Hiking the Eastern Continental Trail

A series of trails interconnected by roadwalks make up the Eastern Continental Trail, a hiking route spanning the East Coast from Key West through Quebec, more than 4,800 miles.

First hiked by John Brinda, then popularized by Sunny “Nimblewill Nomad” Eberhart in his book Ten Million Steps, it begins right here in Florida.

Major Trails of the ECT

Existing trails are connected by roadwalks to make up the Eastern Continental Trail. Major components of the ECT include:

Miles	Trail
108	Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail
40	South Dade Greenway
1106	Florida Trail
220	Alabama ECT Roadwalk
339	Pinhoti Trail (AL & GA)
59	Benton MacKaye Trail
2193	Appalachian Trail
138	International Appalachian Trail (IAT) Maine
586	IAT New Brunswick / Quebec

There are connecting roadwalks between a number of these existing trails which add at least another 50 miles to the route.

While many choose to end their hike at Cap Gaspe, Quebec, the trek can be extended by continuing north through Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, for another 556 miles.

This extension is part of a route is described in detail by Nimblewill Nomad in Where Less The Path Is Worn as the “Trail of the Ancients,” following the Appalachian Mountains from Flagg Mountain, Alabama to Belle Isle, Newfoundland.

Florida’s Eastern Continental Trail

The components of the ECT in Florida are:

Miles	Trail
108.3	Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail
9.9	US 1 roadwalk Key Largo
39.6	South Dade Greenway (levees/dirt roads)
10.6	Everglades & Francis Taylor WMA (levees/dirt roads)
23.3	US 41-Loop Road (roadwalk)
8.2	Roberts Lake Trail (footpath)
1052.6	Florida National Scenic Trail (footpath with ~150 miles of roadwalks)
45.4	Florida Trail Blackwater (footpath)

All ECT hikers start their hike at the Southernmost Point in the United States, a marker found in Key West at the southernmost spot with public access.

It is 200 miles between the Southernmost Point in Key West to the Southern Terminus of the Florida Trail at Oasis Visitor Center.

Show up at daybreak at the Southernmost Point since there is always a line for photos

From Key West, the route follows the The Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail, a paved bike path and bike route through the Florida Keys.

A roadwalk along US 1 from Key Largo followed by a hike up the Southern Glades Trail gets you to the mainland just a couple miles outside the gates of Everglades National Park along CR 9336.

Along the Southern Glades Trail

Resupply between this point and the start of the Florida Trail must be planned and requires going off trail to communities to the east of the trail route.

From this road to the southern terminus of the Florida Trail is 60.7 miles of roadwalk on dirt roads / levees and paved roads, followed by 8.2 miles on a wade through Robert’s Strand.

North of Key Largo, there is only one small convenience store that hikers walk past on the Miccosukee Reservation, with irregular hours. You will not find supplies again until the Seminole Reservation.

There is also a large convenience store / small truck stop 1.5 miles east of the trail route at Dade Corners, cattycorner from the Miccosukee Casino & Resort along US 41.

Camping and Hostels

Selected camping and hostels south of the Florida Trail
MM 0 Seashell Motel and Key West Hostel, 305-296-5719, 718 South St
MM 4 Leo’s Campground, 305-296-5260, 5236 Suncrest Rd
MM 5 Boyd’s Campground, 305-294-1465, 6401 Maloney Ave
MM 34 Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge & Campground, 305-872-2351, 33000 Overseas Hwy
MM 38 Bahia Honda State Park, 305-872-2353, 36850 Overseas Highway
MM 61 Jolly Roger RV Park, 305-289-0404, 59275 Overseas Hwy
MM 102 Key Largo Campground, 305-451-1431, 101551 Overseas Hwy
MM 103 Pennekamp State Park, 305-451-6300, 102601 Overseas Hwy
MM 104 Kings Kamp RV Park, 305-451-0010, 103620 Overseas Hwy
MM 132 Hoosville Hostel, 305-363-4644, Florida City (7.8E of trail)

Additional services information and mileage data for the ECT route are in our guidebook, The Florida Trail Guide, as a special back-of-the-book addendum. Look for updates to that addendum here.

It’s smart to reserve hostels / campsites / hotels in this area in advance, since winter is the busy season in the Florida Keys.

The first two weeks of December have the cheapest rates for hotels in the Keys. AirBnB is a good option as well.

Stealth camping isn’t recommended in the Keys as what few forested areas you encounter are dense with poisonwood, a toxic tree with sap far more irritating than poison ivy. However, there are those who have done so successfully. Ask in online forums for tips.

