Find the top rated hiking trails in florida, whether youre looking for an easy short hiking trail or a long hiking trail, youll find what youre looking for. With 120 trails covering more than 375miles, the hiking and running trails of polk county provide excellent opportunities to get outside and stay there for a while. It covers the 11 routes in the national scenic trails system, from the iconic appalachian to the lesserknown and swampy florida trail. I kept a dead tree journal throughout my hike, but will not post a day by day account. The ideal florida trail thruhike begins on new years day in the dark and mysterious big cypress preserve, abutting everglades national park, and ends south of pensacola in march, on a highrisefree beach at fort pickens in the gulf islands national seashore. Review, plan and study trails for hiking in florida by the backpacker editors. If you havent considered a winter thruhike of the florida national scenic trail you should. The official hiking guide is the first comprehensive guidebook on the florida trail. The official florida trail map set and data book are updated and released november 1 of each year. Its near impossible to find clear, concise logistical trail data online, and that what makes the florida trail guide so valuable to those going hiking in florida. Cam swami honan described by backpacker magazine as the most.
A coffee table book celebrating 50 years of history of the florida trail, our national scenic trail in florida, and of the florida trail. Along the way it passes through swamplands, scrub, pine forests, hardwood hammocks and palmetto prairies. Florida trail association membership brochure ftabrochureinside. Whether youre looking for the best trails in everglades national park or around jacksonville, orlando or tallahassee weve. We have chapter meetings, social events and other activities to promote hiking. If not, then check out this site by the american hiking society. The hiking life is a compilation of tips and advice on trip planning, lightweight backpacking techniques, and improving your wilderness skill set.
Hiking in florida explore florida hikes and trails. Florida trail map and databook florida trail association. The trans florida central railroad trail is a 2mile hiking and biking pathway sitting in a former railroad corridor that once connected sebastian and fellsmere. Hiking apalachee chapter of the florida trail association. Flamingo and pine island trails are accessible from the main entrance of the park in homestead florida, while the shark valley trail is closer to miami off of u. The florida trails equivalent to awols at thruhikers handbook or yogis pct handbook. Having recently moved to florida, i ordered this book and it has ben very helpful in finding good hiking trails for my wife and i. Walking the florida trail, 198519871988, ftajohn keller and ernie baldini. In the book, youll find all the information you need to hike the florida national scenic trail from end to end. Current florida hiking and travel guides by authors sandra friend and john keatley, founders of. The florida trail guide is the most comprehensive and complete source of information youll find to guide you along the florida national scenic trail and several major trails that connect to it, including the oceantolake hiking trail, the blackwater section of the florida trail, and the eastern continental trail connector to key west. The folks that bring you the florida trail guidebook, have teamed up with guthook hikes and high sierra attitude to produce an ft app. We founded the florida trail hikers alliance to encourage more people to hike our 1,400mile national scenic trail, the florida trail, and to provide you resources to help you accomplish that goal.
From flat multiuse trails to hilly natural florida scrub lands, our area of central florida offers unique terrain and picturesque settings. This longdistance hiking trail encounters more than 80 distinct habitats along the way, including dwarf cypress forests, pine flatwoods, sawgrass prairie. The official hiking guide is the first comprehensive guidebook on. My florida trail hike i hiked through florida from jan. The thruhiker map packet contains all 46 maps of the florida national scenic trail, including the data book. Reading his book is a great way to become introduced to the florida trail experience. Molloy is a masterful story teller, hiking the florida trail is not for the hiking enthusiast alone. Florida hiking trails, 1991, ftanancy gildersleeve.
We are using meetup to reach people interested in hiking. Pkt is 30% less than buying maps and data book separately. Generally less than 1 mb each chapter 1 trail history and philosophy. Perfect for day, section, and thruhikers, the florida trail. Florida trail appalachian trail information and hiking. Containing 37 hikes, most appearing in print for the first time, the book includes a mix of easy walks for families, strenuous day hikes, and everything inbetween. Just beyond the halfway point of the baseline to marshall swamp hike, you. North country trail handbook for trail design, maintenance and construction. Hiking the florida trail university press of florida. The 10 best florida hiking trails with photos tripadvisor. Jan 06, 2015 if youre new to wilderness hiking, this fivemile one way florida trail section near ocala is a good place to start. In 2006, veteran hiker and outdoorsman johnny molloy hiked the length of the trail in one threemonth stretch. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Weve researched and written 28 books about florida, mostly guidebooks with multiple editions.
The thru trail maps cover 5060 miles of trail per map. If youre planning a day hike, an overnighter, a long section, or a thruhike, were here to help. Check out the links below to download hiking and bicycling brochures. This longdistance hiking trail encounters more than 80 distinct habitats along the way, including dwarf cypress forests, pine flatwoods, sawgrass prairie, and coastal dunes. Maps, guidebook, data book, faqs and uptodate information on trail conditions. It combines both mileage figures like the data book along with. The florida trail stretches the length and breadth of the sunshine state, from gulf islands national seashore in the panhandle to big cypress national preserve less than an hour from suburban miami. A trail guide for hiking in florida in print visit florida. Florida trail backpacking guide stretching almost the entire length of the sunshine state, the florida trail ft winds its way more than miles from pensacola beach in the north to big cypress national preserve in the south. Florida trail hikes florida hikes trails hiking biking. The florida trail guide provides logistics for hiking and backpacking the florida trail, whether youre planning a weekend trip with friends, an outing with a scout troop, a week in the woods, section hikes of significant length, or a full thruhike of 1,100 miles across the state of florida. The most popular trails are gainesvillehawthorne state trail, nature coast state trail and cross seminole trail. The hiking trails of floridas national forests, parks, and preserves published by thriftbooks.
