Ochlockonee River State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Ochlockonee River State Park is located in the Florida Panhandle and is known for its natural beauty and diverse wildlife.
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Summary
It is a great place to visit for outdoor enthusiasts, with many hiking trails, fishing spots, and canoeing and kayaking opportunities. The park is home to a variety of animals, including alligators, deer, otters, and a variety of birds. Visitors can also explore the park's historic sites, including the ruins of an old Spanish fort and a Civil War-era cemetery.
One of the most popular activities at Ochlockonee River State Park is fishing, with the river home to many species of fish, including bass, catfish, and crappie. The park also features several hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulty levels, offering visitors the chance to explore the area's diverse natural habitats, including pine forests, swamps, and wetlands.
In addition to its natural beauty and outdoor activities, Ochlockonee River State Park has a rich history, with evidence of human habitation dating back thousands of years. The park's Spanish fort ruins were built in the 1600s and were used to protect the area's lucrative fur trade. The park is also home to a Civil War-era cemetery, which serves as a reminder of the area's role in the conflict.
The best time to visit Ochlockonee River State Park is in the spring and fall, when the weather is mild and the park's many outdoor activities can be enjoyed to the fullest. However, the park is open year-round and offers a variety of programs and events throughout the year, including guided hikes, bird watching tours, and educational programs for children.
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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
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Ochlockonee River State Park
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