What’s it like to hike the Florida Trail? Here’s where we share our personal experiences day hiking and backpacking on Florida’s own National Scenic Trail as well as its side trails like the Ocean-to-Lake and Blackwater sections. Sandra has completed the Florida Trail end-to-end, while John is still working on his section hike. We’ve racked up thousands of miles working on our guidebooks and app updates every season. Perhaps we’ll see you out there!
Sunrise at Kissimmee Prairie (8/7/2025) - A spectacular sunrise camping along the Florida Trail at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park makes up for the disappointment of stargazing foiled by weather. Essay by Rob Rogers.
A Forest is Reborn in the Green Swamp (4/8/2025) - From a bleak, charred landscape comes a sharpening of the senses and an unfolding of new life. Author Rob Rogers shares this evocative hike across Green Swamp East.
It’s Raining in the Ocala National Forest (2/27/2025) - The prediction of stormy weather never deters an eager backpacker, since getting drenched is going to happen sometime. Author Rob Rogers shares his adventure. 
Twenty-Five Years of Florida Trail Guides (11/26/2024) - After a dozen guidebooks to the Florida Trail across twenty-five years of documenting the changes to the Florida National Scenic Trail, Sandra is handing off that legacy.
A Decade of Geolocation Apps (11/21/2023) - Ten years ago, we started our journey towards geolocated apps when a fellow hiker at a hiking conference came to our table to browse through The Florida Trail Guide. His trail name? Guthook.
Biking the Florida Trail (1/30/2020) - Eager for an off-road ride on our statewide National Scenic Trail, the Florida Trail? We've compiled a guide to the best locations for touring and bikepacking, with details on where bikes are and aren't allowed to ride the trail.
National Forests in Florida Implement New Fees (7/24/2019) - Effective July 26, 2019, fees go up at many National Forest campgrounds, boat ramps, and recreation areas
What it’s like to hike the Big O Hike (6/11/2019) - Nine days of walking around Lake Okeechobee is a unique experience that can change your life. Learn what it felt like to join the Big O Hike in these three sets of journals to the day-by-day journey. 
Crossing Big Cypress (2/4/2019) - It’s Florida’s roughest, wettest, weirdest backpacking trip, best done with friends. Sandra tackled it as the final piece of her 1,110-mile section hike of the Florida Trail, end-to-end.
The Rainbow Swamp (1/22/2016) - A perfect combination of cold weather, blue skies, and winter in a North Florida cypress swamp let us happen upon two instances of rainbow swamps on a hike in the Osecola Experimental Forest. Does that make a double rainbow?
Okeechobee Wind (11/26/2015) - Atop the Herbert Hoover Dike, looming nearly forty feet above Lake Okeechobee, you expect wind - headwinds and tailwinds - as you hike the Florida Trail. A shallow basin of 730 square miles, the lake plays with the weather. 
Hiking to Marsh Point (9/17/2015) - At St. Marks NWR, Marsh Point captures the essence of Florida's Gulf coastline. But hikers are missing it because the bridges are out. 
Circling Central Florida on the Florida Trail (9/12/2015) - 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. 
Lake Butler Trail (9/4/2015) - The northernmost paved segment of the Palatka-Lake Butler Trail, the Lake Butler Trail extends 4.5 miles from SR 237 to Union Depot
Season’s Sojourn (4/15/2015) - It’s April, and that means one important thing in Florida: our prime hiking season is coming to a close. We can tell from the number of ticks we’re pulling off our hiking pants; we can tell by the heat and humidity, too. So it’s time for the season’s swan song, a state-spanning sojourn that’s gone …
The Other Side of Farles Prairie (3/25/2015) - What's it like to do trail research? Here's a typical day out on the trail for us when we're tracking down relocations of the Florida Trail or finding new trails to add to this website.
Hiker Trash (6/25/2014) - 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.
Prairie Reflections (2/20/2014) - Walking the wilds of Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park means hours spent in blazing sun and a landscape that makes you feel inconsequential on this earth.
