Billies Bay Wilderness
Floridians often refer to swamps as "bays," hence the name of this marshy Wilderness. Two-thirds of the area is a hardwood swamp of red maple, bay, loblolly pine, slash pine, sweet gum, and cabbage palm; the other third (the perimeter) is pine flatwoods dominated by longleaf and slash pine. Beneath this lies an understory of palmetto and gallberry. Small stands of scrub oak and sand pine are also interspersed throughout the flatwoods. The pristine quality of the swamp, a haven for many mammals and birds, made it a prime candidate for Wilderness designation. The swamp contributes to the headwaters of Alexander Springs Creek in the nearby Alexander Springs Wilderness.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Florida |
| Size | 3,064 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 29.09° N, 81.59° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 15) |
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 6 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 miBillie Bay Wilderness ↗Viewing Wildlife
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Fire nearby
- WildfirePine Lakes
14 mi from the center point · 119 acres
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
- 8.2 miCarr Family Cabin ↗Umatilla, FL
- 10.6 miBarberville Central High School ↗Barberville, FL
- 10.8 miMethodist Episcopal Church, South, at Umatilla ↗Umatilla, FL
- 12.7 miStrawn Historic Sawmill District ↗DeLeon Springs, FL
- 12.7 miStrawn Historic Citrus Packing House District ↗DeLeon Springs, FL
- 13 miStrawn Historic Agricultural District ↗DeLeon Springs, FL
- 13.1 miDeLeon Springs Colored School ↗DeLeon Springs, FL
- 14.8 miKilkoff House ↗Deland, FL
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Florida
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Billies Bay Wilderness?
3,064 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Billies Bay Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Billies Bay Wilderness in?
Florida.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Billies Bay Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Billies Bay 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 Billies Bay Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 29.092° N, 81.591° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Billies Bay Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Pine Lakes at 14 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Billies Bay Wilderness?
The National Register has 9 listings within 15 miles, including Carr Family Cabin and Barberville Central High School.
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.
- 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.