Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway
Juniper Prairie Wilderness Area, FL

The 14,283 acre Juniper Prairie Wilderness is the largest of the four designated Wilderness Areas within the Ocala National Forest. The area was the setting for Rawling’s novel the “Yearling” and the 1949 Gregory Peck movie. Families of endangered scrub jays make their homes along the Yearling Trail, which leads the hiker through xeric oak scrub, sand pine scrub and sand hill forest. Canoeing on Juniper Springs Run is also a very popular way to experience the Wilderness.