Compiled to encourage you to get outdoors during the America250FL state lands celebration in February 2026, we recommend these longer hikes as great destinations during our cooler winter weather.
All of them are within state lands that typically charge an entrance fee. Some are long enough for backpacking trips or can be tackled in pieces on day hikes.
Northwest Florida
Bald Point Tucker Lake Trail Circling the largest body of water in Bald Point State Park, the Tucker Lake Trail showcases a blend of dry upland ecosystems and expansive marshlands. 
Big Lagoon State Park Explore a sweep of coastal forest and wetlands along one of Florida's largest lagoons, with panoramas that stretch to Perdido Key and the Gulf of Mexico.
Eastern Lake Trail A chain of three stacked loops that enable you to walk or ride up to 10.9 miles, the Eastern Lake Trail offers an immersion in Point Washington State Forest for hikers and cyclists.
Faye and Dutch Trail Looping six miles through Florida’s oldest state forest, the Faye and Dutch Trail can be tackled as a day hike or a short backpacking trip.
Fort Braden Trails Showcasing bluff forests and deep ravines above Lake Talquin, the Fort Braden Trails at Lake Talquin State Forest offer enough hiking along a tiered trio of trails for a weekend in the woods.
St. Joseph Peninsula Wilderness Preserve Trail If you’ve dreamed of camping on a deserted beach, here’s your chance. Spend a night under the stars along the Gulf of Mexico amid the quiet of the Wilderness Preserve.
Terry Rhodes Trail System Featuring steep topography and a high biodiversity of plant life along its network of five loop trails, Bear Creek Educational Forest is the crown jewel of Lake Talquin State Forest.
Topsail Hill Preserve Hiking Trails Along with views of three miles of protected coastline on the Gulf of Mexico, the extensive hiking trail system at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park delves into dozens of unique biomes around two coastal dune lakes.
Torreya Hiking Trail One of the most rugged hikes in Florida, the Torreya Hiking Trail treats you to an scenic landscape of ravines and bluffs rising 300 feet above the Apalachicola River.
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.North Florida
Andrews WMA On primordial bluffs along the Lower Suwannee River, magnificently tall trees reside within a massive old growth hardwood hammock teeming with abundant wildlife. 
Dunns Creek Piney Bluff Trails Starting near a scenic bend on Dunns Creek, a network of wide trails explores diverse natural landscapes from expansive pinelands to sandy scrub forests. 
Jennings Pioneer Trail With elevation changes, streams, and cascades, the Pioneer Trail is as close as you can get to the Appalachian Trail experience without leaving the Florida peninsula.
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.
O’Leno Sink to Rise Trail Starting where the waters of the Santa Fe River dive underground at O'Leno State Park, this scenic hike roughly follows the river's subterranean flow to its emergence at River Rise Preserve.
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Protecting a massive natural basin of prairie between Micanopy and Gainesville, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park combines panoramic views with wildlife watching along its trails.
San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park Florida's weird karst geology meets a forest of towering hardwood trees in this botanically significant preserve on the edge of Gainesville. 
Simmons White Trail At Ralph E. Simmons State Forest, the White Trail is a 7 mile loop through the rugged and diverse northernmost extent of the forest, with side trails to the St. Marys River.Central Florida
Bronson River Trail Loop In a lush subtropical jungle along the St Johns River floodplain, the 9.5-mile River Trail loop is an exceptionally scenic route connecting three designated campsites.
Citrus Hiking Trail 39.1 miles. Savor a rugged hike through rolling hills and rocky terrain on one of Florida's longest backpacking loops when you take on the Citrus Hiking Trail near Inverness
Colt Creek Flatwoods Trail Miles of beautifully managed pine forests and cypress domes are on display alongside large areas of habitat restoration on the Colt Creek State Park Flatwoods Trail. 
Lake Kissimmee North Loop Crossing the Lake Kissimmee State Park park drive multiple times, the 6.8-mile North Loop is the easiest trail to access within the park, offering excellent birding
Lake Godwin Loop Explore tall creek bluffs, cypress lined lakeshores, and scrubby pine forests along a 12.6 mile loop with several backpacking campsites along the way.
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.
Little-Big Econ Kolokee Loop Tieing together the Florida Trail, the Kolokee Trail, and the Flagler Trail, the 5.6-mile Kolokee Loop in Little Big Econ State Forest shows off the best facets of the its humid subtropical forest.
