4.25287 reviewsPrice
$12 - $30/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
67 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Has Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Price
$12 - $30/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
67 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Has Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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30.2482, -82.4401
Winter birders, bass fishers, and Florida Trail hikers get the most out of this place. Site 13 has standout water views, the primitive sites offer real seclusion, and a connector to the Florida National Scenic Trail is a quarter-mile walk from camp.
Summer is rough here. Yellow flies force campers inside by mid-morning, afternoon thunderstorms are daily, and the electric hookup sites fill fast with no reservations allowed. Hot water and facility cleanliness have been inconsistent enough to frustrate anyone counting on a full
Reference information about Ocean Pond Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p><img align="center" alt="A campsite with a tent and several chairs." margin="20px 20px 20px 20px" src="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/FSEPRD915221.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 300px; padding-bottom: 15px;" /></p><p>Ocean Pond Campground's two-mile wide lake with its shallow, sandy beach provides an escape from everyday life for more than 100,000 visitors each year. The site is about an hour from the <a href="https://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/travel-ideas/where-is-floridas-first-coast.html">First Coast Atlantic beaches </a>and only 30 minutes to multiple state parks, local springs and caves. </p><p><strong>Backpacking</strong></p><ul><li>The <a href="http://floridabirdingtrail.com/">Great Florida Birding Trail</a> and the <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/fnst/home">Florida National Scenic Trail</a> pass through the campground.</li></ul><p><strong>Boating, Fishing and Waterskiing</strong></p><ul><li>This area is a favorite for boaters and water-skiers, anglers and hikers. Facilities includes restrooms, fire rings and picnic tables. A public boat launch and a 67-site campground attracts visitors from near and far.</li><li>Motor boats and trailers can be kept in the boat trailer parking across from the boat ramp.</li></ul><p><strong>Camping</strong></p><ul><li>The early bird gets the worm! Come early for lakeshore camping. Nineteen sites have electric and water hook-ups, 28 have water hook ups and 20 sites are primitive. Water and electric are paved spurs with a 50-foot capacity. Each site has a lantern post, picnic table, fire ring and convenient access to bathrooms and hot showers.</li></ul><ul></ul><p>Ocean Pond is just four miles away from the <a href="https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/olustee-battlefield-historic-state-park">Olustee Battlefield State Park</a>, site of Florida's largest Civil War battle, which took place in 1864. The <a href="http://www.olusteefestival.com/">Olustee Battle Festival </a>is held annually in Lake City. The <a href="http://www.olusteefestival.com/">Battle Re-enactment</a> is held annually at the Olustee Battlefield State Park.</p><p><strong>Olustee Beach Information</strong></p><p>Come join the fun! If you are interested in day-use activities, please visit <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/florida/recreation/recarea/?recid=83559">Olustee Beach</a> which has full bathrooms with showers, beach, boat launch, fishing pier, trails and picnic areas. Swim along a shallow sandy beach and watch the water birds wade through the cypress. Water ski along the glassy lake or watch the white caps roll in on windy days.</p><p>You may also enjoy fishing on the pier, picnicking under the hammock, or walking the <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/florida/recreation/recarea/?recid=83563">Trampled Track Trail</a>, which tells the story of Osceola's turpentining history.</p>
The elevation is 130 ft. The campground, stretching along the settled north shore of Ocean Pond, offers campers three different styles of camping, each in a different environment. To the right of the campground's entrance is an open area dotted with Spanish Moss-draped towering Longleaf pine and a few Live oaks. Each site in the loop has an electric and water hookup and view of Ocean Pond. Some of the sites are on the water and campers can moor their boats at their site. The grass understory is manicured giving this area a near RV resort feel. To the left of the entrance are the other two environments. At the far end of the interior road is a loop in a dense forest with sites tucked in among an assortment of native trees, including Longleaf pine. Vines such as wild grape provide excellent privacy. The dirt interior road as well as the irregular shaped parking aprons, enhance the primitive feel of these campsites. The only tent pads in the campground are in this "primitive" environm ent. Between the two loops, campsite s with only water hookups stretch along Ocean Pond's shoreline. These sites are spacious with groomed grass understory and native vegetation providing good privacy between sites. The towering Longleaf pine provide good shade. Additional features of this campground are a basketball half-court, ccredit card operated washing machine and driers, bird watching opportunities The story is told, at the turn of the century, tiny parcels of land between what is now called Osceola National Forest and the Okefenokee Swamp, were given away with the purchase of a box of tea. Check with your Great-Aunt, you may own a piece of this Osceola National Forest 378 (particularly for Snow egrets and herons), lantern poles and excellent cell phone reception. Possible day trips from the campground are Big Gum Swamp Wilderness; the Olustee Depot museum; Olustee Beach; historic Lake City, and a must for Civil War buffs; and the Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park. The Battle of Olustee was the only major Civil War battle in Florida and once a year, in February, the battle is reenacted. In the Fall there is a smaller gathering called the Civil War Expo. See http://battleofolustee.org/ for details and exact dates. This is bear country, practise safe food storage techniques. It is also alligator country; practice caution around water especially with small dogs.
