Trails / Florida / Ocala National Forest

Florida Trail: Hopkins Prairie to Lake Delancy (Ocala National Forest)

Ocala National Forest, U.S. Forest Service (north of SR 40, near Salt Springs)

“The Milky Way over Hopkins Prairie, Ocala National Forest” by Ryan McKee , CC BY-ND 2.0 · Source · Resized for the web

North of the Juniper Prairie Wilderness, the Florida Trail crosses the northern Ocala National Forest past Hopkins Prairie, one of the forest’s largest natural features, and on through sandhills and scrub to Grassy Pond and Lake Delancy. Florida Hikes describes Hopkins Prairie as a rambling open prairie with wetlands. This roughly 20-mile stretch has designated campsites spaced out along it, which makes it easy to plan an overnight.

As elsewhere in the Ocala, dispersed camping is allowed most of the year, but not during deer season.

The hike

Florida Hikes says the roughly 72-mile Ocala section of the Florida Trail remains the most popular backpacking destination in Florida, since it’s unbroken across the forest.

The section starts at Hopkins Prairie. Florida Rambler says the turnoff is 9.2 miles north on SR 19 from its intersection with SR 40, and that the campground sits on the Florida Trail, with fishing and birding along miles of prairie shoreline. Florida Trail Hikes lists Hopkins Prairie at Florida Trail mile 445.2.

From Hopkins Prairie, Florida Hikes describes the segment to Salt Springs, about 9 miles, crossing the open prairie and its wetlands. The blue-blazed Salt Springs Spur, it says, connects the Florida Trail north of Hopkins Prairie to a parking area near the Salt Springs Marina. Florida Trail Hikes puts Salt Springs 3.5 miles east of the trail. An AllTrails reviewer in February 2026 spent a couple of days exploring Hopkins Prairie and two massive sinkholes.

Farther north, the trail passes Grassy Pond. Florida Trail Hikes says the trail transitions through sandhills into scrub again on its approach to Grassy Pond, an important water source on the way to Lake Delancy. It lists Grassy Pond as a primitive campsite at mile 461.3, and Florida Hikes calls it a designated campsite that can be used during hunting season.

Florida Trail Hikes also lists The 88 Store at mile 459.3, where camping has been allowed with permission. Florida Hikes describes a segment from The 88 Store to Lake Delancy.

The section ends at Lake Delancy, mile 465.6 on Florida Trail Hikes’ list. Florida Rambler says Lake Delancy West caters to off-road vehicle riders and equestrians, with access to the Ocala North OHV trail system, and that hikers can reach the Florida Trail from it. Directions to Lake Delancy: from Salt Springs, drive north on SR 19 for 5.7 miles to the “Lake Delancy” sign on the left.

Florida Trail Hikes calls the Ocala the highest and driest section of the Florida Trail, noting that flooding has only ever occurred at Hopkins Prairie. Florida Hikes describes the trail north of Lake Delancy, toward Rodman, as traversing rolling hills topped with a majestic forest of longleaf pines.

The Florida Trail Association calls the prairies at Farles and Hopkins don’t-miss stops on this part of the trail.

The rules are the same as elsewhere in the Ocala. Florida Hikes says random camping is allowed along the trail except during the fall deer hunting season, when backpackers must use designated campgrounds or camp in the Juniper Prairie Wilderness. It also says a bear bag or bear canister is required.

For the section just south, see Juniper Springs to Hidden Pond.

Tips

Use Grassy Pond during hunting season. It’s a designated campsite.
Bring a bear bag or canister. Florida Hikes says one is required.
Check Hopkins Prairie after rain. It’s the one place in the Ocala section known to flood.
Fill up at Grassy Pond. Florida Trail Hikes calls it an important water source.
Wear orange in hunting seasons.

Camping

Florida Hikes says dispersed camping is allowed along the Florida Trail in the Ocala National Forest except where posted and during general gun season. Designated campsites on this stretch include Hopkins Prairie Campground, the Grassy Pond primitive campsite, and Lake Delancy. Food must be stored in a bear bag or canister.

Inside Intel: Grassy Pond is the key stop. Florida Trail Hikes calls it an important water source on the way to Lake Delancy, and it’s a designated primitive campsite you can use even during deer season, per Florida Hikes. Hopkins Prairie Campground, at the start, has prairie shoreline for birding, according to Florida Rambler.

Trail facts

Distance: About 20.4 miles, Hopkins Prairie to Lake Delancy
Route type: Point to point
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: About 170 feet of gain on AllTrails’ 13.6-mile Hopkins Prairie route
Campsites: Hopkins Prairie, Grassy Pond, Lake Delancy; dispersed outside deer season
Water: Grassy Pond; prairie wetlands. Treat all water.
Permits: None found for dispersed camping
Bear and food storage: Bear bag or canister required
Trailheads: Hopkins Prairie (off SR 19); Lake Delancy (off SR 19, north of Salt Springs)
Last verified: October 2, 2026

The Lowdown

Hopkins Prairie after rain:

Hopkins Prairie is the one place in the Ocala section known to flood after rain. If you need a shell for wet days, we compared the Beta SL with two cheaper options.

Read the comparison →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.