Ocala National Forest - A Few Questions

[orlandobaseball5050]

First, I am a newbie.

I have heard that Ocala National Forest is one of the best places in Florida to ride an ATV.   I also heard that it is also dangerous. More than one person has told me that if you go into this forest, then you better be armed.  I am talking a loaded gun and be ready.  I like excitement, but not this kind,

Is this true?  Is this a place you can take a 11 year old boy and be safe?

Is there a place close to the forest where I could rent a side by side or a basic 4 wheel ATV that is relatively safe.

Any other recommendations for a person interested in this sport.

Thanks and I sincerely appreciate your response.

[auctioneer]

I live there and no you dont need to be armed as a matter of fact unless you have a carry permit you better not be armed

I dont know of any rental places here at all sorry

With that be said I will tell you the rangers there are a bunch of horses butts

The trailers are slow ride and one way but it would probably be a good place to take a youngster if they have the approved course and all the required stuff for the gastopo
I promise they will check you and check you and check you again and find a reason to write you.

With that said said I am sure there is a place to ride that will cost a few dollars more but be a lot less harassment than ONF I ride there in a Jeep weekly and have never had problems except with Barney Fifes Hope this helps have a safe trip

the following is from another post on here


ltr450qr
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Re: ONF is getting insane
« Reply #17 on: November 08, 2008, 05:05:44 PM »
   
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Just so everyone knows and understands what really is going on in the Ocala Forest. My friends and I have been riding there off and on for 12 years and have witnessed vast changes from whom, to what is enforced in the forest.
Here's the deal; Not everyone who gets hassled by various "enforcement entities" (notice how "law" as intentionally left out) who have the ability to ticket and will, are the same people. You need not have to give an attitude to receive one. You can pull out all of the rules you want and it'll just get you more tickets. The rule for the tires is no rule @ all and is typically written up under the general violation of "destruction of natural resources", in which these people have been trained to use their discretion. This can involve oversize tires, aggressive tread, mud actually on your truck or quad (no matter where it came from), I have never been given a ticket but I have personally witnessed them being handed out. The fine for the destruction is "variable" and based once again upon discretion. This is like "criminal mischeif" laws designed to create a situation where someone can be ticketed or arrested for nothing other than a cop saying so, it's a catch all. The laws recently changed in this state allowing ATV's on public unimproved roads (dirt) with no posted limit or a limit of under 35 unless the local jurisdiction overrides that law with one of their own. The forest is Federal property and does not recognize this law. Once again, they do what they want. The reason for their "generosity" in creating a trail system as it has been described to me is basically to get all the law abiding folks and the ticket book crowd in the same place to generate some revenue (yes, I've had a couple of the rangers whom I've come to know personally over the years tell me this, these are the same people who live there and have for some time and are tired of watching the land be destroyed and actually use some discretion rather than just getting out the ticket book on every occasion).  Problems aren't created by who is riding so much as where. If you ride in places where there is mostly just local riders, you see very little problems vs. Big Scrub and the surrounding areas where you see plenty of abuse of power and bad attitudes to go with it.
I have seen fines range up to $550.00 and the kicker is, they are federal violations. To "fight" requires more than just arming yourself with a list of Federal Statutes, it requires an attorney and a trip to Tallahassee. If you just decide to ignore it, they don't suspend your license, they issue a federal warrant for your arrest and send the US Marshals to your house. They do a better job of tracking down Forest violators than guys who kidnap kids and take them across state lines to have sex with them.
Your best bet is to park off the highway somewhere, carry no forms of ID, that's all I'll say about that.


so you decide

[SpeedQuest]

Here's some food for thought:

We have been going at least once or twice a month for almost two years now and have been stopped by Rangers a total of 4-5 times.  They have always treated us with an equal amount of what we give them.  One time, the first person they spoke to was the one person in our group who really should never be allowed to talk to a person in charge.  That day, that person was asked to leave the Forest for some violations that he did in fact commit.  He left, and no citations were issued.  He has been back since, and he doesn't commit those violations anymore, and we have seen the same Ranger since without incident.

