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boardwalk at Chinsegut WEA

Day Hikes in Florida

Explore Florida on the best loop and linear day hikes of 1 to 15 miles

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In state and county public lands, across our national forests, and especially along the length of Florida on our National Scenic Trail, the Florida Trail, our state offers an outstanding variety of day hikes.

Some require logistical planning as trailheads may be remote and water scarce, and an out-and-back hike or shuttle might be necessary.

Others are loops that are easy to follow but might be across rugged terrain.

Trails of a mile or less are listed under Nature Trails and trails greater than 15 miles under Backpacking.


Our Hiking Guides

We’ve been writing Florida hiking books since 2001, including seven guidebooks to our statewide Florida National Scenic Trail.

Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover 50 Hikes in Central Florida 5 Star Trails Orlando Five Star Trails Gainesville Ocala book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover

Florida Trail Hikes outlines great day hikes along the Florida Trail for scenic beauty, as well as the best sections to tackle. We’ve also partnered with FarOut to bring you our Florida Trail information as an app.
 
Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.


Florida’s Best Day Hikes

These are some of the day hikes we consider some of the best in the state. There are hundreds more to choose from, but you can use these as a starting point to get acquainted with hiking in Florida. Zoom into the map above to find more day hikes near you.

Bear-N-Oak Trail Bear-N-Oak Trail The Bear-N-Oak Trail at Indian Lake State Forest provides a fascinating look at habitat diversity centered on Indian Lake, a sinkhole lake that connects to the aquifer
View of railroad bridge and rivers from peninsula Big Oak Trail The Big Oak Trail is one of the most scenic hikes in North Florida. Much of the hiking parallels the Suwannee and Withlacoochee Rivers, which meet here at a confluence.
Rooty path flanked by palms Black Bear Wilderness Loop Trail Trot out your sense of adventure to immerse into one of the wildest trails you'll find near Orlando, a trek into the tangled jungle of the St. Johns River floodplain.
Orange blaze on oak in Bronson State Forest 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.
swampy trail Bulow Woods Bulow Woods Loop Stretching 5.2 miles through an primordial forest of sluggish, fern-lined waterways, ancient live oaks, magnolias, and cabbage palms, the Bulow Woods Loop is one of North Florida's most scenic hikes
White blazed tree and trail into forest Buster Island Loop The 6.9-mile Buster Island Loop at Lake Kissimmee State Park is a favorite for both day hikers and backpackers, as it shows off a variety of habitats along the open prairies
Chinsegut Conservation Center Tract Discover the beauty of May's Prairie at the heart of the Chinsegut Conservation Center Tract
Cabbage palms adjoining a trail Cockroach Bay Nature Preserve Directly across Tampa Bay from St. Petersburg, two loop trails in Cockroach Bay Nature Preserve navigate restored wetlands and a lookout point known as Mount Cockroach.
Trail in tunnel of cabbage palms Cypress Creek Nature Preserve A short drive from downtown Tampa, Cypress Creek Nature Preserve is an interesting window into a gradient of ecosystems along a tributary of the Hillsborough River.
Orange blazes in a hardwood forest Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park Ancient magnolias, massive tulip poplars, and sinuous alluvial streams are all part of the delights of hiking the extensive loops at Tallahassee's most expansive and wild urban park.
Enchanted Forest Titusville trail Enchanted Forest Sanctuary It's not rocket science: the first and finest of the Brevard Environmental Endangered Lands, Enchanted Forest Sanctuary in Titusville is a fabulous destination for family hiking.
Flat Island Preserve Flat Island Preserve Established as a botanical preserve for native plants, Flat Island Preserve protects islands in the Okahumpa Marsh, offering hikers and paddlers immersion in a lush wilderness
Florida Trail, Eglin Alaqua Florida Trail, Alaqua 12.8 miles. With significant botanical beauty, rugged climbs, and nice campsites, the Alaqua section of the Florida Trail in Eglin Air Force Base is one of the most scenic parts of the trail statewide.
Aucilla Sinks Florida Trail, Aucilla Sinks 4.4 miles. Winding through a geologically weird and archaeologically significant part of Florida, the most fascinating segment of the Florida Trail is the Aucilla Sinks
Florida Trail Suwannee Florida Trail, Camp Branch to Suwannee Springs 7.8 miles. Rugged climbs through abandoned river channels and along the highest elevations along the Suwannee River make this hike a serious roller-coaster through river bluff forests and sandy beaches.
Florida Trail, Juniper Creek Florida Trail, Juniper Creek 7.3 miles. Also known as the Juniper Creek Trail, the Florida Trail at Juniper Creek is a gorgeous place to explore, with its panorama at Red Rocks and botanical delights along and above the creek basin.
