Big Gum Swamp Wilderness
This large, nearly level area consists primarily of a poorly drained to very poorly drained freshwater swamp of cypress and gum. The surface is a thick, spongy mat of organic material, sluggishly cut by a few shallow sloughs. Longleaf and slash pine flatwoods with a dense understory of saw palmetto, gallberry, and bay form the perimeter of the swamp. Loggers made off with most of the original timber between 1915 and 1920, and earthen railroad trams, some of which are still visible, penetrated the interior. Over time, all signs of human intrusion into the swamp have greatly subsided. A designated hiking trail makes a loop through the drier pine flatwoods of the perimeter on the west-northwestern side.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Florida |
| Size | 13,835 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 30.34° N, 82.44° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 10) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 4 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site inside this wilderness, among them 1 viewing Wildlife. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- under 1 miBig Gum Swamp Wilderness ↗Viewing Wildlife
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Trails
2 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 20 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Horse Trail ↗ | 16.1 | |
| Osceola Wilderness Trail | 3.5 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Fire nearby
- WildfireBee Haven (2) (24-06)
27 mi from the center point · 2,060 acres · 85% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 6.8 miOlustee Battlefield ↗Olustee, FL
- 11 miFalling Creek Methodist Church and Cemetery ↗Lake City, FL
- 11.8 miBurnsed Blockhouse ↗Sanderson, FL
- 12.1 miHotel Blanche ↗Lake City, FL
- 12.2 miHenderson, T. G., House ↗Lake City, FL
- 12.2 miDuncan, Horace, House ↗Lake City, FL
- 12.3 miColumbia County High School ↗Lake City, FL
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Florida
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Big Gum Swamp Wilderness?
13,835 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Big Gum Swamp Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Big Gum Swamp Wilderness in?
Florida.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Big Gum Swamp Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Big Gum Swamp Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Big Gum Swamp Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 30.345° N, 82.437° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Big Gum Swamp Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Bee Haven (2) (24-06) at 27 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Big Gum Swamp Wilderness?
The National Register has 7 listings within 15 miles, including Olustee Battlefield and Falling Creek Methodist Church and Cemetery.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.