- We have NEVER been ticketed. 
- Our group of riders ranges in ages from 11 to 60 years old.
- Mostly guys, but we do have a few gals with us from time to time. 
- We ride ULTRA FAST in some sections, we ride slow in some sections.
- We have had people injured in our group (broken arm after falling off a 90cc quad), but never anything that wasn't our own damn fault.
- We encounter traffic in a head-on fashion almost every weekend, although we have never had an incident.
- We have never encountered anyone brandishing a weapon, except for hunters when it's hunting season.
- Three of the people we ride with regularly have Concealed Weapons Permits, and they may or may not be armed when we ride.  I don't ask because I don't care and don't think it is an issue.  I have my permit, but have never felt it necessary to ride with a weapon.

So make sure you follow the rules: 

1.  Make sure your son has his ATV Certification
2.  Make sure your ATV's are registered.
3.  Make sure you don't ride double if the ATV is not equipped for passengers.
4.  Make sure you ride at a prudent speed and with good judgement.
5.  Make sure you pay the $10/3 day pass or the $75 Annual Pass.
6.  Make sure you aren't destroying the wildlife anymore than an ATV normally does.
7.  Keep the ATV's on the Trails.  You are allowed to be off the trails on foot by the way.  This would be the one time I would recommend having a weapon to defend yourself from wildlife rather than from other miscreants.

If you're located in Orlando as your Username indicates, please feel free to e-mail or PM me and I would even love to arrange to include you on our rides if you're interested.  As I mentioned before, we go up 1-2 times a month, usually for 2-3 days at a time.

[Eworm]

- We have NEVER been ticketed. 
- Our group of riders ranges in ages from 11 to 60 years old.
- Mostly guys, but we do have a few gals with us from time to time. 
- We ride ULTRA FAST in some sections, we ride slow in some sections.
- We have had people injured in our group (broken arm after falling off a 90cc quad), but never anything that wasn't our own damn fault.
- We encounter traffic in a head-on fashion almost every weekend, although we have never had an incident.
- We have never encountered anyone brandishing a weapon, except for hunters when it's hunting season.
- Three of the people we ride with regularly have Concealed Weapons Permits, and they may or may not be armed when we ride.  I don't ask because I don't care and don't think it is an issue.  I have my permit, but have never felt it necessary to ride with a weapon.

Ultra fast (I seriously doubt it)? So you break the speed limit? Hum.....No incident "as of yet" with the head on traffic!!! I hope to God that nothing ever happens to anyone in your crew but I will tell you that there will be more injuries and they will be serious ones, at that!
DO NOT GO TO OCALA. THERE ARE OTHER PLACES TO RIDE. PM me and I can give you some insight.....

[mrbones]

I was up in Ocala last week and explored a lot of the OHV North trails and had a great time. I only saw 2 other people on the trails after 3 days of riding (wed-fri). I would expect to see more people out there on the weekends.

Some of the trails were the best I've ever ridden on, flat, sandy, no stumps or roots. They aren't all like that, but coming from someone who rides Croom regularly, it was a paradise.

[Eworm]

I was up in Ocala last week and explored a lot of the OHV North trails and had a great time. I only saw 2 other people on the trails after 3 days of riding (wed-fri). I would expect to see more people out there on the weekends.

Some of the trails were the best I've ever ridden on, flat, sandy, no stumps or roots. They aren't all like that, but coming from someone who rides Croom regularly, it was a paradise.

Well there you go....Looks like there have been some changes recently. What kind of riding do you do, if you don't mind me asking?

[mrbones]

We had a Rhino out there with two kids in the back and I went out on my own on a Kodiak 450. Sure there are whoops here and there but the ones I saw were 1/2 the size of the whooped monsters at Croom. This was primarily on the Hog Valley and Tobacco Patch trails.

