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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.


Contents

  • 1 Our Hiking Books
  • 2 Florida’s Best Day Hikes
    • 2.1 Alligator Creek Preserve
    • 2.2 Bear Swamp Trail
    • 2.3 Bear-N-Oak Trail
    • 2.4 Black Bear Wilderness Loop Trail
    • 2.5 Blowing Rocks Preserve
    • 2.6 Bronson Northeast Loop
    • 2.7 Bulow Plantation Ruins State Park
    • 2.8 Bulow Woods Loop
    • 2.9 Clear Creek Nature Trail
    • 2.10 Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
    • 2.11 Curry Hammock Nature Trail
    • 2.12 De Leon Springs State Park
    • 2.13 Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park
    • 2.14 Enchanted Forest Sanctuary
    • 2.15 Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park
    • 2.16 Falling Waters Sinkhole Trail
    • 2.17 Florida Caverns State Park
    • 2.18 Florida Trail, Alaqua
    • 2.19 Florida Trail, Aucilla Sinks
    • 2.20 Florida Trail, Bell Springs to Big Shoals
    • 2.21 Florida Trail, Camp Branch to Suwannee Springs
    • 2.22 Florida Trail, Chuluota Wilderness to Joshua Creek
    • 2.23 Florida Trail, Croom River Trail
    • 2.24 Florida Trail, Cypress Lakes Preserve
    • 2.25 Florida Trail, Fort Pickens
    • 2.26 Florida Trail, Gold Head Branch
    • 2.27 Florida Trail, Juniper Creek
    • 2.28 Florida Trail, Lake Delancy to Rodman
    • 2.29 Florida Trail, Little Big Econ State Forest
    • 2.30 Florida Trail, Nice Wander Loop
    • 2.31 Florida Trail, Ross Prairie to SW 49th Ave
    • 2.32 Florida Trail, Seminole Ranch
    • 2.33 Florida Trail, Seminole State Forest
    • 2.34 Florida Trail, Shepherd Spring
    • 2.35 Florida Trail, Sopchoppy River
    • 2.36 Florida Trail, SW 49th to Land Bridge Trailhead
    • 2.37 Florida Trail, UWF/SRIA Dunes Preserve
    • 2.38 Florida Trail, Vilas to Camel Lake
    • 2.39 Florida Trail, Yellow River Ravines
    • 2.40 Grassy Waters Preserve
    • 2.41 Green Cay Wetlands
    • 2.42 GTM Reserve
    • 2.43 Highlands Hammock Nature Trails
    • 2.44 Hillsborough River State Park
    • 2.45 Holly Hammock Hiking Trail
    • 2.46 Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens
    • 2.47 Jonathan Dickinson State Park
    • 2.48 Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park
    • 2.49 La Chua Trail
    • 2.50 Lake Eaton Trail
    • 2.51 Lake George Trail
    • 2.52 Lake Kissimmee State Park
    • 2.53 Leon Sinks Geological Area
    • 2.54 Little Manatee River Trail
    • 2.55 Lower Wekiva Loop
    • 2.56 Lyonia Preserve
    • 2.57 Manatee Springs State Park
    • 2.58 Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park
    • 2.59 Myakka River State Park
    • 2.60 O’Leno State Park
    • 2.61 Oak Hammock Trail
    • 2.62 Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
    • 2.63 Ponce Preserve
    • 2.64 Prairie Lakes Loop
    • 2.65 Rainbow Springs State Park
    • 2.66 Ravine Trail
    • 2.67 Roberts Lake Trail
    • 2.68 Salt Springs Loop
    • 2.69 Sams House at Pine Island
    • 2.70 Silver Springs River Trails
    • 2.71 Silver Springs State Park
    • 2.72 Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
    • 2.73 Split Oak Forest WEA
    • 2.74 St. Francis Trail
    • 2.75 Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park
    • 2.76 Suwannee River State Park
    • 2.77 The Yearling Trail
    • 2.78 Theodore Roosevelt Area
    • 2.79 Tiger Creek Preserve
    • 2.80 Topsail Hill Preserve Hiking Trails
    • 2.81 Wakulla Springs State Park
    • 2.82 William Bartram St. Johns River Loop
    • 2.83 Withlacoochee River Park
    • 2.84 Wright Lake Trail

Our Hiking Books

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

Florida Trail Hikes guidebook
The Florida Trail Guide guidebook
50 Hikes in Central Florida 3rd edition
Five Star Trails Orlando guidebook
Five Star Trails Gainesville & Ocala guidebook

Our new guidebook, Florida Trail Hikes, outlines great day hikes along the Florida Trail for scenic beauty, as well as the best sections to tackle.

