Project: Ocala National Forest onX Trail Revival Project
Location: Florida
Description: On March 28, 2026, a group of 85 volunteers gathered at Big Scrub Campground in Ocala National Forest for an onX Offroad Trail Revival Day focused on restoring and maintaining the Tread Lightly! Four Wheel Drive Way Jeep Badge of Honor trail.
Led by the North Florida Trail Rats, the project brought together volunteers and partners for a large-scale effort to improve conditions along the approximately 80-mile trail. Over time, many sections had become overgrown, with brush encroaching on the trail and causing paint pinstriping on vehicles traveling through the area.
Volunteers worked throughout the day to cut back overgrown vegetation and reopen the trail corridor, improving both accessibility and user experience. In addition to trail maintenance, participants conducted a massive cleanup effort, removing a total of 13,310 pounds of trash and approximately 100 tires from the forest.
Through these combined efforts, roughly 40 miles of trail were revived—restored, cleared, and made ready for responsible recreation. Beyond the on-the-ground impact, the event fostered a strong sense of community, as many volunteers camped at Big Scrub Campground before and after the project, building lasting connections and a shared appreciation for the natural beauty of Ocala National Forest.
This collaborative initiative demonstrated the importance of stewardship, partnership, and volunteerism in preserving access to public lands while protecting the environment.
Thank you to the partners who made this possible:
• North Florida Trail Rats
• OnX Off-Road
• RealTruck
• Florida Off-Road Foundation
• Ocala National Forest Alliance
“The level of dedication, effort, and comradery of the volunteers and partners was truly outstanding. The enthusiasm has carried beyond the event itself, with many volunteers already asking when we will host the next cleanup. Thank you OnX Off-road, Florida Off-Road Foundation, Real Truck, Ocala National Forest Alliance, and Tread Lightly! for the opportunity to be part of such a meaningful initiative and for the continued support of our public lands. We are excited to build on this momentum and look forward to future collaborations.”-Steve Raineri, Co-Founder North Florida Trail Rats
“Events like this show what’s possible when the off-road community comes together with a shared purpose. It’s not just about enjoying these trails, it’s about taking responsibility for them. I’m proud to be part of a group that’s willing to put in the work to keep these places open and accessible for everyone.” – Todd Henderson, RealTruck
“This project is a great example of how collaboration between companies and foundations, coupled with a huge volunteer base, can help keep our Federal and State forests, campgrounds and parks clean, open, and accessible for future generations of motorized recreationists. Florida Off-Road Foundation is excited to be a part of this incredible forest remediation project supported through our “Clean and Krawl” foundation-funding that is generated through sales of the Explore Off-Road license plate. We are always excited and proud to support needed remediation and conservation work that helps protect our Florida public lands.” – Mark Hess, Florida Off-Road Foundation.
Want to get involved in your own Tread Lightly! project? Find upcoming activities, events and grant opportunities at treadlightly.org.
