The map above includes trails, parks, and beaches that are explicitly open to pets.
We do not include places that are not a good fit for your dog, such as the Big Cypress Swamp, where alligators abound and hookworm infections can happen.
Keep in mind that alligators can be found in any body of water in Florida, including salt water.
When hiking with your dog, it is best to choose upland trails away from wetland areas, ponds, and the edges of lakes and rivers.
Land managers do change their policies regarding access for hikers with dogs. Dogs are generally not allowed on beaches or at swimming areas at springs or lakes.
Many counties ban dogs from their natural areas in order to protect wildlife from being disturbed. If you discover that one of these locations is now posted “No Dogs” please let us know.
Our Favorite Dog-Friendly Trails
The map above shows all locations where dogs are permitted. These parks and trails are our top picks for places in Florida where you can hike with your dog.
Betz-Tiger Point Preserve On a peninsula where the Timucua used the surrounding estuary for sustenance, Betz-Tiger Point Preserve provides more than six miles of breezy trails.
Big Shoals Trail Traverse tall bluffs above the Suwannee River for spectacular views of Florida's only Class III whitewater rapids from the Big Shoals Trail.
Bulow Creek Trail A linear hike between state park day use areas at Bulow Plantation Ruins and Bulow Creek, the Bulow Creek Trail parallels the flow of a freshwater creek near the sea
Croom River Trail Loop Using the Florida Trail and the Blue Loop Trail, hikers can explore a picturesque corner of Withlacoochee State Forest in Ridge Manor along a 3.9-mile loop. 
Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park A hiker's paradise in Tallahassee, Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park offers miles of trails exploring contoured terrain and winding streams under a tall, shady canopy of majestic trees. 
Florida Trail, Chuluota Wilderness to Joshua Creek 3.9 miles. Enjoy natural beauty and botanical diversity along a scenic segment of the Florida Trail connecting Chuluota Wilderness and Bronson State Forest. 
Florida Trail, Croom Hiking Trail 9.8 miles. Traversing rolling landscapes of the Brooksville Ridge, the Croom section of the Florida Trail provides miles of panoramic views within a large area of sandhill habitat. 
Florida Trail, Eglin East 41.8 miles. Simultaneously rugged and scenic: that's the beauty of a backpacking trip across the Alaqua, Catface, and Titi sections of the Florida Trail in Eglin Air Force Base.
Florida Trail, Jackson Red Ground Trail 16.6 miles. On the very first trail built in Blackwater River State Forest, the Florida Trail rises up from the red clay bluffs of Juniper Creek to enter extensive longleaf pine forests.
Florida Trail, Lake Delancy to Rodman 6.7 miles. Experience a sense of perspective on a piece of the Florida Trail traversing rolling hills topped with a majestic forest of longleaf pines.
Florida Trail, Prairie Lakes 8.1 miles. Traversing the heart of the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, the Florida Trail at Prairie Lakes is one of Central Florida's oldest and most scenic hiking destinations. 
Florida Trail, Pruitt to Ross Prairie 7.5 miles. With switchbacks, scrambles, and ancient oaks, the Pruitt section of the Florida Trail along the Cross Florida Greenway offers a fascinating hike into the history of the Cross Florida Ship Canal.
Fort Cooper State Park Protecting woodlands and marshes around Lake Holathlikaha, Fort Cooper State Park preserves an important chapter of the Second Seminole War. An annual re-enactment relives the battle. 
Fort George Island Cultural State Park With layer upon layer of human habitation atop the highest natural hill on the southeastern Atlantic Coast, Fort George Island offers a long look at the past.
Jennings Sandridge Trails Extraordinary quiet awaits west of Jacksonville on a 4.1 mile immersion into a healthy pine savanna on a central loop within the Sandridge Trails at Jennings State Forest.
Johnson Pond Trail A mosaic of upland habitats along the northern edge of Withlacoochee State Forest surrounds a large prairie long known as Johnson Pond.
Lake Louisa Hiking Trail Using the decades-old Lake Louisa Hiking Trail as its backbone, this 7.7-mile loop spans natural wetlands and rolling hills at Lake Louisa State Park.
Leon Sinks Geological Area In the Apalachicola National Forest just south of Tallahassee, Leon Sinks Geological Area offers a delightful introduction to the wonders of karst topography on its trails.
Mill Creek Preserve Slip through a curtain of pine plantation to discover a folded karst landscape with towering American beeches, spruce pines, swamp chestnut oaks, and a small waterfall on a 5.3 mile hike.
Ochlockonee River State Park Trails Create a 2.6-mile loop around scenic Ochlockonee River State Park by linking the Pine Flatwood Nature Trail and the Ochlockonee River Nature Trail.
Olustee Battlefield Trail The hike through Olustee Battlefield is short, but its historical significance is great. More than 2,000 men died in this forest on February 20, 1864, when Confederate and Union forces met and fought Florida's bloodiest battle
Prairie Lakes Loop Enjoy the counterpoint of moss-draped oak hammocks and expansive prairies at Prairie Lakes along one of the older and more beloved pieces of the Florida Trail.
Princess Place Preserve Explore wild spaces and cultivated grounds along eight different trails at Princess Place Preserve, an 1880s homestead at Cherokee Grove on Pellicer Creek. 
Rainbow Springs Sandhills Trail A stroll through the gardens of Rainbow Springs leads to rolling terrain punctuated with centuries-old ravines created by phosphate mining for a walk into Dunnellon's past.
Salt Springs Loop Savor the beauty of the Big Scrub and habitats along crystalline Salt Springs Run on this easy loop on the outskirts of Salt Springs.
Shamrock Park The southern terminus for a greenway spanning from Sarasota to Venice, Shamock Park is a draw for birders with its resident Florida scrub-jays.
Silver Springs Conservation Area Silver Springs Conservation Area protects upland habitats crucial to recharge of Silver Springs. Two stacked loop trails (with a cross-trail on the upper loop) provide several options for hiking.
Smyrna Dunes Park At Smyrna Dunes Park, this 2.4-mile hike scenic coastal hike is largely along an accessible boardwalk, with side trips off to the sea and inlet via more rugged approaches.
Theodore Roosevelt Area Hike 3.1 miles looping around an ancient midden fronting the St. Johns River on this scenic hike honoring the conservation legacy of Willie Brown, who preserved his coastal forest for us to enjoy. 
Wakulla Springs Trail Immersed in dense forests along the Wakulla River floodplain, the Wakulla Springs Trail wraps together several named trails through picturesque landscapes near the big spring.
William Bartram St. Johns River Loop Discover the beauty of Welaka State Forest on a 5 mile footpath that winds along ecotones and hugs the bluffs of the St. Johns River to showcase natural wonders that botanist William Bartram documented in 1774.