How To Stay Safe At Ocala National Forest

Bill Allen | November 22, 2024 | Personal Injury

Huddled in the center of the state between Orlando and Gainesville, Ocala National Forest is a lush recreation site that is open to Floridians and tourists alike. It is home to hundreds of acres of forests, lakes, and rivers that support countless activities.

However, despite the forest being such a great place to visit, it can also be dangerous if you don’t take proper care while you are there. If you intend to visit the area, the following precautions will help you stay safe.

Safety Tips For Activities At Ocala National Forest

There are over a dozen official activities listed on the Ocala National Forest website, in addition to several more that creative individuals can participate in. When visiting the park, you should take appropriate safety measures when engaging in the following activities where you could get hurt:

Bicycling

Ocala National Forest has miles of trails and well-maintained roads that are perfect for riding your bicycle. However, many of these biking locales are dozens of miles from the nearest medical help, so you should take care to avoid bicycle accidents.

The most important safety precaution you can take is to be certain you are using the right type of bike for the ride you intend to go on. Street bikes shouldn’t be ridden on trails, and mountain bikes shouldn’t be used on roads. If you want to split your time between both types of riding, a hybrid bike that is designed to travel on all kinds of terrain is your best bet.

Additionally, you should always ride with at least one partner when possible. If you get seriously hurt, you might not be able to contact emergency services on your own.

Off-Road Riding

With over 200 miles of trails designated for off-road vehicle use, you could easily spend an entire day exploring the forest in a recreational vehicle or on your motorcycle. But you must, of course, exercise proper caution.

Recreational vehicle accidents are often the result of carelessness. People get caught up in the fun of riding over rough terrain and forget to watch their surroundings. Anytime you have anything less than full visibility, you should throttle back on your speed to avoid getting into an accident while going around a blind turn.

Additionally, anyone riding an off-road vehicle or a motorcycle must have an appropriate license to ride in the forest. If you get into a motorcycle accident and you can’t produce a legal motorcycle license, you could face criminal charges on top of substantial hospital bills.

Swimming or Canoeing

Before you decide to jump into one of the many ponds and lakes in the forest, make sure to look for alligators. They’re a common sight in central Florida, and they are undoubtedly dangerous if provoked.

Typically, an alligator won’t attack if you stay at least ten feet away from it. But if you are splashing around, it may move in to investigate. The best way to avoid the danger a gator represents is to carefully examine the entire lake before entering. If you have any reason to suspect dangerous wildlife, move to one of the other 600 lakes in the area.

Stay Safe At Ocala National Forest

Ocala National Forest isn’t like the theme parks that you can find in nearby Orlando. The federal government may maintain it, but you won’t find lifeguards every few feet or guardrails on every trail. You need to bring appropriate safety equipment when visiting the park and be wary of the types of dangers the forest can present before engaging in any activities.

Contact Our Ocala Personal Injury Law Firm at Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers in North Central Florida

If you need legal assistance, contact the Ocala personal injury lawyers at Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers at your nearest location to schedule a free consultation today, we’re open 24 hours daily.

We have three convenient locations in Marion County and Alachua County, North Central Florida:

Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers – Ocala Office
112 S Pine Ave
Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 351-3258

Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers – Downtown Gainesville
621 W University Ave
Gainesville, FL 32601
(866) 928-6292

Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers – Gainesville Office
2550 SW 76th St #150
Gainesville, FL 32608
(877) 255-3652