Information
Nearby Trails
| Status: | Open |
| Typically Open: | Year Round |
| Difficulty: | 3-3
( MODERATE
)
|
| Length: | 80.53 miles |
| Highest Elevation: | 182 feet |
| Duration: | About 7 hours |
| Shape of Trail: | Straight Through |
| Best Direction to Travel: | N/A |
| Nearest Town: | Fort Mc Coy |
| Nearest Town w/ Services: | Fort Mc Coy |
| Official Road Name: | Tread Lightly! Four Wheel Drive Way |
| Management Agency: | U.S. Department of Argiculture |
| District: | Ocala National Forest |
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Highlights
Tread Lightly! Four Wheel Drive Way is located in central Florida in Ocala Nationa Forest. Ocala National Forest spans over Lake, Marion, and Putnam Counties for about 385,000 acres. Four Wheel Drive Way travels 80 miles through the north, central, and south regions of Ocala National Forest. The trail is the longest in Florida and will leave lasting impressions as drivers weave through crowded trails, dig through deep Florida sugar sand, hill climb and hill descents, even a few off-camber areas and areas to flex your rig's suspension. Trees and other vegetation will dig into your vehicle's paint leaving permanent memories, whether good or bad is a discussion for another time.
Tread Lightly! Four Wheel Drive Way is Florida's first and only trail listed on Jeep's Badge of Honor program. Jeep drivers can download Jeep Badge of Honor app on iOS or Android, check-in the app, and receive a badge after completing the trail. See Jeep Badge of Honor for more information.
Route Information
Advanced Rating System 
Recommended Vehicle:
Stock SUV with High Clearance and 4 Low
Concerns:
Summary:
The most difficult part of this trail is the traction. Four Wheel Drive Way has deep sand and mud in the rain season, which causes issues for 4WD trucks/SUVs with highway tires.
Technical Rating:
3-3
( MODERATE
)
Typically, more rock or undulated road surface. Potential rocks and/or tree stumps less than 12" tall and/or vertical ledges less than 12" tall and/or near vertical ledges or waterfalls less than 24" inches. Tire placement becomes more difficult. Can be steep.
Read more about our rating system Description
Four Wheel Drive Way is made of various terrain: clay, dirt, sand, and mud. The trail is shaped like a twisted hourglass and is an 80 miles long route comprised of several roads. It has multiple hill climbs and descents. Obstacles on the trail consist of dips, some mudholes during the wet season, and deep sand. Four Wheel Drive Way is for stock 4WD trucks/SUVs with all-terrain or mud tires and drivers of all experiences.
Keep an eye out for Florida Black Bears.
Waypoints
1. Tread Lightly! Four Wheel Drive Way Trailhead (0 mi)
Turn right/south onto Forest Road 09. There are easy identifiers for the trail other than a small brown sign about 100' south of FL-316. The trail is exactly 3.2 miles east of the Marathon gas station at 14929 E Hwy 316, Fort McCoy, Florida 32134
2. Forest Road 01-3.2 - Turn Right/West (1.05 mi)
Forest Road 01-3.2 is identified by a small brown sign on the west side of Forest Road 09.
3. Intersection - Turn Left/South (1.44 mi)
Turn left/south at the intersection.
4. Forest Road 01-4.5 - Keep Straight/West (1.78 mi)
Keep straight onto FR01-4.5 as indicated by the brown sign.
5. Unknown Road - Keep Straight/West (2.51 mi)
Unknown trail, keep straight to stay on FR01-4.5.
6. Forest Road 01 Intersection - Turn Left/South (2.71 mi)
Turn left/south onto Forest Road 01.
7. Forest Road 01-4.11 - Turn Left/East (3.09 mi)
Turn left/east onto FR01-4.11.
8. Forest Road 01-3.2 - Turn Right/South (4.19 mi)
Intersection with FR01-3.2, turn right/south.
9. Unknown Trail - Keep Straight/South (4.49 mi)
Unknown trail, keep straight/south on FR01-3.2.
10. Forest Road 01-2.1 - Keep Straight/South (4.95 mi)
Intersection for FR01-2.1. Keep straight/south on FR01-3.2.
11. Forest Road 67-0A7 - Turn Left\West (5.31 mi)
Intersection with FR67-0A7, turn left/west to stay on FR01-3.2.
12. Unknown Trail - Turn Left/South (5.68 mi)
Unknown trail, turn left/south to stay on FR01-3.2.
13. Fork - Turn Right/West (6.33 mi)
Turn right/west at the fork.
