ATV Florida Forum

First of all hello to everyone, I and my 2 boys planning on leaving Virginia for some Faher and sons time to Florida.
We are leaving on 12-26 and returning 12-30. We are wanting to stay at Ocala National Forest and spend our time riding there.
We have a toyhauler we are taking with us, questiona are:
Which campground is closer to us Big Scrub or Delancey?
Can access one side of the park from the other on ATV's?
I understand that there is no hookups which is fine, but do they take reservations in advance, or is is on a first come basis?
Since we have 3 days to actualy ride is that enough time to explore ONF or should I plan on going to croom also?
WHere do I pick up maps or do I need to take a GPS?
Is the terrain mostly sandy or hard packed?
Lastly I ride a Kawasaki Kfx 700, my 14 year old rides a Honda TRX 250 and my year old a Honda Trx-90, will my 9 year old have enough power to ride out there?

Once again thanks to everyone in advance for answering my questions.

Hector.

Welcome to the site!!I visit Roanake every year.Is there anywhere to ride up there?
  If your bringing the kids, there's a campsite close to Big Scrub on Hwy.42 - Ocal Forest Campground.They have all the ammenities real cheap.Ocala National Forest has better riding than Delancey ...at least I think so.Good for the small quad too.
  There is a lot of forest too, you'll want a GPS definitely!!Ride safe and have fun.You may want to check when hunting season is over.Croom isn't that great, a lot of whoops.

thank you, we have plenty of riding here, Hatfield McCoy is only 4 hours away, problem is I cant see myself riding in 30 degree weather. My brother moved to Orlando so I am taking an extra bike so he can use and spend some time with us.
I thought Delaney campground was also in the National Forest.
Can you ride your ATV from the campground on Hwy. 42 in to the National Forest?

you can camp at big scrub in the parkin lot but no hook ups that i know of. hope you have lots of fun.

Hello.
Go here, http://www.onfa.org/ONFA1.htm (links to maps)

 Dalancey is on the north end of ONF. Big Scrub is on the south end. Both have good riding. Dalancey has new "marked" trails. Most trails are wide and easy for the kids. We saw very few hunters near Dalancy last month. Dalancey only has one hand pump well for water and porta-toilets. Big Scrub has hose bibs every 200~400 feet and some basic bathrooms. Neither have dump stations. Big Scrub has some tighter trails.
 It's a big place, ONF a GPS would be good to have with you. Three days out there is enough for most.
 I would say 80% sand/clay mix. All you quads should be fine: the TRX90 may need to have at least 70% throttle for the soft stuff.

Enjoy your stay.

I usually goto Delancy myself, Its alot more peaceful there. The riding to me seems more like "trail " riding. Big scrub has alot more to offer as far as riding area, but there are alot of whoops leaving the camping area.
 I would suggest that you stop at the Ranger station on your way in ( thats on the hwy into thr forest). They can assist you as far as where you can or cannot ride. make sure to bring a GPS, you`ll need it !!
 DO NOT ride on any of the numbered roads!!!!, bring helmets, and be sure to LOCK your rides up at night!!!

      Enjoy the trip, be safe, ;)

I spoke to a ranger today, she made it sound like it would not be a good idea to go riding this month because aid I need to take myof all the hunters. Is there any truth in that? I would think not ,unless you PO a hunter, scare off his game and shoots you. LOL.
I spoke to a Ranger that runs the area where Delancy West campground is at.
Is there any truth in that? Also since Virginia does not require registering ATV's with DMV, she I need to take the Certificate of origin for the ATV's.

http://www.durhamtown.com/

 Delancy is really right in the middle of nowhere.Very nice area though. If you have means of trailering  your quads to a trailhead, I'd suggest staying in Salt Springs[ a couple campgrounds there] or at the Rodman Dam campground. You'd have to trailer about five plus miles from Salt Springs or about a mile1/2 from Rodman Dam[to trailheads]. Delancy is nice because you can ride from your campsite. Can't say about Big Scrub because I haven't made it there yet. I just heard that alot of folks ride out of there. As far as hunters....yeah they're out there too. I wouldn't put the brakes on your trip because of that. I'll be riding with my boys on the 26th. If you stay up near Delancy,PM me and maybe we can hook-up. Welcome and good luck!

stay off roads, i stayed at big bass which is at the southern, southern end of the forest on 42 but it's down 42 from big scrub, big bass seemed so much more peaceful then staying at big scrub, I've done that, the riding is amazing, like nothing else, at least to me, i was there thanksgiving weekend and hunters didn't seem to be a problem, i only saw them while riding a few times, mostly just saw them on the roads driving way away from the riding areas, HAVE FUN!!

You can not ride out of Big Bass campground. Most of the trails near there are closed.

yeah, sorry i didn't specify on that, we had to trailer the quads up to big scrub from big bass but big bass was a very nice shaded campground

looks like Delancey is looking better and better. Durhamtown looks good to any thoughts on that place?

Delancey is by far the best to camp and ride at but nothing around ie. food,fuel etc. now durhamtown is the bomb if the choices are ocala or durhamtown go with durhamtown. All you need is there well groomed trails and sevral tracks.

My choice of riding any the places you mentioned is DurhamTown, IMO that is the best place to ride,they have campsites with all the hookups, where Ocala you have to shut your generator off after 1000PM, and there is no carparason of the two places. DT has all one way marked trails, no whoops and lots of tracks with jumps if your into that. Oh course this is just my opinion. Good luck wherever you go at lest your riding and not at work. ;)