Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway
The Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway is a national scenic avenue dotted with numerous hidden treasures and natural wonders that you can only find in Florida. The entire 60 mile stretch of the road demands you to get off the pavement and into nature and is a nationally designated site of beauty, one of the most gorgeous natural sites in all of Florida, according to some. The byway is a mosaic of natural attractions and communities surrounding one of Florida’s most distinctive ecosystems, the Big Scrub. The Big Scrub is the largest contiguous sand pine forest that was created from ancient sand dunes and is today capped with vegetation that has adapted to a lack of water. The byway, and in turn Big Scrub, stretches a totality of four different counties, to the East Marion, through Lake, Putnam, and Volusia.
The entirety of this scenic byway across Northeast Florida serves as the backbone for a much larger network of scenic roads and interpretive trails, as you will probably see on your drive, or perhaps even hike. Enjoy the incredible views of the surrounding stretches of land, including such gorgeous places as the Ocala National Forest, Lake George State Forest, Heart Island Conservation Area, and even Tiger Bay. The main attraction of this area will become clear to you quickly, the many gleaming springs and waterways calling for the clicks of tourists cameras from far and wide. And of course, you’ll want to watch for the infamous Florida Black Bear, this area holding the largest density of the species in the whole state. This is one-stop everyone in your group is going to enjoy before you head home, an attraction with history, adventure, nature, and vacation all in one experience!
