South Hurricane Lake Recreation Area

Hurricane Lake North

The Karick Lake South Campground is located within the Karick Lake Recreation Area, in the Blackwater River State Forest (Okaloosa County), about 1-hour northeast of Pensacola, FL. This campground is located on the south side of Karick Lake (65-acres) and has the following facilities: campsites with electricity and water (potable) for recreational vehicles or tents, dump station, restrooms and showers, boat ramp and pier. Recreational activities featured here are: fishing, boating, canoeing, picnicking, bird watching, wildlife viewing, nature study and photography.

South Karick Lake Recreation Area has electric sites available for recreational vehicles or tents. Restrooms with showers are available.
South Karick and its vicinity is in a non-hunting zone.
During the main hunting season from Thanksgiving to mid February, it is recommended to wear fluorescent orange when hiking away from South Karick.

Karick Lake South

The Bear Lake Campground is located within the Bear Lake Recreation Area, in the Blackwater River State Forest (Santa Rosa County), about 1-hour northeast of Pensacola, FL. This campground is located next to Bear Lake (107 acres) and has the following facilities: campsites with electric and water (potable), campsites with water (potable) only, dump station, a group dining hall with kitchen available by reservation only and restrooms with showers, boat ramp (electric motors only) and fishing pier. Recreational activities featured here are: fishing, hiking, mountain biking (6-mile trail), canoeing, picnicking, bird watching, wildlife viewing and photography.Blackwater River State Forest is the largest state forest in Florida, with over 210,000 acres of woodlands, lakes, and streams that has outstanding forest and water resources. It is named for the Blackwater River, which begins in neighboring Conecuh County, Alabama, and meanders southwestward through the forest. With the adjacent federal landholdings of Conecuh National Forest, to the north, and Eglin Air Force Base, to the south, this area is the largest contiguous ecological community of the longleaf pine - wiregrass ecosystem in the world. For further information about Blackwater River State Forest, please Click Here.Blackwater River State Forest has campgrounds, day-use areas and recreational trails that offer a variety of activities such as swimming, hiking, camping, canoeing, nature study, birding, fishing, hunting, horseback riding and mountain biking. This forest is part of the Florida National Scenic Trail and Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. Get outdoors and explore the recreational opportunities at Blackwater River State Forest; for further information please Click Here.Bear Lake has electric and non-electric sites available for recreational vehicles or tents. Bathrooms with showers are available. There is a boat ramp, fishing pier, hiking trail, and dining hall with pavilion. The dining hall pavilion use is by reservation only.Blackwater Canoe Rental, Bob's Canoes, Adventures Unlimited, Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park, Air Force Armament Museum, Okaloosa Island Pier, National Naval Aviation Museum, Navarre Beach, Pensacola Beach, Gulf of Mexico

Activities and Amenities:
BathhouseBird WatchingBoat RampBoating, CanoeingCampground HostCamping, Improved SiteCanoe RentalDock, FishingDump StationFire RingsFish Cleaning StationFishingFishing, PierHikingHiking TrailKioskMountain/Trail BicyclingNature StudyPhotographyPicnic AreaPicnickingRestroomsRiverRiver/StreamTrails, Hiking/Walking, EasyTrails, Moderate HikingTrails, Mountain BikeWater Access, Park LakeWater DrinkingWildflower ViewingWildlife Viewing

Bear Lake Campground

North Karick Lake Recreation Area

Krul Recreation Area - Blackwater River State Forest

Krul Campground is located within the Krul Recreation Area, in the Blackwater River State Forest (Santa Rosa County), about 1-hour northeast of Pensacola, FL. This campground is located on a 6.5-acre lake and has the following facilities: campsites with electricity and water (potable) for recreational vehicles or tents, dump station, restrooms and showers, swimming dock and pier. Recreational activities featured here are: swimming, picnicking, hiking, bird watching, wildlife viewing, nature study and photography. Don't miss the Sweetwater Hiking Trail that starts at the Krul parking lot and runs 1.3 miles to Bear Lake. The first half mile of trail is a handicapped accessible boardwalk with a suspension bridge over Sweetwater Creek. A gristmill is located along the boardwalk.

Krul Lake

Coldwater Recreation Area

Eagle's Landing RV Park

Scenic views, well-maintained facilities, and a diversity of recreational opportunities await you at Open Pond Recreation area. The campground at Open Pond includes primitive sites as well as those with water and electric hook-ups, with easy access to boating, fishing, hiking, and bicycle riding. Open Pond Recreation Area also includes a day-use area designed for peaceful picnicking with a panoramic view of Open Pond. A group shelter here was built in the 1930's by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). It retains its original distinct design and is interesting to those who enjoy CCC history.

Open Pond Recreation Area

Big Meadows Campground is near many of the major facilities and popular hiking trails in the Park, with three waterfalls and Big Meadows within walking distance.

Camping fee: $20 per night

Reservations: in early spring, Big Meadows Campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis only. Beginning in early May, there are a combination of reserveable campsites and first-come, first-served sites available. Group sites are available and can be reserved up to one year in advance.

RV Information: features pull-through and deep back-in sites which can handle most RVs and a tow vehicle. No electric or water hookups. Campground has potable water spigots and a dump station.

Generators: use is limited to certain areas and times designated on campground map.

Coldwater Gardens

By far my favorite campsite in NW Florida.  Remote but good roads all the way to it.  South Camp is water only sites but COE has plans to upgrade with some electric sites and a new shower facility soon.  Always has a resident host onsite who is helpful and can provide you with local tips.  many sites are on the lake edge but realize that there ARE gators in the lake and they have legs to crawl on land.  I have been there maybe 50 times and have yet to see the first gator though.  Boats and fishing allowed but no gas motors only trolling motors.  Grounds are kept up and only the occassional pinecone falls from mischievous squirrels who will enjoy bombing you from above while laughing at you with their friends..  A magical place, plenty of shade and potable water near your campsite.  Communal batheoom located near the Campground host but no dedicated shower at time of this posting.  A large dumpster provides a place to leave all your trash so theres no excuse not to leave a trace on your site when leaving.  I believe you can stay up to 14 days at a time before being required to pick up and move.

A piece of Heaven

Spent 2 nights @ the hurricane lake south. Beautiful spot to relax and decompress. I suggest bringing fishing gear if you are into fishing. I was motocamping so I couldn't fit my fishing gear on my bike. I eneded up meeting some awesome folks there

Relaxing spot

We were greeted by the kindest friendliest host as we were setting up. He made sure we knew the rules and amenities. We stayed in camp site 2. The sites were spacious and grassy. Each site had a fire pit, a picnic table and shared a water spigot. Hurricane lake surrounds the campground so every camping spot has a view of the beautiful lake. I love that the tent campers are in a separate campground from RV campers. This makes for a more peaceful camping experience. There are bathroom facilities although, no showers. I will definitely camp here again.

South Hurricane Lake Recreation Area

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