Alexander Springs Wilderness is a federally designated wilderness area in Florida within Ocala National Forest, the oldest national forest east of the Mississippi River. Congress protected 7,941 acres around Alexander Springs in 1984. The area is distinguished by Alexander Springs, identified as the only first-magnitude spring in all U.S. national forests and parks. Its spring-fed environment supports wildlife such as otters, alligators, and turtles, giving it both scenic and ecological significance. With Alexander Springs Park open around the clock for camping and other outdoor activities, the wilderness is both a protected natural landscape and a recreation destination within Ocala National Forest.