Guthook Guides appWe’ve also partnered with Atlas Guides to bring you our Florida Trail information in app form. #withGuthook


Florida’s Best Day Hikes

These are 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.

Pond at Alligator Creek Preserve

Alligator Creek Preserve

Alligator Creek Preserve
Big cypress Bear Swamp Trail

Bear Swamp Trail

Bear Swamp Trail
Bear-N-Oak Trail

Bear-N-Oak Trail

Bear-N-Oak Trail
Along a narrow levee on the Black Bear Wilderness Loop Trail

Black Bear Wilderness Loop Trail

Black Bear Wilderness Loop Trail
Blowing Rocks Jupiter FL

Blowing Rocks Preserve

Blowing Rocks Preserve
Orange blaze in dense woods

Bronson Northeast Loop

Bronson Northeast Loop
Bulow Plantation Ruins museum exhibit

Bulow Plantation Ruins State Park

Bulow Plantation Ruins State Park
swampy trail Bulow Woods

Bulow Woods Loop

Bulow Woods Loop
Pitcher plants along the Clear Creek Nature Trail

Clear Creek Nature Trail

Clear Creek Nature Trail
boardwalk to big cypresses in Corkscrew

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Curry Hammock Trail

Curry Hammock Nature Trail

Curry Hammock Nature Trail
Swimmers in De Leon Springs

De Leon Springs State Park

De Leon Springs State Park
Orange blazes in a hardwood forest

Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park

Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park
Enchanted Forest Titusville trail

Enchanted Forest Sanctuary

Enchanted Forest Sanctuary
Fakahatchee Strand State Park

Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park

Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park
Falling Waters State Park

Falling Waters Sinkhole Trail

Falling Waters Sinkhole Trail
Florida Caverns State Park

Florida Caverns State Park

Florida Caverns State Park
Florida Trail, Eglin Alaqua

Florida Trail, Alaqua

Florida Trail, Alaqua
Aucilla Sinks

Florida Trail, Aucilla Sinks

Florida Trail, Aucilla Sinks
Paddlers attempting Big Shoals

Florida Trail, Bell Springs to Big Shoals

Florida Trail, Bell Springs to Big Shoals
Florida Trail Suwannee

Florida Trail, Camp Branch to Suwannee Springs

Florida Trail, Camp Branch to Suwannee Springs
Palms in uplands along the Florida Trail

Florida Trail, Chuluota Wilderness to Joshua Creek

Florida Trail, Chuluota Wilderness to Joshua Creek
Ribbon of blue river between forested banks

Florida Trail, Croom River Trail

Florida Trail, Croom River Trail

Florida Trail, Cypress Lakes Preserve

Florida Trail, Cypress Lakes Preserve
Battery Langdon

Florida Trail, Fort Pickens

Florida Trail, Fort Pickens
Florida Trail, Gold Head Branch State Park

Florida Trail, Gold Head Branch

Florida Trail, Gold Head Branch
Florida Trail, Juniper Creek

Florida Trail, Juniper Creek

Florida Trail, Juniper Creek
Riverside Island north of FR 11

Florida Trail, Lake Delancy to Rodman

Florida Trail, Lake Delancy to Rodman
Trail through palm hammock

Florida Trail, Little Big Econ State Forest

Florida Trail, Little Big Econ State Forest
White and orange blazes on longleaf pine in forest

Florida Trail, Nice Wander Loop

Florida Trail, Nice Wander Loop
Climb on the Florida Trail

Florida Trail, Ross Prairie to SW 49th Ave

Florida Trail, Ross Prairie to SW 49th Ave
Florida Trail, Seminole Ranch

Florida Trail, Seminole Ranch

Florida Trail, Seminole Ranch
Seminole State Forest

Florida Trail, Seminole State Forest

Florida Trail, Seminole State Forest
Shepherd Spring

Florida Trail, Shepherd Spring

Florida Trail, Shepherd Spring
Florida Trail, Sopchoppy River

Florida Trail, Sopchoppy River

Florida Trail, Sopchoppy River
Florida Trail near Land Bridge trailhead

Florida Trail, SW 49th to Land Bridge Trailhead

Florida Trail, SW 49th to Land Bridge Trailhead
Florida Trail Seashore Dunes

Florida Trail, UWF/SRIA Dunes Preserve

Florida Trail, UWF/SRIA Dunes Preserve
Bonnet Pond

Florida Trail, Vilas to Camel Lake

Florida Trail, Vilas to Camel Lake
Narrow bridge Yellow River Ravines Florida Trail