[D33411]

Every once in a while you need some whoops!  It builds character! 

How are the trails Bonesy since the 20 billion inches of rain you had in the past weeks?  We are thinking of coming up mid June if trails are still good.  Thanks!  Dawn

[GrizzlyBear]

The big thing to remember is all trails are TWO way.  If your 11 yr old needs certification, we run a class June 20th at 9:00 am.  It is at the OHV Center in the middle of the northern trails. Sign up through the ATV Safety Institute.  If you need a place to stay, I rent my place in Hog Valley for $90 per night.  That is where Mr Bones stays.

[D33411]

Is it within stumbling distance of the pig pen, Gris?

[GrizzlyBear]

By legal trails it is 5.3 miles,  about 4 miles by car

[D33411]

The first time I went to the pig pen we were riding in the dunes and rode down on the quads.  Last time I was riding in Ocala people were heading over to the dunes.  Can you still ride out there in the dunes if you come over from ONF?  Thanks, Dawn

[GrizzlyBear]

The only dunes I know are either the Eureka Pit or Rodman pit.  Both are closed.

[D33411]

Bummer.  That was fun riding.  Thanks, Gris.  Dawn

[Anoriginal]

It used to be a great place to ride. Not anymore.

I've got friends who bought a place up there near the Pig Pen just because they enjoyed riding so much. Now, with the ridiculous rule changes and the crap attitudes of the rangers, they don't even use it any longer and are probably going to sell the place.

Oh well, another place bites the dust.

[Busta Nutt]

Busta rides up there all the time and doesn't have any problems.

[jjamesbar]

i have logged thousands of miles riding in onf but not on the new trail system. i plan to get all the stickers and whatever else they require and check out the trails. iv drove by several of the starting points lately and was suprised to see very few vehicles at them. not like the old days. there has always been two way traffic there so that does not concern me. ive never felt like i had to carry a gun there and i have been in as remote of areas (by my self and with others) as you could possibly get. do i like the idea of being regulated and restrickted? heck no! but this is a sign of the times so i will approach it with an open mind. my guess is with less people riding the trails they just might be better than they were before. hope im right.


jeff

[Chillinthemost]

Jeff, you can park at my place anytime. Probably wont run into any rangers that way.
  When we went up on spring break a few months ago I took my bike just to go across the street an take a peek. Did about a 20 mile loop and came back and pulled my bike into the trailer and thats the last time I'll ride it there.
 I was kinda dissapointed with not running into any of the fun prevention task force, wasn't planning on slowing down for a visit .

[Busta Nutt]

it beats the hell out of riding in a mud hole in a cow pasture

[Chillinthemost]

it beats the hell out of riding in a mud hole in a cow pasture

I agree with that. 

[Busta Nutt]

and it is only 10 bucks for 3 days      I think

[jjamesbar]

for the people that have cabins like matt and ida man in the forest i can understand why they are upset with the trail system. they could just ride from their cabins into a nearly 400,000 acre play ground. all you pretty much had to do was to stay off numbered roads and a few restricted areas.
for people like me the changes are to get a sticker and stay on the designated trails.
it would be nice to have destinations like the 88 store (chill out, eat and refuel) or a sand pit or two.
the good thing is that there are still miles of trails to ride with an opportunity to see an occasional deer, bear, coyote and turkey. there were always whoops mostly near the starting points and always two way traffic on the trails.
i dont even mind the fee though i believe they should have a family plan or give children a break.
i might be wrong but it just seems to me that there are still more positives than negatives.
i havent posted much in the last several years im glad they finally got spell check.


jeff

[Busta Nutt]

couldn't have said it better

[SpeedQuest]

i believe they should have a family plan or give children a break.

jeff

I do believe there is an UNDER 12 or 15 discount.  You have to read the fine print on the envelope, but I do believe it is there.

