2021 Map of Big Gum Swamp

About this map

Osceola National Forest encompasses the vast majority of this landscape, dominated by complex wetland systems along the border of Columbia and Baker counties. The hydrologic character of the region is defined by expansive reaches like Big Gum Swamp and Little Gum Swamp, which feed into the Middle Prong Saint Marys River in the northeast. This 2021 survey reveals a primitive interior accessed primarily through a network of specialized routes, including the Osceola Wilderness Trl and the Florida National Scenic Trl. Distinctive landforms such as Cross Island and Big Island emerge from the surrounding wetlands, while named features like Impassable Bay and Williams Bay highlight the challenging nature of the terrain. Low-lying basins like Fanny Bay and Brushy Branch are connected by forest roads such as Seventeen Mile Camp Rd, maintaining the area's character as a managed wilderness and critical water conservation area.