As Hurricane Dorian approaches with expected Category 4 force, the Florida Forest Service will close certain Florida State Forest campgrounds effective today, Friday, August 30 at 1:00 PM EST. These campgrounds will be closed to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. All other Florida State Forest campgrounds will remain open at this time, until further notice.
“The safety of Florida’s residents and visitors is our top priority as Hurricane Dorian approaches our state,” said Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried. “Closing these campgrounds allows us to focus our Florida Forest Service resources on other mission-critical functions throughout the storm.”
The below listed campgrounds will remain closed through Thursday, September 5 at 11:59 PM:
Cary State Forest, Nassau County: Cary State Forest Campground, Cary Youth Group Camp
Charles H. Bronson State Forest, Seminole/Orange County: Charles H. Bronson Primitive Campsite
Etoniah Creek State Forest, Putnam County: Green Camp, Iron Bridge Camp Shelter
Goethe State Forest, Levy County: Tidewater Campground
Indian Lake State Forest, Marion County: Indian Lake Campground
Ross Prairie State Forest, Marion County: Ross Prairie Primitive Campsite
Jennings State Forest, Clay County: Bootleggers Campground, Hammock Campground, Dunns Creek Camp Zone, North Fork Black Creek Camp Zone
John M. Bethea State Forest, Baker County: Maple Set Campground
Lake George State Forest, Volusia County: River Road Campground
Lake Wales Ridge State Forest, Polk County: Arbuckle Primitive Campsites, Reedy Creek Campground I, Reedy Creek II Hunt Camp, Walk in the Water Campground, Walk in the Water Primitive Campsites
Little Big Econ State Forest, Seminole County: East Camp Zone, West Camp Zone
Matanzas State Forest, St. Johns County: Cedar Creek Campground, Matanzas State Forest Group Camp
Myakka State Forest, Sarasota County: Flying A Campground, Primitive Campsites
Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest, Hendry/Collier County: Panther Pond Primitive Campground, Wildcow Primitive Group Camp
Picayune Strand State Forest, Collier County: Horseshoe Equestrian Group Camp, Horseshoe Primitive Campground, Kirkland Hammock Primitive Campsite
Ralph E. Simmons State Forest, Nassau County: Group Camp 1, Group Camp 2
Seminole State Forest, Lake County: Primitive Campsites, Primitive Group Campsites
Tiger Bay State Forest, Volusia County: Bennett Field Campground, Bennett Field Group Camp, Tram Road Equestrian Campground
Twin Rivers State Forest, Suwannee County: Primitive Campsites
Welaka State Forest, Putnam County: Dorms, Equestrian Campground, Primitive Campsites
Withlacoochee State Forest, Citrus/Sumter/Hernando County: Annutteliga Hammock Unit Primitive Camp Zone, Buttgenbach Campground at Croom Motorcycle Area, Citrus Tract Primitive Camp Zone Loops B, C, and D, Crooked River Campground, Crooked River Group Camp, Croom Tract Primitive Camp Zone East, Croom Tract Primitive Camp Zone Paddle In, Croom Tract Primitive Camp Zone West, Cypress Glen Campground, Hog Island Campground, Hog Island Youth Group, Camp Holder Mine Campground, Jumper Creek Primitive Camp Zone, Mutual Mine Campground, Mutual Mine Youth Group Camp, Richloam Tract Primitive Camp Zones North, East, and South, River Junction Campground, Silver Lake Campground, Tillis Hill Campground, Two Mile Prairie Tract Bearhead Hammock Primitive Campsites, Two Mile Prairie Tract Oxbow Primitive Camp Zone Paddle In
The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages more than 1 million acres of state forests and provides forest management assistance on more than 17 million acres of private and community forests. The Florida Forest Service is also responsible for protecting homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire on more than 26 million acres.