[stacktester]

Where is the 88 store that keeps getting mentioned? Is it up in Delancey area? We used to spend a lot of weekends in the forest a few years back, even bought a toy hauler to do so but IMO it's not worth more than a day trip now. Big Scrub was fun but a free for all. I saw a lot of riders who just didn't care what they did. I never felt too safe in the campgrounds. I'd wake up at night to hear people doing donuts in front of scrub, shooting guns in the air or just sitting there talking loud not giving a damn. Where the hell were the dumbazz rangers then? They damn sure love to find one thing wrong when they stop you but the lowlifes had no problem.

Is there still a camp host at scrub? We saw one at Delancey when we passed thru last trip. I don't blame anybody for carrying when they go. There's some shady characters hanging out down there. Why it draws cults, meth labs and other crap is beyond me.

I used to love going down for a weekend but when the rangers started stopping people at random and giving a ticket for something that warranted only a warning I had enough. The bad part was the volunteers trying to be cops. We were stopped one day for driving on a numbered road just east of scrub. The trail we were on was not graded and it was narrow as hell. I told her we didn't see a sign and she said that's because it keeps getting torn down. She called a ranger on us who eventually let it go but after we sat there for almost an hour before he came.

[SpeedQuest]

I never felt too safe in the campgrounds. I'd wake up at night to hear people doing donuts in front of scrub, shooting guns in the air or just sitting there talking loud not giving a damn. Where the hell were the dumbazz rangers then?

The type of activity you are speaking of is exactly why the Rangers and volunteers tend to treat people with a 'guilt by association' attitude.  It's sort of like if you drive a lowered vehicle with 24" wheels through the ghetto on a Saturday night at 3 AM.  If you get pulled over by a cop, you probably aren't going to be treated the same as somebody driving a Mercedes through a golf-community at 4 PM on a Sunday.

The actions of people in the past have affected the way that you and I will be treated on our ATV's now and in the future.

[jjamesbar]

the 88 store is on forrest road 88 just south of hwy 316. 316 heads west towards Ft.McCoy from Salt Springs.

if i end up getting treated unfairly or talked down to by the trail police people then i'll be pissed like some of the other people that have posted on this site. more especially if i was riding on an unmarked illegal trail unintentionally. l definitely would complain to somebody whether it did any good or not. until that happens i'll keep an open mind and be respectful to the trail police.

jeff

[jjamesbar]

Jeff, you can park at my place anytime. Probably wont run into any rangers that way.
  When we went up on spring break a few months ago I took my bike just to go across the street an take a peek. Did about a 20 mile loop and came back and pulled my bike into the trailer and thats the last time I'll ride it there.
 I was kinda dissapointed with not running into any of the fun prevention task force, wasn't planning on slowing down for a visit .

thanks, i just might take you up on that matt. BTW how much are the tickets for riding off the trails anyway? 

jeff

[SpeedQuest]

I believe they start at $100 and go up from there very rapidly...

The kicker?  It's a Federal Offense since you're in the National Forest.  So if you decide to not pay it...  It can get REAL UGLY.

[Busta Nutt]

we should meet at Matt's place for a ride, hit up the pig pen after.

[jjamesbar]

we should meet at Matt's place for a ride, hit up the pig pen after.

id be up for that. just have to finish up my carb and get some new front tires. oh yea, i need to pic up a sticker.

jeff

[Chillinthemost]

I'll be up there for july 4th and a few days before. Probably not riding though. The kids want to go pick bluberries, go to the springs, eat at the Outback crabshack, and watch the fireworks in Palatka.  I was planning on just bringing the lawnmower but I could bring a bike if someone wants to ride, I might at least bring the Rhino.

[D33411]

A friend of mine got a ticket for riding on 88 and I think it was $150.  He tried to explain why he was riding on the road, but she didn't want to hear it.  I hear the female ranger is a real hard ass.  But it was okay to follow her on that road for a few miles back to her ranger station to write the ticket so she didn't have to get out in the pouring rain. 