Lower Wekiva Loop Venture across lush floodplain forests of Blackwater Creek and the Wekiva River, using a scrubby section of the Florida Trail to create the 10.5-mile Lower Wekiva Loop.
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.
Silver Springs State Park One of the world's largest and deepest springs, Silver Springs pours out more than 550 million gallons of water daily, forming the Silver River.
Tosohatchee White Loop A botanically-rich immersion into Tosohatchee WMA, the White Loop combines the Florida Trail and the White Trail for a hike of nearly 11 miles.
Wekiwa Springs Hiking Trail A 10.2-mile loop through landscapes both vast and intimate, the Wekiwa Springs Hiking Trail shows off the best of nature at Wekiwa Springs State Park. South Florida
Florida Trail, Ocean to Lake: Corbett An 11.7 mile linear hike through a vast watery wilderness comparable to Big Cypress and the Everglades, it's hard to believe this woolly adventure is in Palm Beach County.
Jonathan Dickinson White Loop Connecting with the Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail, the White Loop provides passage to the park's backcountry as well as a satisfying day hike.
Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park Enjoy Florida's own big sky at the only state park in Florida where starry skies fill the horizon and an extensive network of trails - including the Florida Trail - provides access for exploration.
Myakka Hiking Trail For immersion in the vast central prairies of the Florida peninsula, the 39-mile Myakka Hiking Trail is a serious backpacking destination in South Florida near Sarasota.
Myakka State Forest South Loop Circling vast prairies amid pine flatwoods and depression marshes, the South Loop in Myakka State Forest provides a sense of perspective along the Myakka River basin. 
Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest Protecting the headwaters of the Big Cypress Swamp south of the Caloosahatchee River, expansive Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest preserves the heart of wild South Florida.
Oscar Scherer State Park A stronghold for Florida scrub-jays north of Venice, Oscar Scherer State Park is an important island of biodiversity in an increasingly overdeveloped region. 
Savannas Preserve State Park At Savannas Preserve State Park, a grand expanse of wet prairies and pine flatwoods extends across two counties to the west of the Indian River Lagoon.Explore More!
Step into History
Learn more about Florida’s long history at any of our many fascinating historic sites within Florida State Parks. Here’s a small sampling.
Fort Clinch State Park With 1,100 acres of pristine beaches, towering dunes, maritime forest, and estuarine tidal marshes, Fort Clinch State Park is one of Florida’s paramount recreational areas. 
Fort Mose Historic State Park Interpreting the first free African settlement in what would become the United States, Fort Mose educates through storytelling along 1.1 miles of trails and within its museum. 
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park A grand sentinel that protected the fledgling town of Key West from attack, historic Fort Zachary Taylor is an imposing presence looming behind a popular destination beach.
Highlands Hammock State Park One of Florida's oldest state parks, Highlands Hammock protects an old-growth forest while enabling you to explore it on a network of fascinating interpretive nature trails. 
Indian Key Historic State Park On an island visible from the causeway between Lower and Upper Matecumbe Keys, walk into the past to discover the birthplace of Dade County.
Koreshan State Park When Dr. Cyrus Teed founded a commune along the banks of the Estero River in 1894, he envisioned a utopia in the tropics. Koreshan State Park preserves that slice of history.
Letchworth-Love Mounds Archaeological State Park Tucked in a leafy glade near Lake Miccosukee, Letchworth-Love Mounds Archaeological State Park preserves one of the state's greatest archaeological treasures, Florida's tallest ceremonial mound.
Orman House Historic State Park A showcase of fine architecture on a high bluff above the Apalachicola River, the Orman House was built by early Apalachicola settler and shipping magnate Thomas Orman in 1838. Dig Deeper
Florida State Forests With hiking, biking, paddling, and equestrian trails in addition to campgrounds, Florida State Forests provide some of the most extensive trail systems in Florida
Florida State Parks Explore the outdoors in our award-winning Florida State Parks! There are more than 170 state parks scattered across Florida, bringing you the best camping, hiking, biking, and paddling.
Wildlife & Environmental Areas Outdoor recreation in conservation areas managed as wildlife habitat by FWC.
Wildlife Management Areas Recreation in Wildlife Management Areas overseen by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Author of 45 books, Sandra Friend established FloridaHikes.com in 2006 to expand on the field research she'd completed for her first six hiking guides. She has been honored with lifetime achievement awards from the Florida Trail Association and the Florida Outdoor Writers Association.
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