Gores Landing Unit Ocklawaha River Wildlife Management Area

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Parks

Florida

Nearby: Ray Wayside Park Silver Springs State Park

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Gores Landing Unit Ocklawaha River Wildlife Management Area is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts in the state of Florida.

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Summary

The area offers a diverse array of recreational activities, including hiking, fishing, hunting, kayaking, and wildlife viewing.

Some good reasons to visit this wildlife management area include its beautiful natural scenery, abundance of wildlife, and numerous recreational opportunities. The area is home to a variety of animals, including alligators, turtles, otters, and a variety of bird species.

Specific points of interest within the Gores Landing Unit include the Ocklawaha River, which is a popular spot for fishing and kayaking, and the Gores Landing Cemetery, which is a historic site dating back to the mid-1800s.

Interesting facts about the area include its history as a logging community, with remnants of old logging equipment still visible throughout the area. Additionally, the Ocklawaha River was once considered as a potential location for the Disney World theme park before ultimately being rejected in favor of the current location in Orlando.

The best time of year to visit the Gores Landing Unit Ocklawaha River Wildlife Management Area is in the fall and winter months when temperatures are milder and the mosquito population is lower. However, visitors can enjoy the area year-round with proper preparation and planning.

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
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.

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