[jjamesbar]

I'll be up there for july 4th and a few days before.

matt if you take the boat to the crab shack from palatka you have to go right past our place on the river. if you end up driving stop by anyway, most likely my grand kids will be down. i'll have the jet ski in, we'll pull the kids on the raft. i bet little matt has got big since i last saw him. we'll hook up either at the river or in the forest.

jeff

[jjamesbar]

A friend of mine got a ticket for riding on 88 and I think it was $150. But it was okay to follow her on that road for a few miles back to her ranger station to write the ticket so she didn't have to get out in the pouring rain. 

i have a slow 4-wheeler but i have never been caught by those geen trucks. not that i would try to run of course. 

jeff

[Busta Nutt]

I think I am going to be up there the weekend of the 27th. What's the deal with the fireworks in Palatka? matt you can cruise around on the rhino and toss back a few cold ones can't you?

[Chillinthemost]

We watched the fireworks in Palatka last year. They are on the waterfront down by the boat ramp. They had a couple of concerts going on and we spent the afternoon there last year.  I can ALWAYS drink beer.

[Busta Nutt]

I guess there is not 5 million people and you have to walk 5 miles to get there because there is nowhere to park then

[D33411]

We were heading up to Ocala tomorrow, but just had to cancel the trip.  Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.     I need a clone!
I will say that the work they have done in the campground at Delancy sure looks awesome.  I think they have done a great job!  Much improved from when we first started going there.  Have a great weekend!  Dawn

[Ida_Mann]

you know there's also another place to stop if you are in the Salt Springs area ;-)

[jjamesbar]

you know there's also another place to stop if you are in the Salt Springs area ;-)

i drove by your place a few months ago ida.

jeff

[Ida_Mann]

you know there's also another place to stop if you are in the Salt Springs area ;-)

i drove by your place a few months ago ida.

jeff

I know I know, I need to mow 

[jjamesbar]

ida,

you need to talk to the trail police and get those trails south of your cabin legal again. some of the best riding in the forest was in those woods. very few whoops. do you ever sneak out once in a while for a night ride?

jeff

[Ida_Mann]

ida,

you need to talk to the trail police and get those trails south of your cabin legal again. some of the best riding in the forest was in those woods. very few whoops. do you ever sneak out once in a while for a night ride?

jeff

I don't hear anything from the association anymore, nor do I go up there much,,,,both of my quads are illegal in the eyes of the rangers up there and they know me so well it's impossible to claim ignorance anymore.

but to the question of do I sneak through and ride up there,,,,of course not, I would never skirt the law or break any rules 

by the way, it's freaky on those trails now,,,they are all covered by pine needles and leaves so it's sometimes hard to tell where the trail is and where the rest of the forest is.

I've done 95% of my riding at a park in North Florida on feature weekends with my second family,,,,,,it's crazy, the little group rides that we used to do, we now have with tons more people who all care for each other and ride a much smaller area,,,,but it's great.

You seriously would fit in rather well, and it's just a jog over on I-10 to Madison for you.

Id@

[jjamesbar]

I've done 95% of my riding at a park in North Florida on feature weekends with my second family,,,,,,it's crazy, the little group rides that we used to do, we now have with tons more people who all care for each other and ride a much smaller area,,,,but it's great.

You seriously would fit in rather well, and it's just a jog over on I-10 to Madison for you.

Id@
[/quote]

let me know when your going again. are you talking about the place south of Lee?

jeff

[Mars]

We were heading up to Ocala tomorrow, but just had to cancel the trip.  Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.     I need a clone!
I will say that the work they have done in the campground at Delancy sure looks awesome.  I think they have done a great job!  Much improved from when we first started going there.  Have a great weekend!  Dawn

What's new/improved? Have not been there in a year or so...