Fifth Edition
352 pages, $22.95. Online sales are handled by the Florida Trail Association.
In our fifth edition since 2013, our award-winning guidebook to the Florida National Scenic Trail provides comprehensive end-to-end coverage of more than 1,500 miles of hiking in Florida, a must-have for planning a long hike on the Florida Trail and a helpful companion for overnighters, day trips, and section hikers.
Sandra and her husband John Keatley initially developed this guide with an understanding of long distance hiker needs after spending several months backpacking the Appalachian Trail and finding The AT Guide an invaluable resource. Sandra had written four guidebooks to the Florida Trail beforehand. This one was crafted from scratch using the new perspective of living through the planning process and day-to-day needs of being a backpacker constantly on the move on a long distance trail. It includes detailed logistics for resupply, places to stay, permits required, and both on-trail resources and delights you’ll encounter while on foot. In 2019, Sandra completed section hiking all 1,500 miles described within this book; the fourth edition reflected those final additional details.
John has since retired from writing hiking guides. Chris Stevens, a hands-on volunteer with the Florida Trail Association and avid hiker who writes for this website, joins Sandra Friend as co-author for our fifth edition. After assisting us with the fourth edition, Chris became our point person for updates to the FarOut Guides Florida Trail app, so he also has first-hand knowledge of the trail as a backpacker and a network of contacts to draw from to keep our information fresh.
Building on the strength of our prior edition and our ongoing collaboration with FarOut Guides, this new edition includes data charts and mileage markers derived from the app as of July 2024, along with detailed narrative of important features along the trail. Besides our personal knowledge of the trail, we incorporate feedback from hikers, Florida Trail Association staff, and the vast network of FTA volunteers who build and maintain the trails.
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What’s Inside?
- Logistics for nearly 1,500 miles of trail.
- 43 updated regional overview maps.
- 62 town maps annotated with updated service details.
- 18 sections, including connector trails.
- Data sheets with mileage northbound/southbound/section.
- GPS coordinates for trailheads.
- At-a-glance service icons.
- Section and thru-trail mileage for each chapter.
- Mileages between designated campsites.
- Post office hours and locations.
- Lodgings and campgrounds near the trail.
- Outfitters and shuttle providers along the trail.
- Contact information for thousands of services.
- How to get to and from the termini.
- Permit requirements and precautions.
- Basics for hiking in Florida.
- Camping and backpacking outfitters in Florida.
- Where to buy stove fuel along the trail.
- List of maildrops locations.
- Alternate routes provided for flooding and closures.
- Southbounder alerts throughout the book.
- All roadwalks are highlighted in the text.
- Eastern Continental Trail details for Key West to Big Cypress.
- Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail details, good for hikers and cyclists.
Originally inspired by The AT Guide, this 352 page guidebook covers the full length of the Florida National Scenic Trail as well as the major side trails that connect to it: Blackwater, Ocean-to-Lake, and the Eastern Continental Trail between Key West and Big Cypress Preserve. Data spreads and service spreads are provide in an easy-to-read format (please see samples).
Mileages, and the overall flow of the book, are based on a typical thru-hiker route from Big Cypress to Fort Pickens, with alternate routes fully detailed throughout. Connecting side trails are included in the back of the book.
Retailers
Retailers where you may find The Florida Trail Guide in stock:
- Andy Thornal Company, Winter Haven
- Bill Jacksons, Pinellas Park
- Clyde Butcher Big Cypress Gallery, Ochopee
- REI Boca Raton
- REI Jacksonville
- REI Sarasota
- REI Tallahassee
- REI Winter Park
App Version
A geolocated version of the information in this guidebook is available as an app for your smartphone, tablet, or browser through FarOut Guides. Using GPS technology, the app works offline, showing you where you are on the trail and the resources near you. Thousands of waypoints provide a deep dive into trail features and services.
Updates
During the course of each hiking season, we keep track of trail relocations, services changing, and closures – both temporary and permanent. You can find our cumulative updates for each prior edition here:
Fourth edition updates
Third edition updates
Second edition updates
First edition updates
Sample Data Spread
Sample Services Spread
