Florida · Hiking · Big Gum Swamp Wilderness

Osceola Wilderness Trail

2.0 mi
round trip
39 ft
climb
136 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Oct–May
best months

Is Osceola Wilderness Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in National Forests in Florida. It doesn't name Osceola Wilderness Trail, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · National Forests in Florida. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

The Osceola Wilderness Trail is a 2-mile out-and-back hike in the Big Gum Swamp Wilderness, part of the Osceola Ranger District of the National Forests in Florida. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is rated easy, with no elevation gain over the course of the trip. It runs on natural surface and is not accessible. The route is nearly flat, with a high point of 136 feet and a low of 133 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.5 miles in, with a grade of about 2 percent. The trail is open year-round and takes about half a day to complete. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Lake City show April and October highs around 79°F with lows in the mid-50s and only seven to eight wet days a month. Summer brings highs near 90°F and about 16 wet days a month in July and August. Nearby, the Blue Horse Trail and the Green Horse Trail Connector are both about 6 miles away. Wiggins Campground and Ocean Pond Campground, each about 8 miles off, offer places to stay.

  • Best time to go · Oct–May

    Best time to visit Osceola Wilderness Trail

    Best months: October–May. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      63° / 41°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      67° / 44°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      73° / 49°

      9 wet

    4. Apr

      79° / 54°

      7 wet

    5. May

      85° / 62°

      8 wet

    6. Jun

      88° / 68°

      14 wet

    7. Jul

      90° / 70°

      16 wet

    8. Aug

      89° / 70°

      16 wet

    9. Sep

      86° / 67°

      12 wet

    10. Oct

      79° / 59°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      71° / 49°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      66° / 44°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lake City 2 E, FL, 14.1 mi away at 195 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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