14. Forest Road 01 Intersection - Turn Left/South (6.53 mi)
Turn left/south onto Forest Road 01.
15. Forest Road 01-0.7 Intersection - Turn Left/North (9.07 mi)
Turn left/north onto FR01-0.7.
16. Forest Road 09 Intersection - Keep Straight/North (10.26 mi)
Intersection with Forest Road 09, keep straight/north to stay on FR01-0.7.
17. Forest Road 09-23.9A - Keep Straight/North (10.58 mi)
FR09-23.9A, keep straight/north on FR01-0.7.
18. Forest Road 09-24.7 - Turn Right/East (11.5 mi)
Intersection with Forest Road 09-24.7. Turn right/east onto FR09-24-7.
19. Forest Road 09-24.7 - Turn Left/North (12.15 mi)
Turn left/north to stay on FR09-24-7.
20. Forest Road 11 - Turn Right/East (13.27 mi)
Turn right/east onto the dirt trail that runs parallel to the pavement of Forest Road 11.
21. Forest Road 09-24.7B - Turn Right/South (13.57 mi)
Turn right/south onto FR09-24.7B. There are no signs for FR09-24.7B however it is the first dirt road since turning onto FR11.
22. Forest Road 88-302 - Keep Right/South (14.48 mi)
FR88-302 is closed. Keep right/south on FR09-24.7.
23. Forest Road 09-24.7 - Turn Left/East (14.25 mi)
Turn left/east onto FR09-24.7.
24. Unknown Trail - Keep Left/East (14.84 mi)
Unknown trail, keep left/east.
25. Forest Road 58 - Turn Right/South (15.1 mi)
FR09-24.7 ends as Forest Road 50. Turn right/south onto FR50.
26. Forest Road 09-23.6 - Turn Right/West (16.38 mi)
FR09-23.6 is identified by a small brown and white sign covered by brush. Turn right/west onto FR09-23.6.
27. Forest Road 09 - Turn Right/North (18.02 mi)
Intersection with Forest Road 09. Turn right/noth onto FR09.
28. Forest Road 01-0.7 - Turn Left/South (18.33 mi)
Forest Road 09 intersection with FR01-0.7 will look familiar. Retrace your tracks by turning left/south back onto FR01-0.7.
29. Forest Road 01 Intersection - Turn Left/South (19.51 mi)
FR01-0.7 ends at Forest Road 01. Turn left/south onto FR01.
30. NE Highway 314 - Turn Left/East (20.19 mi)
Intersection with NE Highway 314. There are no dirt tracks that run paralell to NE Highway 314, so turn left/east onto the pavement. Watch your speed if you've aired down and get ready for about a 2.5 mile drive.
31. Forest Road 50-3.8 - Turn Right/South (22.49 mi)
At about 2.5 miles there will be a dirt road on the south side of NE Highway 314. Turn right/south onto FR50-3.8.
32. Forest Road 50-3.8A - Turn Left/East (22.77 mi)
Turn left/east onto FR50-3.8A.
33. Forest Road 58 - Turn Right/South (22.9 mi)
Turn right/south onto Forest Road 58.
34. Forest Road 58-3.6 - Keep Right/South (23.84 mi)
Keep right/south at the fork to stay on FR58.
35. Forest Road 50-4.8 - Turn Right/South (23.97 mi)
Look for a brown sign identifying FR50-4.8 and turn right/east onto it.
36. Unknown Trail - Keep Straight/South (24.6 mi)
Continue straight/south to stay on FR 50-4.8.
37. Forest Road 09-21.5 - Turn Right/West (25.08 mi)
At the intersection turn right/west onto FR09-21.5. There will be a brown sign to help identify the trail.
38. Forest Road 09-21.5A - Turn Left/South (25.66 mi)
Turn left/south at the intersection to access FR09-21.5A.
39. Unknown Trail - Keep Left/South (25.74 mi)
Keep left/south at the fork.
40. Fork - Keep Left/South (25.81 mi)
Continue left/south at the fork to stay on FR09-21.5A.
41. Intersection - Turn Left/South (26.06 mi)
At the intersection turn left/south to stay on FR09-21.5A.
42. Forest Road 50-4.8 - Turn Right/South (26.75 mi)
FR09-21.5A ends at FR50-4.8. Turn right/south onto FR50-4.8.
43. Forest Road 50 Intersection - Keep Straight/South (27.18 mi)
Intersection with Forest Road 50. Keep straight/south and stay on FR50-4.8.
