Clearwater Lake Rec Area

Clearwater Lake is our 'go-to' campground, with spacious, private sites, and great, supportive staff. Also, it's typically not very crowded. We highly recommend it!

We have been camping at Clearwater Lake for more than 25 years. The trees and natural setting is beautiful and the facilities are maintained well. This was a great place for summer camping since you could cool off in the lake which was not super cold like surrounding springs. Unfortunately, this year the water at Clearwater Lake was GREEN. Green water in Florida means toxic algae. These types of algae produce chemicals like microcystins that are linked to neurological diseases. Adults and children were putting their heads in the water and splashing. I really wonder if the Forest Service is aware of the conditions of the lake. The last few years Naventure has been managing for fishing and cultivating submerged plants to encourage fish. Is this having an effect? Are there septic tanks leaking in our area? Are best practices being used on the surrounding fields? This sandhill lake was crystal clear and spring fed which is rare in Florida. It was like a National Park experience in a National Forest.

Great park!! The swimming area was clean, and the water was super clear! You could see the fish swimming around you. The campsites were also very well maintained. Just beware of the ticks!! They are extremely bad, and you will need to put on insect repellent to stay safe. Will be back again soon!!!

Roads are super narrow. Lots of branches overhead. Sites not very private. Bathroom clean. Showers warm not hot. Very overpriced for what you get, primitive sites.

The friendly staff keeps the area in top shape. Oak trees shade the camping and picnic areas. A shallow Sandy Bottom pond it is a favorite with locals on hot weekends but most of the time is not crowded.

A quiet spot for a swim. Friendly staff that keeps the area in top shape. Great place

The two rangers that helped us out during our stay were absolute godsend. they were so kind and helpful, even helping us bring the firewood we bought to our site. Our dog, Scout, absolutely adore them.

Great place to camp !

We arrived on a Sunday in late April when the weather gave us sun and the day's heat - still pleasant without humidity. The nights were extremely cold, so keep that in mind if you're in a tent in April. The crowds had left, and we had the place pretty much to ourselves. The 1.3 mile dirt path around the lake provides both shade and sunny spots, benches along the way, sightings for deer, birds of all kinds, and rabbits. Other trails, including the paisley and the Florida Central State trail can take you as far north into the heart of the park as you want to go. The facilities are very clean, the staff wonderfully pleasant. A bit of noise comes from the traffic coursing up and down the closest road that may interrupt the morning's bounty of birds; but otherwise it's a fine place to retreat to and spend a few days in solitude.

Very quiet and nicely shaded sights near the lake which has a nice beach and swimming area. Facilities were clean and well maintained. Staff were very supportive