The parking aprons are paved and all about the same size except for the "primitive" area. The latter parking aprons are dirt and irregular in shape. Facilities Flush Toilets: Yes Hot Showers: Yes Vaults: No Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: Yes Public Phone: No Playground: Yes No. Water Spigots (non-site): 5 No. Threaded: 5 Comments: The showers are wheelchair friendly. Osceola National Forest 379 Water Sports Lake: Yes Water Skiing: Yes Swimming (provided): Yes Rafting: (whitewater) No Sailing: Yes Kayaking: (whitewater) No Power Boating: Yes Boat Ramp: Yes Boating (no power): Yes Boat Carry-Down Access: Yes Comments: Ocean Pond is a natural 1,760-acre lake. Hiking: Connector trail to Florida National Scenic Trail (foot only) - 0.25 miles Fishing: Largemouth bass, Bluegill, Warmouth and Crappie. Boat mooring at campsite, Ocean Pond campground - Osceola National Forest (FL) A suggestion for peace of mind - give everyone a whistle to carry with them during visits into the Forest. Great for calling everyone to dinner, a whistle can also scare off curious wildlife and provide a means of locating stray hikers. 4-legged visitor at campsite in Cedar Lake campground - Ouachita NF (OK) Ouachita National Forest 381 Ouachita National Forest Arkansas and Oklahoma The Ouachita (wash-i-tah) National Forest, located in southeastern Oklahoma and central-western Arkansas, is comprised of 1,647,214 acres with 255,471 acres in Oklahoma and 1,391,743 acres in Arkansas. There are 23 developed campgrounds, 10 of which meet the selection criteria. The Ouachita National Forest is the south's oldest National Forest. The Ouachita Mountains were well known to the Native Americans long before Hernando DeSoto explored the area in 1541. The Indian word "washitah" (spelled by the early French explorers as "ouachita") meant "good hunting grounds." In the lushness and varied vegetation and terrain one can see why the area was so named. Along with good hunting, the area's various hot and warm flowing springs attracted the Native Americans. The area around Hot Springs, Arkansas, on the Forest's eastern edge, was declared neutral lands so Native Americans could visit the springs (143 degrees) and enjoy the therapeutic treatment. Today, you can do the same. While the Native Americans’ presence is not as apparent today as that of the white man. Some of the Native American stories can still be heard. (Ask the Winona Ranger about the Forked Mountain legend.) However, tales and trails of lawmen and outlaws are easier to find. From the east to the Forest's western boundary you'll find places where notorious outlaws passed by and lawmen lived. Places like Charlton Springs was where the first Federal lawman homesteaded. Horsethief Springs, on the Talimena Scenic Byway, was a known stop for outlaws such as Belle Starr. Along with a rich historical past, the Forest offers a large variety of recreational opportunities. Enjoy the panoramic vistas of the Talimena Scenic Byway, float down the Little Missouri, hike one of the many trails, watch the antics of the wildlife, hunt for a perfect quartz crystal, or relax by a campfire. These are a few of the recreational opportunities awaiting the Forest visitor. Cedar Lake Recreation Area, located in the Oklahoma portion of the Forest, offers a variety of camping experiences. Within this Recreation Area is the Cedar Lake Equestrian Camp and Cedar Lake campground. The equestrian camp is one of the finest horse camps (with water and electric hookups) the authors have seen. The Cedar Lake campground has three loops, two rustic and one modern. The latter loop, Shady Lane, has camping sites with either electric and water hookups or full hookups. Shady Lane is an RVrs paradise - few private campgrounds can match it. Charlton Recreation Area, located less than 30 minutes west of Hot Springs, was recently renovated with