Indian Lake State Forest Campground, Florida - Camping & Campgrounds

This facility offers campsites.

Important NoticeThe Florida Forest Service will close all campgrounds and recreation areas on State Forests if the county where the State Forest is located is placed under a Tropical Storm or Hurricane WARNING by the National Weather Service. Reservations will be automatically refunded for closures related to tropical weather.

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The Indian Lake State Forest primitive campsites are located a couple hundred yards north of the sinkhole lake the state forest is named after. The campsites are also only four and a half miles (4.5) north of the renowned Silver Springs in Marion County. Campers are allowed to park their personal vehicles at their respective campsites. As these sites are primitive, there is no electric and or water on site. Recreational activities featured here are: hiking, picnicking, bird watching, wildlife viewing and photography.

Description

Natural Features

The most notable feature of this state forest is Indian Lake. The deep sinkhole lake located just south of the camping sites drains Indian Lake Prairie into the Floridian aquifer. The forest as a whole has rolling sandhills on a sinkhole-rick karst topography. Other natural community types on the forest include depression marshes, xeric hammocks, and mesic flatwoods. As a visitor makes their way along county roads to the forest they can expect to see reforestation efforts occurring in previously abandoned cropland and improved pastures.

Recreation

Indian Lake State Forest has primitive campsites and recreational trails that offer a variety of activities such as hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, birding, wildlife viewing and photography. The state forest is also adjacent to Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area managed by St. Johns River Water Management District. Get outdoors and explore the recreational opportunities at Indian Lake State Forest; for further information please visit: https://www.freshfromflorida.com/

Facilities

A vault toilet is located between the campsites and the day use parking area.

Nearby Attractions

Silver Springs State Park
Appleton Museum of Art
Ocala National Forest
Marion County Museum of History and Archaeology
Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks
Cross Florida Greenway (Santos-Belleview Trail)

Activities and Amenities

Directions

GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude)

29.27509, -82.04925

29°16'30.31"N, 82°02'57.29"W

From Ocala (I-75)-Take exit 352 (State Road 40). Drive east on SR 40 for 8.4 miles until you come to County Road 35. Turn north on CR 35 and drive for 4.5 miles. You should see an Indian Lake State Forest Recreation Area sign on your right (note- it is just after the Bear-N-Oak Trailhead). Turn in at the recreation area sign and follow the road for just over a quarter of a mile down to the campsites near the lake.

From East of Ocala (Along SR 40)-Head west on SR 40. As you enter into Ocala you will see Silver Springs State Park on the south side of the road. Just after the entrance to Silver Springs State Park you will reach County Road 35. Turn north on CR 35 and drive 4.5 miles. You should see an Indian Lake State Forest Recreation Area sign on your right (note- it is just after the Bear-N-Oak Trailhead). Turn in at the recreation area sign and follow the road for just over a quarter of a mile down to the campsites near the lake.

Contact Information

Additional Information

No potable water or electric at this site. This is primitive camping.
There is a gate between the day use parking and the primitive campsites. Please keep this gate closed unless you are entering and/or leaving the camping area.
A single vault toilet on site is shared between day use visitors and campers.
Swimming is not allowed in the lake.

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