Apalachicola

Apalachicola National Forest is the largest U.S. National Forest in Florida, encompassing 635,019 acres across the Florida Panhandle. Established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932, it stands as Florida's youngest national forest and the only one located in the Panhandle region. The forest was created after extensive logging between 1880 and the early 1900s depleted the old-growth timber, and many remaining pines were tapped for turpentine and rosin production. In the mid-1930s, the USDA Forest Service acquired these damaged cutover lands for restoration and protection. Today, the forest represents a biodiversity hotspot supporting approximately 40 sensitive plant species and critical habitats for federally threatened wildlife. Visitors can enjoy over 85 miles of designated hiking trails, including 64 miles of the Florida National Scenic Trail that winds through the forest's diverse ecosystems.