44. Forest Road 09-18.3 - Turn Right/West (28.2 mi)
This large intersection has a few areas to climb with your rig. Turn right/west onto FR09-18.3.
45. Forest Road 09-17.9 - Keep Straight/West (29.22 mi)
Intersection for FR09-17.9. Continue straight/west and stay on FR09-18.3.
46. Forest Road 09 - Turn Left/South (29.64 mi)
At the intersection with Forest Road 09, turn left/south.
47. Forest Road 38 - Keep Straight/South (31.65 mi)
Keep straight at Forest Road 38 to stay on FR09.
48. FL-40 Intersection - Keep Straight/South (35.32 mi)
Cross over FR-40 to continue on FR09.
49. Forest Road 09-13.5 - Turn Left/East Then Keep Right/South (35.56 mi)
Turn left/east onto FR09-13.5 and immediately turn right/south. There will be a gate on the right side to travel through.
50. Forest Road 09-12.1A - Turn Right/South (36.19 mi)
Turn right/west off FR09-31.5 and onto FR09-12.1A.
51. Forest Road 09-12.9 - Turn Right/West (36.5 mi)
Turn right/west at the intersection for FR09-12.9.
52. Forest Road 09 - Turn Left/South (36.84 mi)
At the intersection with Forest Road 09, turn left/south onto FR09.
53. Forest Road 09-11.0 - Turn Right/West (37.91 mi)
Turn right/west onto FR09-11.0. The trail will be identified by a brown sign.
54. Forest Road 22-3.7 - Keep Straight/West (38.95 mi)
Continue straight to stay on FR09-11.0.
55. Forest Road 05 - Turn Left/South (40.46 mi)
Turn left/south onto Forest Road 05.
56. Fork - Keep Left/East (42.46 mi)
Keep left at the fork to stay on FR05.
57. Forest Road 22 - Keep Straight/South (43.6 mi)
Keep straight/south and cross over Forest Road 22.
58. Forest Road 14-2.6A - Keep Right/West (46.12 mi)
Keep right to stay on FR05.
59. Forest Road 05-4.2 - Keep Straight/South (48.23 mi)
Forest Road 05-4.2 may be tempting to explore, but continue straight/south on FR05.
60. Forest Road 14 - Keep Straight/South (48.68 mi)
Continue straight/south to cross over Forest Road 14.
61. Forest Road 05-2.2 - Turn Left/East (50.23 mi)
Turn left/east onto FR05-2.2. There will be a mild shelf to climb down.
62. Forest Road 13-1.7 - Turn Right/East (50.82 mi)
Watch for a fork to the right of the trail. Turn right/east onto FR13-1.7.
63. Forest Road 13-1.7 - Turn Right/East (51.31 mi)
FR13-1.7 is identified by a road sign, turn right/east at the intersection.
64. Unknown Trail - Turn Right/South (51.71 mi)
Turn right/south to head down into the ravine.
65. Unknown Trail - Turn Right/South (51.92 mi)
Turn right/south at the fork.
66. Forest Road 05-1.5 - Turn Left/East (52.48 mi)
At the intersection turn left/east onto FR05-1.5.
67. Intersection - Keep Right/East (52.95 mi)
Continue to the right/east.
68. Intersection - Keep Straight/East (53.57 mi)
Keep straight/east at the intersection.
69. Forest Road 13 - Turn Right/South Then Turn Left/East (54.21 mi)
At the intersection for Forest Road 13 turn right/south, then immediately turn left/east for FR13-3.6.
70. Forest Road 02-1.4 - Keep Left/East (54.82 mi)
Intersection for FR02-1.4. Keep straight/east to stay on FR13-3.6.
71. Forest Road 13-3.6 - Keep Right/East (55.06 mi)
Keep right/east at the fork.
72. Forest Road 13-3.6 - Keep Right/North (55.35 mi)
Keep right/north at the fork again.
73. Forest Road 13-3.6 - Keep Left/North (55.6 mi)
At the intersection keep left/north to stay on FR13-3.6.
74. Forest Road 13-3.6 - Turn Right/East (55.79 mi)
Turn right/east to stay on FR13-3.6.
75. Forest Road 02-2.0 - Turn Left/North (56.42 mi)
FR13-3.6 ends at FR02-2.0. Turn left/north onto FR02-2.0.
76. Forest Road 13-3.6A1 - Turn Left/West (56.74 mi)
At the intersection turn left/west onto FR13-3.6A1 as marked by the sign.