Florida Trail, Yellow River Ravines

Florida Trail, Yellow River Ravines
Grassy Waters Preserve

Grassy Waters Preserve

Grassy Waters Preserve
Boardwalk at Green Cay Wetlands

Green Cay Wetlands

Green Cay Wetlands
GTM Reserve

GTM Reserve

GTM Reserve
Boardwalk through ferns

Highlands Hammock Nature Trails

Highlands Hammock Nature Trails
Hillsborough River State Park

Hillsborough River State Park

Hillsborough River State Park
Holly Hammock Hiking Trail

Holly Hammock Hiking Trail

Holly Hammock Hiking Trail
Jacksonville Arboretum boardwalk

Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens

Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens
Along the Loxahatchee River

Jonathan Dickinson State Park

Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Kissimmee Prairie Preserve

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park
La Chua alligators

La Chua Trail

La Chua Trail
Lake Eaton

Lake Eaton Trail

Lake Eaton Trail
Lake George Trail footpath

Lake George Trail

Lake George Trail
View from the observation tower at Lake Kissimmee State Park

Lake Kissimmee State Park

Lake Kissimmee State Park
Leon Sinks

Leon Sinks Geological Area

Leon Sinks Geological Area
View of the Little Manatee River from the trail

Little Manatee River Trail

Little Manatee River Trail
Lower Wekiva Loop

Lower Wekiva Loop

Lower Wekiva Loop
Lyonia Preserve

Lyonia Preserve

Lyonia Preserve
Manatee Springs

Manatee Springs State Park

Manatee Springs State Park
Fern grotto inside the Gold Head ravine

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park
Myakka Canopy Walk Tower

Myakka River State Park

Myakka River State Park
River sink at O'Leno State Park

O’Leno State Park

O’Leno State Park
Boardwalk between palms and oaks

Oak Hammock Trail

Oak Hammock Trail
Paynes Prairie pickerelweed blooms

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
Trail through oak canopy

Ponce Preserve

Ponce Preserve
White blazed post in pine savanna

Prairie Lakes Loop

Prairie Lakes Loop
Rainbow Springs

Rainbow Springs State Park

Rainbow Springs State Park
Lake Talquin Ravine Trail

Ravine Trail

Ravine Trail
Young cypresses in dense swamp

Roberts Lake Trail

Roberts Lake Trail
Salt Springs Loop

Salt Springs Loop

Salt Springs Loop
Sams House Hammock Loop

Sams House at Pine Island

Sams House at Pine Island
Swamp along the River Trails

Silver Springs River Trails

Silver Springs River Trails
Glass-bottomed boats at Silver Springs

Silver Springs State Park

Silver Springs State Park
Cross Trail junction in Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve

Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve

Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve

Split Oak Forest WEA

Split Oak Forest WEA
St Francis Trail

St. Francis Trail

St. Francis Trail
Stephen Foster Carillion

Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park

Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park
Limestone formation along the Suwannee River

Suwannee River State Park

Suwannee River State Park
Yearling Trail

The Yearling Trail

The Yearling Trail
Theodore Roosevelt Area

Theodore Roosevelt Area

Theodore Roosevelt Area
Tiger Creek Preserve scrub ridge

Tiger Creek Preserve

Tiger Creek Preserve
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

Topsail Hill Preserve Hiking Trails

Topsail Hill Preserve Hiking Trails
Wakulla River as seen from in front of Wakulla Lodge

Wakulla Springs State Park

Wakulla Springs State Park
Palm hammock trail

William Bartram St. Johns River Loop

William Bartram St. Johns River Loop
Withlacoochee River Park

Withlacoochee River Park

Withlacoochee River Park
Wright Lake Trail pitcher plants

Wright Lake Trail

Wright Lake Trail

ALL Day Hikes

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