Trail through palm hammock Florida Trail, Little Big Econ State Forest One of the most beautiful hikes near Orlando is rugged, too: the Florida Trail atop bluffs above the Econlockhatchee River through Little-Big Econ State Forest.
Florida Trail, Mills Creek Woodlands Florida Trail, Mills Creek As the Florida Trail follows the curve of the basin in which Mills Creek into a bowl of marshlands, enjoy old-growth trees and long boardwalks along this 2 mile hike
Florida Trail, Sopchoppy River Florida Trail, Sopchoppy River 4.1 miles. Following the gentle curves of the Sopchoppy River in the Apalachicola National Forest, this section of the Florida Trail is one of the most scenic hikes on the trail.
Starvation Slough Cathedral South Florida Trail, Starvation Slough 7.7 miles. Discover a natural cathedral of ancient oaks and palms along a thin ribbon of public land fronting the Kissimmee River floodplain
Florida Trail Seashore Dunes Florida Trail, UWF/SRIA Dunes Preserve 3.2 miles. At the UWF/SRIA Dunes Preserve on Santa Rosa Island, the Florida Trail traverses a series of coastal habitats cradled by the sweeping dunes, providing a one-of-a-kind hike.
Bonnet Pond Florida Trail, Vilas to Camel Lake 10.3 miles. Broadening your perspective on Florida's largest national forest, the Florida Trail east of Camel Lake offers an ever-shifting focus from macro to landscape, showcasing one of the most habitat-diverse parts of the Apalachicola National Forest.
Footbridge over a ravine on a slope 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.
GTM Reserve GTM Reserve Circling a peninsula of land between the Guana River and the Tolomato River, the trail system at GTM Reserve is one of North Florida's most beautiful places to hike.
Holly Hammock Hiking Trail Holly Hammock Hiking Trail A 2.4 mile loop showing off the habitat diversity of Ross Prairie State Forest, this easy hike provides scenic panoramas across the prairie on a mostly shaded trail.
Trail along the side of a creek Jennings Pioneer Trail With elevation changes, streams, and cascades, the Pioneer Trail at Jennings State Forest is as close as you can get to the Appalachian Trail experience without leaving the Florida peninsula.
Boardwalk leading to a covered bridge past cherry blossoms Lafayette Heritage Trail Park Hike, bike, paddle, or fish along the well-marked trails of Lafayette Heritage Trail Park in a deeply wooded landscape east of downtown Tallahassee.
Blue blaze on tree in lush hardwood forest Leon Sinks Geological Area In the Apalachicola National Forest just south of Tallahassee, Leon Sinks Geological Area offers a delightful introduction to the wonders of karst topography on its trails.
View of the Little Manatee River from the trail Little Manatee River Trail Scenery, rugged landscape, and botanical diversity are all important factors for a great Florida hike. You'll find that on the 6.5-mile Little Manatee River Hiking Trail, one of our long-time favorites.
Lower Wekiva Loop Lower Wekiva Loop Explore the Wekiva River and Black Water Creek floodplains on this lengthy loop hike in Seminole State Forest
White blazed post in pine savanna 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.
Young cypresses in dense swamp Roberts Lake Trail 8.2 miles. Now the Roberts Lake Trail, the former Loop Road to Oasis section of the Florida Trail is now blazed blue. It is where sawgrass and cypress meet, where the Everglades and Big Cypress blend.
South Fork Nature Trail South Fork Nature Trail Along one of the Treasure Coast's most scenic waterways, the South Fork Nature Trail shows off the best side of the South Fork of the St. Lucie River
St Francis Trail St. Francis Trail One of Central Florida's most scenic and easy-to-follow day hikes, the 7.9-mile St. Francis Trail traverses the southeastern corner of the Ocala National Forest
Steephead stream in bluff forest 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.
View of midden from above, flanked by marshes Theodore Roosevelt Area Hike 3.1 miles looping around an ancient midden fronting the St. Johns River on this scenic hike honoring the conservation legacy of Willie Brown, who preserved his coastal forest for us to enjoy.
Tiger Creek Preserve scrub ridge Tiger Creek Preserve Edward Bok's "Jungle," a deeply folded landscape between Tiger Creek and Patrick Creek south of Lake Wales, is protected by The Nature Conservancy as Tiger Creek Preserve.
Longleaf pines 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.
Pine flatwoods in Florida 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 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.

ALL Day Hikes

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Our Florida Guidebooks

The Florida Trail Guide
Florida Trail Hikes 2nd edition cover
50 Hikes in Central Florida 3rd edition
Explorer's Guide North Florida & The Panhandle guidebook
Five Star Trails Gainesville & Ocala guidebook
Five Star Trails Orlando guidebook

Florida Trail Apps

Farout GuidesFarout Guides Comprehensive logistics and offline maps for the
Florida National Scenic Trail (1,500 miles), the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail (108 miles), and the ECT Florida Connector (92 miles).

Our Florida Coffee Table Books

Discovering the Florida Trail coffee table book
The Florida Trail coffee table book

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