Post by Mark Renz on Feb 11, 2013 22:43:39 GMT -5
Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest - Drive through Paradise
Taken today with a Nikon D3100 body, Tokina 10-17 mm Fisheye lens - hand-held
(From TidewaterFlorida.com):
Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest is a 32,039-acre property in Collier and Hendry Counties. Okaloacoochee Slough is upstream of Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park and Big Cypress National Preserve. Okalaoacoochee Slough is a 13,382-acre pristine slough, oriented north/south
in the forest that surrounds it. Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest is
one of the few areas of South Florida outside Big Cypress and Everglades National Park where visitors can still walk in and observe pre-Columbian Florida. Among the threatened and endangered species that call this forest home are the Florida panther, sandhill crane, Florida black bear, gopher tortoise, wood stork and American alligator. You might also find white-tailed deer, wild turkey and feral hog on the property.
The forest is composed of a mix of natural communities including
cypress swamp, marsh, slough, pine flatwoods, wet prairie, oak and
oak-palm hammock. Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest offers 39 miles of former logging roads
for hiking, biking and horseback riding enthusiasts. The forest also
offers fishing, hunting and primitive camping. Equestrians must present
the results of a current negative Coggins test before unloading their
horses and riders under the age of 16 must wear a helmet at all times
when on a horse. Canoeing and kayaking are near impossible considering that only during times of extremely wet weather is there enough water anywhere to support the floating of a boat.
www.tidewater-florida.com/state-forests/okaloacoochee-slough-forest.htm
