Florida Hikes
Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides
Topics of interest for hikers, cyclists, and paddlers, including conservation, land management, and wildlife issues, as well as how-to and gear recommendations.
My primary boot for backpacking in Florida is the Keen Targhee II hiking boot. They are waterproof - which means they're good anywhere but in a deep swamp - and provide excellent ankle support. They look sharp enough for a wedding, too.
How to Do Florida TV host Chad Crawford takes his daughter on a backpacking trip on the Florida Trail. Let him inspire you to plan your next family adventure!
In Florida, you need to worry about your feet getting wet when you hike. Often. My Merrell Moab Ventilator mid hiking boots are my go-to pair for whenever we are headed out on day hikes.
East vs. West: which is best? I hiked both as a loop, so here's a rundown of how the two corridors of the Florida Trail compare through Central Florida - and a little trail history.
The northernmost paved segment of the Palatka-Lake Butler Trail, the Lake Butler Trail extends 4.5 miles from SR 237 to Union Depot
John bikes the next segment west on the Coast to Coast Connector, the Seminole Wekiva Trail. This well-established bike path connects Seminole County communities.
Spanning 3.5 miles between the entrances to Big Shoals State Park, the paved Woodpecker Trail makes for an easy 7 mile round-trip when it's not wet.
Tubing the Ichetucknee River means letting go and going with the flow, letting the waters carry you past beautiful springs and through ever-changing habitats. Here's how.
On a mellow paddling trip down the Santa Fe River, John discovers several swimming springs, thousands of turtles, and miles of quiet waterway.
It's August. It's Florida. Where do you go to cool off? The springs of the Suwannee River Valley. No matter the size, these natural swimming holes are a delight.
The paved ECRRT ends at Draa Rd in Titusville, but the plans for the Coast to Coast Connector take it right downtown. Here's what we found along the route.
Living in the area, John was excited to learn that a cross-Florida trail was coming to Titusville. A year ago, we explored where it went, and discovered it ended without going very far.
