood stork, and gopher tortoise.

Recreation

The forest offers a variety of recreational activities for visitors. There are many miles of open forest roads available for hiking and bicycling. Fishing opportunities are plentiful in the numerous canals, ponds, and ditches that are accessible by vehicle. Several “hidden” areas can be found for those who enjoy a hike to an isolated fishing spot. The forest’s wetlands provide opportunities for wildlife viewing.

Hunting is a popular activity on Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest. All hunts are done on a quota system and include: spring gobbler hunt, archery hunt, general gun hunt, special hog hunt, and a dove hunt. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission coordinates all hunting activities held on the forest. Visit Okaloacoochee Slough WMA for information.

In keeping with its mission to protect and manage Florida's forest resources, the Florida Forest Service has developed rules which apply to all State Forest visitors. Find out more about state forest fees and rules.