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| Home > Florida > Apalachicola NF |
Apalachicola National Forest
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
| Other Names | Springhill Motorcycle Trailhead, Silver Lake OHV Trailhead, North Oak OHV Trailhead, Vinzant OHV Trailhead |
| Last Known Status | Open |
This popular area offers over 100 miles of motorized trails with several small play areas. The trails are mostly smooth, flat, sandy and dusty but can get very muddy during wet weather.
There are several staging areas to access the trail system but Silver Lake (the only trailhead with ATV access) and Springhill are the preferred spots for long trailers since the lots are paved with plenty of turnaround room. The North Oak Staging Area is smaller but consists of loose sand. The road that leads to Vinzant Staging Area is usually passable even during wet weather but the trail is prone to flooding.
A trail pass is required to ride and can be purchased at any of the staging areas (currently only three day or annual passes are available).
Camping is not permitted but Silver Lake offers a nice day use area with shady sites with picnic tables and BBQ grills and a beach. A small fee is charged to use the facility.
The trails are usually open year-round but may close on short notice during and after bad weather. Call before you haul.
For a detailed trail map see pages 15 and 24.
REGULATIONS
| Permit Required | Yes | Apalachicola National Forest OHV Pass |
| Dates Open | Year-Round | |
| Other ATV Stickers Accepted | Unknown | |
| Spark Arrestor | Yes | A spark arresting exhaust silencer or end cap is required for all vehicles. |
| Noise Limit | Yes (96 dB) | |
| Whip Flags | Not Required | |
| Maximum Vehicle Width | Yes (50 inches) | has entrance gate or posts |
 Motorcycles & Dirt Bikes | Permitted | |
 ATVs | Permitted | (maximum width 50 inches) |
 UTV & SXS | Permitted | (maximum width 50 inches) |
 SUVs & Jeeps (registered) | Prohibited | |
| Dune Buggy & Swamp Buggy 4x4 (unregistered) | Prohibited | |
| 2 Stroke Engines | No Restriction | |
| MX Helmet Required | Youth Only | required for persons under 16 by state law (RiderPlanet strongly recommends helmets for all riders.) |
 Camping | Prohibited | |
 Campfires | Prohibited | |
| Night Riding | No | |
| Trail Blazing | Prohibited | stay on trail |
| Rule Enforcement | ||
| Comment | Florida law requires OHVs to be titled when operating on public land. Proof of ownership is required when operating machines. | |
TYPE OF AREA
| Area | Motorized Trails |
| Land | National Forest |
FEES & PASSES
| Parking | Yes ($3.00) Silver Lake Recreation Area Day Use and Parking Fee |
| Entry | (None) |
| Riding | Yes ($10.00 per rider) Three Day Pass - $10/rider; Annual Pass - $75/rider |
| Camping | (None) |
RATINGS
| Our Rating |  Good |
| Recommended Stay | Full Day |
| Comments | (Scroll Down For Rider Reviews & Comments) |
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
| Nearest City | Tallahassee, FL | ||
| Address | Silver Lake Road, Tallahassee, FL 32310 | ||
| From: Tallahassee, FL
For Silver Lake OHV Staging Area: 1) Take SR-20 west about 4 miles 2) Turn left (south) onto Aenon Church Road, continue 5.9 miles 3) Turn right (north) onto Silver Lake Road, continue .3 miles 4) Staging area is on the right. For Springhill Staging Area: 1) Take Springhill Road south about 3 miles 2) Trailhead entrance is on the right (west). For North Oak OHV Staging Area: 1) Take SR-20 west about 6 miles 2) Turn left (south) onto FR-325, staging area is on the left. For Vinzant Staging Area: 1) Take SR-20 west about 13 miles 2) Turn left (south) onto FR-342, continue about 1 mile 3) Staging area is on the left. |
OFFICIAL CONTACTS
| Contact Info | Apalachicola National Forest - Apalachicola Ranger District 11152 NW SR 20 Bristol, FL 32321 (866) 607-2016 mailroom_r8_florida@fs.fed.us www.fs.usda.gov |
| Comment | select option 2 for trail conditions |
Apalachicola NF Trail Photo
This area is popular for group rides. Expect lots of mud but mostly flat trails. Photo Submitted 6/17/2014 (Thanks!)
Apalachicola NF Trail Photo
After a good rain, expect most of the trails to be water logged. ATVs and side by sides will have a blast here. Photo Submitted 8/14/2014 (Thanks!)
ADD PHOTOS
TERRAIN
| Approx Size | 195,000 acres (305 sq mi) | |
| Miles Of Trail | 111 | |
| Climate Type | Forest | |
| Elevation | 100 to 120 ft. | |
| Trail Maintenance | Marked, Not Rated, Lightly Maintained | |
| Loose Dirt |  Little | |
| Hard Pack | Little | |
| Sand |  Mostly | |
| Mud | Little | |
| Dust | Little | |
| Rocks |  None | |
| Trees |  All | |
| Steep Hills | None | |
| Water Crossings | None | |
| Small Jumps | None | |
| Large Jumps | None | |
| Berms |  Many | |
| Single Track |  Some | |
| Hazards |  Few | (hazards assumed marked but use caution) |
 Novice | Mostly | |
 Amateur | Some | |
 Expert | Little |
GPS POINTS
KEY SERVICES
 Gasoline | 1-5 Miles (NE) | Selam Country Store (850) 574-6125 |
| Diesel | 1-5 Miles (NE) | Selam Country Store (850) 574-6125 |
 Water | On Site | Silver Lake Recreation Area (850) 643-2282 |
 RV Hookup | 5-20 Miles (NW) | Coe's Landing Campground (850) 350-9560 or (866) 350-9560 |
 RV Disposal | 5-20 Miles (NW) | Coe's Landing Campground (850) 350-9560 or (866) 350-9560 |
| Campground | 5-20 Miles (NW) | Coe's Landing Campground (850) 350-9560 or (866) 350-9560 |
 Conv Store | 1-5 Miles (NE) | Selam Country Store (850) 574-6125 |
RIDER COMMENTS & REVIEWS