Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides
Adventures while we section-hike the Florida Trail and support other hikers on thru-hikes and section hikes
After exploring Florida’s outdoors for most of our lives, we’ve come up with a list of our favorite destinations for tackling trails – hiking, biking, and paddling – across the state. Spoiler alert: beaches aren’t involved.
On the third day of the 2013 Panhandle Trace Hike, we followed the Juniper Creek section of the Florida Trail away from the wildfires that burned to the north, experiencing beauty and absurdity along the way.
We met Ruth at the Florida Trail Association Conference in March and spent time hiking with her on the Panhandle Trace. At both events, she invited us to come hike in her backyard and visit. With five hikes left for Five Star Trails Gainesville and Ocala, we headed to North Gainesville, staying at the Best …
When the title “Hiker Trash” gets bestowed on you by friends, it’s an honor – if you love to hike. When it shows up next to your face at random on the Internet, it’s kind of funny.
Following the Florida Trail between Buckman Lock and the Rodman Recreation Area means walking down a levee along an orphaned section of the Cross Florida Barge Canal for most of the hike.
Leaving the Florida Trail to chase down a lead on a new antique VW Westfalia camper, JK discovers it’s well worth the detour – and brings it home to support future hiking trips.
Hiking along the Farles Prairie section of the Florida Trail adjoining Pine Castle Bombing Range, we get to experience both a bomb concussion and a charred “nightmare forest” after a dropped bomb.
A hike along the Cross Seminole Trail – which the Florida Trail follows – through Oviedo and Winter Springs means an introduction to suburbia in the Orlando metro.
With our switcheroo on the previous day – skipping the burned zone of the Jackson Trail to walk the Juniper Creek Trail back to the campground – Day Four of the Panhandle Trace Hike had us headed northbound for the first time on this trek. Peggy had hikers going in all directions and for different …
JK learns what it’s like to hike the Florida Trail through the Orlando metro, following paved bike trails past McDonalds, over Interstate 4, and yes, even encountering deer.
At St. Marks NWR, Marsh Point captures the essence of Florida’s Gulf coastline. But hikers are missing it because the bridges are out.
After a tough solo stretch, JK decides that hiking with a partner is preferable to hiking alone, and makes adjustments to his hiking plans to suit.
