Farles Prairie Campground

Open — Open dawn to dusk for day-use only. No overnight camping permitted. Expect full capacity on weekends.

About

Set along the shores of Farles Lake in the Ocala National Forest, Farles Prairie Recreation Area is a day-use facility offering diverse outdoor recreation in the heart of the Big Scrub. The long, north-south lake provides opportunities for motorized and non-motorized boating, with a boat ramp available for launching canoes, kayaks, and boats. Anglers can fish from boats or wade into the grassy shallows for bass and panfish. The recreation area is a premier birding destination, particularly during winter months when large numbers of sandhill cranes congregate on the prairie. Walks along the prairie rim and lakeshore yield high counts of songbird and wading bird species. The Florida Trail passes through the area, offering northbound access to the linear Farles Prairie wetland or southbound trails through sand pine scrub toward Buck Lake. Facilities include picnic tables with lake views framed by longleaf pines, vault toilets, parking, and an OHV corral for riders exploring the Ocala Centennial Trail. Visitors should bring their own drinking water as potable water is not available. The area operates dawn to dusk only with no overnight camping permitted.

Directions

From SR 40, turn south onto SR 19 and drive approximately 6 miles. Turn right onto FR 595 and follow the dirt road for about 2.5 miles to reach the recreation area.

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