Florida Is For Backpackers
Florida is fortunate to be home to one of America’s National Scenic Trails. Established in 1966, the Florida Trail has grown from just a few hundred linear miles to a network of more than 1,500 miles of marked trail. Orange blazes lead you through forests, across prairies, and even though Florida’s biggest swamp, the Big Cypress.
While the Florida Trail is our premiere backpacking destination, trail maintainers with the Florida Trail Association also built many loop trails in Florida State Parks and state forests, most of which remain popular backpacker destinations.
Florida’s prime backpacking season is December through March. That’s when temperatures are cooler, habitats are drier, and insects are less of a problem than any other time of year. But winter also means shorter days for getting your miles in. You can backpack here any time of year, but heat, humidity, and insects add serious challenges.
Planning Your Backpacking Trip
Learn about the specific differences of backpacking in Florida versus in other states and countries, particularly for the Florida Trail. If you haven’t backpacked in Florida before, read these. They bust a few myths and assumptions about Florida.
Hiking in Florida
New to Florida? Florida is different. If you don’t know much about our outdoors, start here to learn what’s unique about hiking, backpacking, and camping in Florida.
How To Prepare For A Backpacking Trip
What does a hiker need to spend a week, or a month, or three months on the trail? Here are trail-tested suggestions for backpacking in Florida for trips of a week or more
Choosing Gear for a Florida Trail Hike
Our detailed recommendations and reviews of the best hiking and backpacking gear for your thru-hike or section hike of the Florida Trail based on our own successful use of certain tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, and more.
Resources for Backpackers
We’ve been writing Florida hiking books since 2001, including seven guidebooks to backpacking our statewide Florida National Scenic Trail. We published our most recent edition in Fall 2017.
Our newest guidebook, Florida Trail Hikes, outlines overnighters and best sections of the Florida Trail for scenic beauty, as well as great day hikes.
We’ve also partnered with Atlas Guides to bring you our Florida Trail information in app form. #withGuthook
Florida's Best Backpacking Trips
These are backpacking destinations we consider some of the best in the state. Some are short and easy for families, some take three to seven days.
Recent Backpacking Articles
East or West around Lake Okeechobee?
Making the decision to walk the Florida Trail east or west around Lake Okeechobee used to be easy. Now, with construction zones blocking access to much of the southern half of the lake, it isn’t. Here are the facts on each route’s strengths and weaknesses to help you decide the best route for you.
