Four Creeks State Forest
Rate this placeNearby: Four Creeks Wildlife Management Area Kings Road Unit - Thomas Creek Wildlife Management Area
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Four Creeks State Forest is a 14,000-acre forest located in the state of Florida.
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Summary
There are several good reasons to visit this state forest, including hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, and camping. The forest is home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, turkey, and black bear. Visitors can also enjoy the scenic views of the forest's creeks and wetlands.
Some specific points of interest to see in Four Creeks State Forest include the Big Ditch, which is a large canal that was dug during the early 20th century to drain the wetlands for agriculture. The forest also features several hiking trails, including the Florida National Scenic Trail, which runs through the forest.
Interesting facts about Four Creeks State Forest include that it was once a part of the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia. The forest was purchased by the state of Florida in the 1930s to be used as a demonstration area for reforestation.
The best time of year to visit Four Creeks State Forest is in the fall and winter months when the weather is cooler and there are fewer mosquitoes. Visitors should also be aware that the forest is closed during hunting season, which runs from November to January.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Four Creeks Wildlife Management Area
Kings Road Unit - Thomas Creek Wildlife Management Area
Nassau Wildlife Management Area
Lake Bethesda Park
Halfmoon Park