The Florida National Scenic Trail 2012 State of the Trail Report is now available for download from the USDA Forest Service.
Bear encounter at Black Bear Wilderness
> Public Lands affected by Hurricane Ian damage
Visiting this Seminole County preserve for the first time, a string of excellent wildlife sightings culminates in seeing three bears at the trailhead.
Bill Frederick Park
> Public Lands affected by Hurricane Ian damage
Inside the city of Orlando, the urban Bill Frederick Park has a wild side, too, with more than 2 miles of trails to meander through scrub forest and along Turkey Lake.
Buck Lake East Loop
> Public Lands affected by Hurricane Ian damage
On this 1.5-mile loop atop a scrub ridge in the southeast corner of Buck Lake Conservation Area, watch for a flash of blue- Florida scrub-jays are found here.
Canaveral Marshes
> Public Lands affected by Hurricane Ian damage
Hike up to 5 miles on levees through the marshes of the St. Johns River at Canaveral Marshes Conservation Area between Orlando and Titusville.
Florida Trail, Three Lakes WMA
> Public Lands affected by Hurricane Ian damage
At Three Lakes WMA / Prairie Lakes Unit, the Florida Trail traverses one of the largest expanses of open prairie in the Southeast, the Kissimmee Prairie.
Florida Trail, Tosohatchee
> Public Lands affected by Hurricane Ian damage
Bridging an immense expanse of pine flatwoods bisected by floodplain forests, an 11-mile segment of the statewide Florida Trail crosses Tosohatchee WMA.
Hiking inn-to-inn on the Florida Trail
> Public Lands affected by Hurricane Ian damage
As part of a question sent to me by Rick, a reader in New England, he asked “we would be interested to find an area where we hike from inn to inn over a few days” as part of a vacation day hiking in Florida. As I’m in the midst of working on a new …
Historic Babb Landing
> Public Lands affected by Hurricane Ian damage
Take an easy walk to Shingle Creek at Historic Babb Landing along a family-friendly trail with great opportunities for birding and outdoor play.
How to hike in October in Florida
> Public Lands affected by Hurricane Ian damage
October 1 marks the traditional start of Florida’s hiking season, so it’s time to start planning your outdoor adventures! October is also normally designated Florida Greenways & Trails Month, but I haven’t heard a peep about it from my usual sources. Let’s get out and celebrate anyway. Last week, the morning temperatures were in the …
Isle of Pine Preserve
> Public Lands affected by Hurricane Ian damage
Creating a loop through upland habitats perfect for gopher tortoise survival, the Blue Trail is one of two separate trails through Isle of Pine Preserve.
Isle of Pine Preserve Green Trail
> Public Lands affected by Hurricane Ian damage
Providing access to the floodplain forest along Lake Mary Jane, the Green Trail is one of two separate trails through the 550-acre Isle of Pine Preserve.