Apalachicola National Forest

The largest national forest in Florida, Apalachicola sprawls across 576,374 acres of the Panhandle between Tallahassee and the Gulf of Mexico, protecting one of the most significant longleaf pine flatwoods ecosystems remaining in the southeastern Coastal Plain. The forest harbors the world's largest population of endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers, which excavate nesting cavities in living longleaf pines, as well as the flatwoods salamander, gopher tortoise, and a remarkable diversity of carnivorous plants including pitcher plants, sundews, and butterworts.\n\nThe Bradwell Bay Wilderness offers an exceptionally challenging wild swamp experience -- a vast, nearly impenetrable titi and cypress bog where hikers may wade through waist-deep water on the Florida Trail's most notorious section. The forest's extensive network of rivers and creeks support outstanding paddling, fishing, and wildlife viewing. Seasonal controlled burns maintain the fire-dependent longleaf pine ecosystem.\n\nApalachicola's flat terrain and mild winter climate make it a year-round recreation destination for hunting, fishing, horseback riding, and off-highway vehicle use. The Florida National Scenic Trail passes through the forest on its journey across the state. As climate change and sea-level rise threaten Florida's coastal landscapes, the forest's role as a buffer zone, carbon sink, and species refuge grows ever more critical.