The Tiger Bay State Forest is in the U.S. 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...

. The 27330 acres (111 km²) forest is located in Volusia County, Florida

Volusia County, Florida

Volusia County is a county located in the state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2010 official county's population was 494,593 . Its county seat is DeLand, and its most populous city is currently Deltona....

, between Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach, Florida

Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, USA. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,211. Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had...

 and DeLand

DeLand, Florida

DeLand is the county seat of Volusia County, Florida. In 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population to be 24,375. It is part of the Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 436,575 in 2006...

.

History

Tiger Bay State Forest consists of large areas of swamp with embedded pine islands and a large pine ridge area. The purchase of this forest began in 1977 under the Environmentally Endangered Lands Program, with additional acquisitions made in 1994 and 1998. Tiger Bay State Forest is located among several publicly owned lands which create wildlife corridors for species listed as endangered, threatened or of special concern. Roaming habitat is available for the Florida black bear as well as potential nesting and foraging area for the bald eagle.

Tiger Bay State Forest was severely impacted by the 1998 Summer Wildfire Firestorm. Approximately 15000 acres (60.7 km²) of the forest were burned during these catastrophic wildfires. Restoration included extensive salvage timber removal and reforestation efforts have been completed.

Location

Tiger Bay State Forest is located in the central section of Volusia County, approximately 7 miles (11.3 km) west of Daytona Beach, Florida. The forest extends north and south of US Highway 92.

Three forest access points are located off of U.S. Route 92

U.S. Route 92

U.S. Route 92 is a 177 mile intrastate U.S. Route in the U.S. state of Florida. The western terminus is at Alt US 19, SR 595, and SR 687 in downtown St. Petersburg. The eastern terminus is at SR A1A in Daytona Beach. Most of US 92 is designated unsigned State Road 600.-Route description:US 92...

:

• To access the Rima Ridge Tract, go 4 miles (6.4 km) west of the I-95/US 92 interchange on US 92 and turn north (right) onto Indian Lake Road for approximately 1¾ miles, this road takes you into the forest;
• The South Entrance leading to Rattlesnake Pond is 6 miles (9.7 km) west of I-95/US 92 interchange on US 92, the entrance is on the south (left) side of the road;
• The North Entrance is 7 miles (11.3 km) west of the I-95/US 92 interchange on US 92, the entrance is on the north (right) side of the road. Access to the Rima Ridge Tract is also available by taking SR 40 approximately 5 miles (8 km) west of I-95, the entrance is on the left side of the road. Tiger Bay State Forest office headquarters is located on the north side of US Highway 92, one-half mile west of the South entrance. Parking for horse trailers is available at the headquarters.

Natural Features

Tiger Bay State Forest was named after its largest physiographic feature, Tiger Bay, an extensive wetland that provides a critical aquifer recharge for the local area. Pine islands are dotted throughout the extensive hydric swamp forest and comprise 40% of the property. Also found on the forest are two lakes, Indian Lake and Scoggin Lake, and several ponds. Coon Pond is a natural water body, while Rattlesnake Pond, Woody Pond, and Ranch Pond are man-made ponds that are available to the public for fishing. Three additional unnamed man-made ponds are also located on the forest.

Recreation

Recreational activities include hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, picnicking, boating, fishing, hunting, nature study and photography. Horseback riding and bicycling are allowed on forest roads designated for their use only. Tiger Bay State Forest contains 1 hiking trail (Buncombe) in the Florida Division of Forestry's Trailwalker Hiking Program and 1 equestrian trail (Rima Ridge) in the Division’s TrailTrotter Program. An equestrian campground has been added to the Rima Ridge Tract with 5 primitive campsites, a small horse corral (16’ × 16’), non-potable water supply and water trough for watering horses. Contact Tiger Bay State Forest to obtain State Forest Use Permits for primitive camping.

Tiger Bay State Forest is managed as a Wildlife Management Area 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). Indian Lake and Rattlesnake Pond are open for fishing and small boat use. Hunting for whitetail deer, hogs, and small game is permitted during designated seasons.