Juniper Prairie Wilderness
Not only does this Wilderness cover more ground than any other in Ocala National Forest, it also contains the most diverse ecosystems. An eight-mile stretch of the north-south Florida National Scenic Trail...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Florida |
| Size | 14,293 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 29.2144, -81.6877 |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 10) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 8 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 2 recreation sites inside this wilderness, among them 1 paddling access, 1 viewing Wildlife. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 0 miJuniper Prairie Wilderness ↗Viewing Wildlife
- 2 miJuniper Run ↗Paddling access
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Trails
2 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 43 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Fnst - Lake George Section ↗ | 39.5 | |
| The Yearling Trail | 3.7 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas, refreshed September 18, 2026. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 7.1 miMorgan--Townsend House ↗Salt Springs, FL
- 12.1 miCarr Family Cabin ↗Umatilla, FL
- 13.4 miBarberville Central High School ↗Barberville, FL
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Juniper Prairie Wilderness?
14,293 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Juniper Prairie Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Juniper Prairie Wilderness in?
Florida.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Juniper Prairie Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Juniper Prairie Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Juniper Springs Recreation Area, 0.4 miles out. 8 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Where to camp
Where are the trailheads in Juniper Prairie Wilderness?
The Forest Service lists 2 recreation sites here, including 1 boating - non-motorized and 1 viewing wildlife. Each one links to its Forest Service page.
Source: Trailheads and sites
How do I get to Juniper Prairie Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 29.214, -81.688. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How dark is the night sky at Juniper Prairie Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 10 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Are there historic places near Juniper Prairie Wilderness?
3 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Morgan--Townsend House and Carr Family Cabin.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.