one loop of full hook-ups. The Recreation Area's swim area includes a bathhouse built from local stones. Each stone is different and illustrates the Ouachita Mountain Range’s dynamic geological past. Ouachita National Forest 382 In between these two Recreational Areas awaits a National Forest full of wonders to be discovered. To assist visitors, the Forest maintains Visitor Centers, displays at the Ranger Stations, and hundreds of miles of trails. The Caddo Ranger District awards individuals who have completed the 27-mile Eagle Rock Loop Trail a patch and a place on their Honor Roll. Many of these trails interconnect with the 192-mile Ouachita National Recreation Trail. Others are designated multi-use trails, such as Wolf Pen Gap Trail, along with a complete array of "mode-specific" trails, like the Wildcat Mountain Trail for hiking and mountain bikes. Ouachita National Forest has many wonders to discover, panoramic vistas to be viewed, sites to be explored, and beauty to be enjoyed. It is a place you can return to again and again and never repeat the experiences of the last visit. Forest Supervisor's Office Federal Building 100 Reserve St. P.O.B. 1270 Hot Springs, Arkansas 71902 501-321-5202 Ranger District Offices Caddo/Womble District P.O.B. 255, Hwy. 270 E Mount Ida, Arkansas 71957 870-867-2101 Choctaw District HC 64 Box 3467 Heavener, Oklahoma 74937 918-653-2991 Cold Springs District P.O.B. 417 2190 E. Main St. Booneville, Arkansas 72927 501-675-3233 Fourche District Box 459, Hwy. 10 East Danville, Arkansas 72833 501-495-2844 Mena/Oden District 1603 Hwy. 71 N Mena, Arkansas 71953 479-394-2382 Poteau District P.O.B. 2255 Waldron, Arkansas 72958 479-637-4174 Jessieville/Winona District 8607 Hwy. 7 North, POB 189 Jessieville, Arkansas 71949 501-984-5313 Ouachita National Forest 383 Ouachita National Forest 384 Campground Map No. Campground Page No. Campground Page 1 Cedar Lake 388 5 Bard Springs 386 2 Cedar Lake Equestrian Camp 390 6 Shady Lake 396 3 Winding Stair 398 7 Charlton 392 4 Billy Creek 387 8 Lake Sylvia 394 Ouachita National Forest 385 Ouachita National Forest Quick Look-Up Table - Campground Locations and Descriptions STATE NEAREST CITY/TOWN CAMPGROUND TOTAL SITES PAGE NO. Arkansas Athens Bard Springs 10 386 Arkansas Athens Shady Lake 51 396 Arkansas Crystal Springs Charlton 40 392 Arkansas Perryville Lake Sylvia 27 394 Oklahoma Heavener Winding Stair 27 398 Oklahoma Heavener Cedar Lake Equestrian Camp 54 390 Oklahoma Heavener Cedar Lake 61 388 Oklahoma Muse Billy Creek 12 387 Ouachita National Forest 386 Ouachita National Forest - Campground Descriptions
The showers are wheelchair friendly. Osceola National Forest 379
Ocean Pond is a natural 1,760-acre lake.
The parking aprons are paved and all about the same size except for the "primitive" area. The latter parking aprons are dirt and irregular in shape.
In Lake City, FL, at intersection of U.S. Rts. 441 and 90, take Rt. 90 east 13.7 miles to campground sign (sign is on the corner and not easy to see). At sign, turn left (no street sign) and go 4 miles to another campground sign. Turn left at sign and go 1.2 miles into campground.
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Winter brings the best conditions. Daytime highs settle in the mid-50s to mid-60s, mornings dip into the 40s, and humidity drops enough to make hiking pleasant. Yellow flies disappear after the first frost. Waterfowl and wading birds concentrate along the lake during the cooler months, and afternoon thunderstorms become rare. Summer means heat, humidity, and aggressive biting flies that drive campers indoors by mid-morning. Rain showers arrive most afternoons from June through September.
Winter described as best season: cooler temps, lower humidity, more pleasant hiking and reviews.
Water Potable water is not available at this site.
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