Kicking off Hiker Season with Primrose (1/29/2014) - The first of our explorations with Primrose in 2014 starts off with helping to see off a large number of this year's Florida Trail thru-hikers from Oasis Visitor Center.
Still Life, with Cows (1/23/2014) - Walking the whole Florida Trail means miles on pavement where the trail follows roads. On this lonely dead-end road in Basinger, your companions are cows.
Summiting Lake Okeechobee’s High Point (1/22/2014) - Views from the top: this connector piece of the Florida Trail between the two sides of Port Mayaca across the highway bridge offers an excellent perspective on the lake.
Walking the Reservation (1/12/2014) - Hiking the Seminole Reservation between L-3 Canal and the Big Cypress Campground is mostly a roadwalk - more dirt roads than paved - but is quite scenic and interesting.
Pat’s Island (5/11/2013) - A ramble through Pat's Island on the Yearling Trail brings home the reality of forest fires sweeping across a once-lush landscape. 
To Hidden Pond (5/9/2013) - On a return trek to Hidden Pond, we find that all is well in this oasis in the middle of the Juniper Prairie Wilderness, just waiting for backpackers to savor it.
Friends in the Forest (4/29/2013) - 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 …
On the 2013 Panhandle Trace Hike (4/25/2013) - The 2013 Panhandle Trace Hike was the last that hike founder Peggy Grantham led, with about 15 people showing up on a daily basis to follow the Florida Trail south from Alabama towards the Seashore. 
Two sides of the Yellow River (4/23/2013) - Hiking through the Yellow River Ravines section on the Panhandle Trace Hike was a new experience for us all, as it's a newly opened segment of trail near Milton.
Hiking the Hills of Hutton (4/21/2013) - Hiking the Florida Trail across the Hutton Unit of Blackwater River State Forest means you're in for a hilly walk, as we discovered while searching for pitcher plants and the high point of the Florida Trail.
The Harold Store (4/18/2013) - A hiker stop for resupply and refreshment along the Panhandle Trace, the Harold Store is right along US 90 in the tiny roadside hamlet of Harold. A visit was a must.
Through Smoke and Fire on the Jackson Red Ground Trail (4/17/2013) - Day 3 of the Panhandle Trace Hike, McVay Road to Red Rock Road Trail Head Guest post by Gordy Hawkins, Suncoast Chapter FTA. Photos by Gail Baldwin. Enter into a world of black and white and the continuum of grays in-between. That is what it was like for me the day we walked a recently …
Following Juniper Creek (4/16/2013) - 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.
In the Land of Tall Pines (4/15/2013) - Day 2 of the Panhandle Trace we rambled nearly 13 miles along the Wiregrass Trail and Jackson Red Ground Trail, finding wildflowers amid landscapes of longleaf pine along the footpath. 
South to Florida! (4/14/2013) - Kicking off the 2013 Panhandle Trace Hike at the Alabama border is no small task without help from a lot of friends. It's not easy to get to the terminus, but the hike south is beautiful.
Converging on the Panhandle Trace (4/11/2013) - With two hikes behind us, we drove toward west to join the Panhandle Trace Hike. Knowing that after ten years of leading this event long-time Florida Trail Association activity leader Peggy Grantham would be retiring, Sandy wanted to participate this year and fill in a few new spots on the Florida Trail map. We arrived …
Calhoun, Chipola, and the Altha Trail (4/8/2013) - A quick introduction to the Altha Trail, the first public footpath in rural Calhoun County south of Marianna and north of Blountstown, part of the Florida Trail.
Little Campsite by the Chipola (4/7/2013) - En route to the Panhandle Trace Hike, we take a detour along the Apalachicola River Valley to pick up some new sections of trail, and end up camping at a trailhead.
Cross Seminole County (2/13/2013) - JK finishes up his last Florida Trail miles in Seminole County as he continues to fill in the blanks on a section hike of the statewide Florida Trail.
