John T. Childers Road - ONF 53

Trail Overview

The John T. Childers Trail, also known as Ocala National Forest Road 53, connects Highway 19 at the north end and Volusia Trail at the south end in the south part of the ONF. The trail gives you access to the Chain of Lakes Boatramp. The road conditions are a mixture of packed sand, loose sand, and some deep holes that can turn into 2 feet deep mud holes after rainy days. The road is not always wide enough for two vehicles to pass. 4WD and high clearance are recommended. All vehicles must be street-legal. Ocala National Forest is in Florida, north of Orlando. It's known for its large areas of sand pine scrub forest. The Juniper Springs, Alexander Springs, and Salt Springs recreation areas have natural pools and canoe runs. Hundreds of lakes and ponds include Lake Kerr and the enormous Lake George.

Photos of John T. Childers Road - ONF 53

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Difficulty

Some parts of the trail are narrow, and some areas stay flooded for a while after heavy rain.

Technical Rating