Florida offers so many diverse landscapes, making it a great place to head out on the trails to explore. From navigating through swampy marshes to cruising along sandy beaches, there’s something for everyone. Expect to encounter lush forests, shallow streams, and maybe even some curious wildlife along the way.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, Florida’s trails offer a mix of easy to challenging routes, ensuring there’s always a new adventure waiting. Let’s dive into this week’s top trails and see what Florida has to offer!
Table Of Contents
1. Black Water State Park – Milton
Submission By: Jonathan (@trd.jon)
Tell Us About Your Favorite Spot
We don’t have many worthy off-road areas where I live it North West Florida. However, we do have a pristine and stunning nature with tall, mature pines, flowing rivers, and palm trees. I enjoy just driving through nature at this park.
What Would You Rate This Spot?
I’d rate this park’s level of difficulty as a 3/10. You can do a majority of the trails here in 2WD. However, if you want to get a little adventurous, you can seek out some harder trails.
In my area of Florida, we have some pretty gnarly washed-out technical inclines (as much as North Florida will allow in elevation) due to how much rain we get. These portions of the trail are option very sandy/rutted out and require proper spotter/driver communication so you don’t end up in a tree or end up in a situation where the ruts eat up your traction, and you wind up stuck.
2. Croom WMA – Brooksville
Submission By: Ash (@alohaadventures_ash)
Tell Us About Your Favorite Spot
One of the first times I went off-roading was to Croom. My 4Runner was completely stock, and it was lots of fun but also quite a challenge. It was a lot of fun to get to really experience what the 4Runner could do and how far I could push it in its completely original form.
What Would You Rate This Spot?
I would easily rate this area a 3/10. Croom is made for easy going trails. Some areas offer times to put into 4low, but for the most part, it was easy and accessible for any stock vehicle.
3. Hardrock Offroad Park – Ocala
Submission By: Brian (@bullet.t4r)
Tell Us About Your Favorite Spot
Hardrock is one of the more challenging off-roading areas we have in Florida. Outside of the hard-packed roads, sugar sand, and mud in most places, Hardrock has some awesome hill climbs, rock gardens, and technical obstacles. All of which make for a fun day of wheeling.
What Would You Rate This Spot?
There are some areas that are very simple, which I would rate about a 2/10 or a 3/10. However, there are some areas that require some spotters and winching if you are not as experienced, which I would rate more so a 6/10 or an 8/10.
4. Tosahatchee WMA – Christmas
Submission By: Ashley (@amg_omg)
Tell Us About Your Favorite Spot
I love Tosahatchee because it truly shows what real Florida is. It’s a quick drive from anywhere in central Florida, about 20 minutes from Orlando, and can really be accessed by anybody.
The roads are mostly gravel, but if you go out towards Lake Charlie, you’ll find some mud to play in, especially if it’s rained. Be mindful of hunters during hunting season, and bring your fishing pole or hiking boots if that’s your thing!
What Would You Rate This Spot?
Tosahatchee is a 2/10 for difficulty. Any vehicle can access the majority of the roads out here since they are gravel. But having a high clearance, 4×4 vehicle can help you enjoy more of the park and access it when the weather is wet.
5. Picayune Strand State Forest – Naples
Submission By: Rich (@bigtextrd)
Tell Us About Your Favorite Spot
Picayune Strand State Forest is one of the largest areas available in SoFlo for a day’s worth of offroading. With miles of dirt roads from a failed ’70s housing development and plenty of sugar sand trails through the bush, Picayune keeps us going all day. Picayune also offers a covered picnic area for lunch breaks or just getting out of the rig to stretch your legs. Having 78,000 acres of forest an hour away from home is awesome.
What Would You Rate This Spot?
Depending on the time of year, the difficulty rating can change. During the dry season, I’d say a 2/10 or 3/10. Considering Picayune is in the middle of the Florida Everglades, the rainy season can be very wet. I’d say during this season, 6/10 up to an 8/10 because of the deep water crossings that usually have soft bottoms.
6. Citrus WMA – Ocala
Submission By: Brandon (@xsp_vxntre)
Tell Us About Your Favorite Spot
This area provides great all-around trails and obstacles for every stage of builds. Whether you’re a newcomer or have been wheeling for years and have a super-built rig, you will easily find something for you. Plus, there are so many trails across this area that you could easily stay out there wheeling all day.
What Would You Rate This Spot?
Because there are so many trails out here, it’s hard to give it a single rating; however, I would say, on average, it’s a 4/10. There are absolutely some harder trails and easier ones, as I mentioned above, but for the most part, it’s nothing super crazy.
Final Thoughts
And that wraps up this week’s featured trails!
It’s hard not to be mesmerized by the sheer beauty and abundance of trails waiting to be explored in Florida. With countless miles of diverse terrain, there’s always a new adventure just around the corner.
If you prefer a more structured and maintained off-roading experience, Florida has plenty to offer with its numerous Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). These areas serve as the equivalent of OHV (Off-Highway Vehicle) areas found in other states, providing designated spaces for off-road enthusiasts to explore. These WMAs offer well-kept trails and paths, ensuring a smoother and more organized ride for those who prefer a bit of order during their off-road adventures.
Feel free to share your other favorite trails or areas in Florida below!
