The Apalachicola National Forest is the largest U.S. National Forest in the state

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

 of Florida

Florida

Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

. It contains 564961 acre (882.8 sq mi; 2,286.3 km²) and is the only national forest

United States National Forest

National Forest is a classification of federal lands in the United States.National Forests are largely forest and woodland areas owned by the federal government and managed by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. Land management of these areas...

 located in the Florida Panhandle

Florida Panhandle

The Florida Panhandle, an informal, unofficial term for the northwestern part of Florida, is a strip of land roughly 200 miles long and 50 to 100 miles wide , lying between Alabama on the north and the west, Georgia also on the north, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Its eastern boundary is...

. The Apalachicola National Forest contains two Wilderness Areas, Bradwell Bay and Mudswamp/New River. The National Forest also provides water and land-based outdoors activities such as hiking, swimming, boating, hunting, fishing, horse-back riding, and off-road ATV

All-terrain vehicle

An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...

 usage. Integral to the Apalachicola National Forest are a number of special purpose areas: Camel Lake Recreation Area, Fort Gadsden Historical Site

Fort Gadsden

Fort Gadsden is located in Franklin County, Florida, on the Apalachicola River. The site contains the ruins of two forts, and has been known by several other names at various times, including Prospect Bluff Fort, Nichol's Fort, British Post, Negro Fort, African Fort, and Fort Apalachicola.Listed...

, Leon Sinks Geological Area, Silver Lake Recreation Area, and Wright Lake Recreation Area. In descending order of forest land area it is located in parts of Liberty

Liberty County, Florida

Liberty County is a county located in the state of Florida. Its population was estimated in 2005 as 7,733. Its most populous incorporated area and county seat is Bristol....

, Wakulla

Wakulla County, Florida

Wakulla County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 22,863. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 28,212 people...

, Leon

Leon County, Florida

Leon County is a county located in the state of Florida, named after the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León. At the 2010 Census, the population was 275,487. The county seat of Leon County is Tallahassee which also serves as the state capital. The county seat is home to two of Florida's major...

, and Franklin

Franklin County, Florida

Franklin County is a coastal county located in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 11,057. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 11,177...

 counties. http://www.fs.fed.us/land/staff/lar/2007/TABLE_6.htm The forest is headquartered in Tallahassee

Tallahassee, Florida

Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...

, as are all three National Forests in Florida, but there are local Forest ranger district offices located in Bristol

Bristol, Florida

Bristol is a city in and the county seat of Liberty County, Florida, United States. The population was 845 at the 2000 census; in 2005, the population according to U.S Census estimates was 910. Two schools are based in Bristol: Liberty County High School and W. R. Tolar Elementary and Middle...

 and Crawfordville

Crawfordville, Florida

Crawfordville is an unincorporated community and county seat of Wakulla County, Florida, United States of America.It was named after Dr. John L. Crawford who lived in the community and was the town's doctor....

.

Hunting and fishing

Hunting and fishing are monitored and governed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is a Florida government agency charged with managing the state's fish and wildlife resources, regulating Florida's fisheries and wildlife, and enforcing related laws...

 (FWC). The national forest itself is a wildlife management area. The FWC divides the management area into sections that allow dog hunting, still hunting, and private property. Modern gun season for large game starts Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...

 weekend and ends in January.

Forests

The Forest contains thousands of acres of old growth Pondcypress swamps. In addition, Bradwell Bay Wilderness

Bradwell Bay Wilderness

The Bradwell Bay Wilderness is part of the United States National Wilderness Preservation System, located in the Panhandle. The 24,602 acre  wilderness was established in 1975. "Bay" in this case means "a recess of land, partly surrounded by hills," which, in this particular instance, is...

 contains about 100 acres (40.5 ha) of old-growth Slash Pine

Slash Pine

Pinus elliottii, commonly known as the Slash Pine, is a pine native to the southeastern United States, from southern South Carolina west to southeastern Louisiana, and south to the Florida Keys....

 - Swamp Black Gum swamps.

External links

• Apalachicola National Forest at National Forest Service
• The Florida Trail in the Apalachicola National Forest
• Field Guide to Flora in Apalachicola National Forest