The Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway is a 123-mile route located in north-central Florida, winding through the Ocala National Forest and parts of the Lake George State Forest. It connects areas around Silver Springs, Ormond Beach, and Palatka, offering travelers a chance to experience the region’s diverse wildlife, including its namesake Florida black bear. The byway showcases lush forests, wetlands, and scenic waterways, making it a prime route for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.
Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway is packed with hidden treasures and calls out to the discoverer in all of us, luring us to get out of the car and “touch the forest”, as locally born author Dana Ste. Claire puts it.
This road leads you to a mosaic of natural sites and communities surrounding one of Florida’s most distinctive ecosystems, the Big Scrub. The Big Scrub is the largest continuous sand pine forest created from ancient dunes capped with vegetation adapted to a lack of water. Traversing eastern Marion County and parts of Lake, Putnam, and Volusia counties, the 60-mile corridor along SR 40 is the backbone for a network of scenic roads and interpretive trails.
The surrounding land includes the Ocala National Forest, Lake George State Forest, Heart Island Conservation Area, and Tiger Bay State Forest. World-class springs with different personalities glitter along the byway, connecting to lakes and rivers for a relaxing escape or an intrepid paddling adventure.
The Florida black bear is at its highest population density here; these ambassadors of the byway are often close to the road, so look out for them!
Check out the different traveling styles (https://floridablackbearscenicbyway.org/famous-travelers/) to help you decide what kind of discovery intrigues you most about the region! We’ve provided examples of discoverers who have come before to function as guides on the website and in our interpretation along the byway.
Our website was refreshed in 2024, so please explore it. Highlights include stories from those who have lived in and loved the region in our Ask a Black Bear section (https://floridablackbearscenicbyway.org/ask-a-black-bear/), Recreational Activity recommendations (https://floridablackbearscenicbyway.org/activities/), and an updated photo and video gallery (https://floridablackbearscenicbyway.org/photo-video-gallery/), among many other things.
For more information please go to: https://nsbfoundation.com/nb/florida-black-bear-scenic-byway/