The florida trail guide provides detailed logistics for hiking and backpacking the florida trail, whether youre planning a weekend trip with friends, an outing with a scout troop, a week in the woods, section hikes of significant length, or a full thruhike of 1,100 miles across the state of florida. My time walking across florida from the everglades in the south up to pensacola in the panhandle ranged from walking though water for days on end, to walking on pavement for days on end, and. Also covered are animal issues, sanitation and etiquette. Celebrating ftas 50th anniversary this commemorative retrospective of florida s national scenic trail shares the stories of those who have played a part in building, maintaining, and experiencing this national treasure, and recounts the paralleling history of the volunteer organization created to develop the trail, the florida trail association. Hiking the florida trail in ocala national forest orlando. Also known as the florida national scenic trail which applies only to its. Florida trail map set the official florida trail map set and data book are updated and released november 1 of each year.
A wide array of land trails offer visitors opportunities for leisurely walks, extended hikes and bicycle treks. Section hiking the florida trail provides some logistical challenges, but a sense of satisfaction in being able to complete an 1,100mile walk across florida over time thru hike the florida trail a thruhike in florida takes 6090 days through lush landscapes you wont see on other long distance trails. Florida trail north florida trailblazers jacksonville, fl. Florida trail hikers alliance hikers helping hikers.
Book overview the 1,300mile florida national scenic trail spans the state from big cypress national preserve near the everglades to its beachfront terminus at gulf islands national seashore. It currently runs 1,000 miles 1,600 km, with 300 miles 480 km planned, from big cypress national preserve between miami and naples, florida along the tamiami trail to fort pickens at gulf islands national seashore, pensacola beach. Each 11 x 17 inch pages is printed on both sides, resulting in 2 maps per page. Just a little hurried at the end in the panhandle, after a slow start in the. Explore florida with the florida trail guide, the most. For once during winter on my travels i stayed in the northern hemisphere, although in its southern reaches, hiking 1,100 miles through the sunshine state on the florida trail. Oct 01, 2012 five star trails orlando provides the most comprehensive coverage of hiking in the orlando metro area. He has written 25 outdoor hiking, camping, and paddling books, including beach and coastal camping in florida upf and a paddlers guide to everglades national park upf. Handbook for trail design, construction and maintenance.
Please note that all text displayed in red indicates. The florida trail stretches the length and breadth of the s. But americas great hiking trails might become a trekking essential. I well done book, much more coherent that some of the other books on the florida trail. Eastern continental trail details for key west to big cypress. And more and more hikers are thruhiking every year. Five star trails orlando provides the most comprehensive coverage of hiking in the orlando metro area. Floridas national scenic trail, our limited edition fullcolor history book in coffee table book format. Find the best hiking trails in florida with backpacker s definitive trail guide to the land of the everglades. Includes trail notes, maps, gps coordinates, photos and user comments for each trail. Books about the florida trail florida trail hikers alliance. A father and his sons two and a half year adventure hiking 1100 miles across florida. Then, from the southern terminus of the florida trail north to ocala, arriving on jan. The ft, a 0 mile trail that runs the length of florida, is part of the national scenic trails system includes the at and the continental divide, for example.
Every image was taken while standing on the florida national scenic trail. The official hiking guide and hikers guide to the sunshine state upf. Discounts are provided for orders of two books either two copies of this book, or a copy of this new book and the current edition of the florida trail guide, our comprehensive endtoend planning guide to the florida trail since two books fit in one shipping envelope if you would like your copy signed andor dedicated a particular way, especially for a gift, please indicate. As always, i welcome this transition, but each time i do so with a small dose of seemingly incurable apprehension. Over two days and 23 miles, central florida explorer patrick connolly gets a taste of the florida trail while hiking through ocala national forest. Mar 20, 2020 over two days and 23 miles, central florida explorer patrick connolly gets a taste of the florida trail while hiking through ocala national forest. Below is a break down of the florida trail data book, free for download. Prints are matted to 16x24 or 18x24, so theyre not too big or too small for your wall.
It contains detailed information for more than 200 of the worlds great hikes and was put together with the mission of inspiring and enabling folks to go backpacking. View profile view forum posts view journal entries view articles view gallery uploads 08022018, 18. Molloys book makes you want to get off the couch and take a look around, if not hike the trail yourself, and for that reason its a success. Hiking guidebook author johnny molloy penned this memoir after his 2008 thruhike. It is recommended that you purchase the florida trail data book with its detailed mileage charts to use along with these maps. The florida trail is one of eleven national scenic trails in the united states. The florida trail was my fifth long thru hike after the cdt, pct, hrp, and the int, plus a crap ton of other backpacking but still had some unique highlights, challenges, and less desirable stretches. Florida trail appalachian trail information and hiking articles. If youre new to wilderness hiking, this fivemile one way florida trail section near ocala is a good place to start. Hiking in florida explore florida hikes and trails backpacker. It is wellorganized, beginning with the trails history, moving through planning and equipmentfood, injuries and first aid, etc. Hiking trails in central florida visit central florida.
This timing keeps the heat and mosquitoes to a minimum, and stunning winter sunsetswhen the entire sky turns sherbet orangeto. Florida trail north florida trailblazers jacksonville. I took about 900,000 steps to hike about 450 miles. Technically, nimblewill nomads book ten million steps was the first book to chronicle a ft thruhike, but molloy is the first to focus exclusively on the ft.
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