77. Intersection - Turn Right/North (56.99 mi)
Unknown intersection, turn right/north.
78. Intersection - Turn Left/North (57.27 mi)
Random intersection, turn left/north.
79. Intersection - Turn Right/North (57.57 mi)
Keep right/north at the intersection.
80. Forest Road 14 - Turn Right/East (58.41 mi)
Finally a main road! Turn right/east onto Forest Road 14.
81. Forest Road 09 - Keep Straight/East (59.88 mi)
Continue straight/east past Forest Road 09.
82. Flatwoods Riding Loop - Turn Right/South (62.32 mi)
Flatwood Riding Loop is not just for horses. Turn right/south at the intersection.
83. Forest Road 09-2.2 - Turn Left/East (63.43 mi)
At the intersection turn left/east onto FR09-2.2.
84. Forest Road 19-3.6 - Turn Right/South (64.29 mi)
FR09-2.2 ends at FR19-3.6. Turn right/south.
85. Forest Road 19-3.6 - Turn Left/East (64.64 mi)
Continue left/east at the fork on FR19-3.6.
86. Forest Road 09-0.1A - Turn Right/West (65.77 mi)
Turn right/west at the intersection onto FR09-0.1A.
87. Fork - Keep Right/West (66.16 mi)
Keep right/west at the fork.
88. Fork - Keep Left/South (66.38 mi)
Turn left/south at the fork.
89. Intersection - Turn Left/South (66.7 mi)
Unknown intersection, turn left/south.
90. Sinkhole (66.84 mi)
The sinkhole is located just off the trail.
91. Unknown Trail - Turn Left/West (66.93 mi)
At the intersection turn left/west.
92. Forest Road 09-0.7 - Turn Right/North (67.15 mi)
Take the fork on the right/noth onto FR09-0.7.
93. Intersection - Keep Straight/West (67.86 mi)
Keep straight/west at the intersection to stay on FR09-0.7.
94. Forest Road 09 - Turn Right/North (68.38 mi)
FR09-0.7 intersects with Forest Road 09. Turn right/north onto FR09.
95. Forest Road 14 - Keep Straight/North (71.76 mi)
FR09 and Forest Road 14 intersection. Continue straight/north.
96. Forest Road 09-6.5 - Turn Right/East (74.25 mi)
FR09-6.5 is located just off FR09 and is identified by the brown sign.
97. Forest Road 09-6.5A - Turn Left/North (74.62 mi)
Watch for a road sign for FR09-6.5A and turn left/north onto it.
98. Forest Road 09-6.9A - Turn Left/North (75.07 mi)
Turn left/north at the intersection onto FR09-6.9A.
99. Forest Road 09 - Turn Right/North (75.78 mi)
Turn right/north back onto Forest Road 09.
100. End (80.52 mi)
Tread Lightly! Four Wheel Drive Way ends at the "Caution Gas Pipeline" signs. The quickest way to exit Ocala National Forest is to continue north on FR09 for about a mile until reaching FL-40. Turning left/west onto FL-40 will head into the town of Silver Springs.
Directions to Trailhead
Trailhead Coordinates:
29.367673,
-81.857830
Starting Point: Fort McCoy
Starting at NE 150 Ave and East County Road 316, take CR-316 east for 3.1 miles. On the right/south side of CR-316 there will be a dirt road with no roadsign, the trailhead starts here.
Camping
Not allowed
Camping is not allowed on Four Wheel Drive Way. The trail never passes any campsites, however, there are a few nearby. Below are the nearest campsites while exploring Four Wheel Drive Way:
Lake Delancy West and Lake Delancy East are located on NE 191st Lane and NF 66. Both campsites allow tent and small trailer camping, along with picnic tables. Lake Delancy West has more amenities such as toilets, drinking water, and set up for OHV riding.
For more info and campsite reservations please visit the Lake Delancy West and Lake Delancy East websites.
Doe Lake Recreation Area and Big Scrub Campground are located off Forest Road 14. Doe Lake Recreation Area is by reservation only and Big Scrub Campground is a large site for trailer camping.
Please see Doe Lake Recreation Area and Big Scrub Campground for more information and reservations.
Hopkins Prairie Campground is located off Forest Road 50 and is only open from October 1-June 1st. The campground consists of toilets, picnic tables, and grills. The campsite is small and only accommodates tent camping and camping trailers. Please visit Hopkins Prairie Campground for more information and reservations.
For individual use only, not to be shared.