Florida ECT Trail Segments

Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail

1943 carved in concrete railroad bridge over mangroves

Overseas Heritage Trail, Lower Keys

38.0 miles. Between Key West and Bahia Honda Key, this segment of the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail crosses many historic railroad bridges in view of mangrove-lined shores.

Overseas Heritage Trail, Middle Keys

43.6 miles. With the most island-hopping of the ride, the middle portion of the Florida Keys delights with its aquamarine waters and coconut palms, a very tropical vibe.

Overseas Heritage Trail, Upper Keys

26.8 miles. Through the most heavily populated part of the Florida Keys, the trail quickly leaves water views behind for tropical forests between residential and commercial areas.

Florida Keys to US 41

This segment includes 9.9 miles of roadwalk along busy US 1 with fences on both sides of the highway, followed by 39.6 miles along three different trails used by offroad cyclists and water management trucks along the South Dade Greenway system along the eastern edge of Everglades National Park.

US 41 to Florida Trail southern terminus

This segment includes 10.3 miles along levees north of US 41 between Dade Corners and the Miccosukee Reservation in Everglades & Francis Taylor WMA, and 23.6 miles of roadwalk along US 41 and Loop Road to reach the historic southern terminus of the Florida Trail, now the Robert’s Lake Trail. The new southern terminus of the Florida Trail is at the Oasis Visitor Center, which the Robert’s Lake Trail leads you to.

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.

Florida Trail

As you head north decision points are west or east along Lake Okeechobee (west recommended) and west or east around the Orlando metro (Western Corridor vs. Orlando/Ocala sections). In the Yellow River Ravines of the Eglin section take the Blackwater section north from a prominent trail junction.

Florida Trail, Big Cypress

38.3 miles. Featuring the wettest, wildest wilderness traversed by backpackers in Florida, the Florida Trail in Big Cypress National Preserve is both beautiful and extraordinarily challenging.

Florida Trail along a canal south of Clewiston

Florida Trail, Seminole

56.2 miles. Stretching from the Big Cypress Seminole Reservation to Lake Okeechobee, the Florida Trail Seminole section traverses a vast agricultural region, the former Everglades. Hiking is on roads and levees.

Florida Trail, Okeechobee

112.8 miles. Looping around one of America’s largest lakes, the Okeechobee section of the Florida Trail provides panoramic views from atop the Herbert Hoover Dike.

Florida Trail, Kissimmee

111.3 miles. Following the Kissimmee River floodplain, this is a scenic section of the Florida Trail with a mix of levees, shady woods, river views, open prairies, and cattle ranches.

Florida Trail, Western Corridor

241 miles. With segments linking Withlacoochee State Forest and the Cross Florida Greenway, the Western Corridor provides access to wild spaces between Tampa and Ocala

Florida Trail, Orlando

148.0 miles. Spanning from the Ocala National Forest south through the prairies of Osceola County, the Orlando section of the Florida Trail encompasses the eastern suburbs of the Orlando metro

Florida Trail, Ocala

72.3 miles. The birthplace of the Florida Trail and home of the world’s largest sand pine scrub forest, the Ocala section is Florida’s top backpacking destination

Florida Trail, Northeast Florida

123 miles. Showcasing the best public lands, the Florida Trail walks you into the past between Palatka and Osceola National Forest, through rural farms and timber lands.

Florida Trail, Suwannee

74.8 miles. Along the Suwannee River, the Florida Trail clings to bluffs and scrambles through ravines for physical challenges and great scenery

Florida Trail, Big Bend

116.2 miles. After crossing rural farms and forests in the Big Bend, the Florida Trail reveals the secrets of the Aucilla River before tracing the Gulf coastline at St. Marks NWR

Porter Lake, Apalachicola National Forest

Florida Trail, Apalachicola

77.9 miles. Florida’s largest national forest, Apalachicola is a very lush place, which means soggy feet and spectacular botanical diversity south of Tallahassee.

Florida Trail, Central Panhandle

99.3 miles. West of the Apalachicola River, the Florida Trail stitches a series of public lands together along the corridor of the Northwest Florida Greenway.

Florida Trail, Eglin

98.3 miles. One of the most compelling sections of the Florida Trail for backpackers, Eglin offers rugged elevation changes and crystalline waterways.

Florida Trail, Blackwater

45.5 miles. The Blackwater section of the Florida Trail walks you through Atlantic white cedar and longleaf pine forests, pitcher plant bogs and titi swamps en route to the Alabama border.