Trail’s End (2/12/2013) - Discovering solo backpacking and group dynamics to be not quite his style, JK decides to re-visit his hike of the Florida Trail by making it a team effort.
Two bedrooms, three guests (2/7/2013) - The 2013 thru-hikers catch up with us at Little Big Econ State Forest, and we invite as many as we can squeeze in back home for a nero day and a taste of suburban life. 
Hiking can wait (1/31/2013) - 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 the Cross Seminole Trail (1/30/2013) - 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.
Return to Scouting (1/29/2013) - Getting back into service as a volunteer for Boy Scouts of America, JK brings Sandy along to become a trained volunteer couple, teaching their first University of Scouting classes this weekend.
Hiking the urban not-so-wilds of Central Florida (1/28/2013) - 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.
Hiking with two new friends (1/25/2013) - JK discovers that the weird rash on his legs since hiking south of Lake Okeechobee isn't poison ivy at all, but something much more rare and creepy, a parasitic invasion. 
Hiking with Sandy (1/23/2013) - 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.
Up the Kissimmee (1/22/2013) - JK starts solo backpacking up the Kissimmee River, encountering cows, sandhill cranes, and an over-medicated driver who runs him off a roadwalk. 
Time behind the wheel (1/20/2013) - JK continues around Lake Okeechobee - a part of the trail he's done before on the Big O Hike - as part of the support crew for the FT hikers new to the region.
A night in Clewiston (1/19/2013) - When you reach the turnoff to continue north on the Florida Trail around Lake Okeechobee, you don’t quite reach the town of Clewiston. After all the heat and bugs while camping and cooking outdoors, the group decided to enjoy real food and a night in an air-conditioned, bug-free motel room. The owner gave us a …
Ice Cream and Patchwork (1/17/2013) - On my first day on support crew, the group decided to try a slackpack day. So we were up early, much too early. The faster hikers wanted to get out on the trail by 5 AM. Slack packing would mean that we didn’t have to break camp at Big Cypress Campground, and the hikers wanted …
On the Reservation (1/16/2013) - Leaving the wilds of the Big Cypress Swamp, the trail followed an old road for most of the distance. After a right hand turn on a large main road, I followed the blazes and other hikers footsteps. I stopped while crossing a canal to tend to a few hot spots on the bottom of both …
In the Dark (1/11/2013) - After our wonderful reception at the I-75 rest area, several hikers decided to backtrack a bit and camp. I decided to push on and try for a few more miles. I was rested and filled with good food. It wasn’t long after I made it through the north I-75 gate to Nobles Road that the …
The Spirit of Place (1/10/2013) - Walking through the most ancient of Florida's forests, the feeling that landscape has a spirit persists, especially when contrasted with places where habitat has been permanently destroyed. 
Crossing the Big Cypress Swamp (1/9/2013) - John's hike across Big Cypress to lay down a GPS track for The Florida Trail Guide (and later, FarOut) was his first experience at backpacking with wet feet.
New Florida National Scenic Trail terminus dedicated (1/4/2013) - This morning marked the first time that Florida Trail thru-hikers could get their picture taken in front of a terminus marker as found, say, on Springer Mountain in Georgia or Mt. Kathadin in Maine. Although the monument isn’t in place yet – the chunk of limestone hadn’t arrived – here’s a look at the marker …
Before the Burn: Juniper Prairie Wilderness (3/26/2009) - What did the Juniper Prairie Wilderness look like before the fires of 2009? Here's what I photographed on a hike just a few weeks before the devastating blaze.
Hiking Farles Prairie (3/3/2009) - 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.
Along Hopkins Prairie (2/19/2009) - Hiking around Hopkins Prairie for the third time, I have my first encounter with the Rainbow People and meet backpackers along this scenic stretch of the Florida Trail.
Hiking Buckman Lock to Rodman Dam (1/31/2009) - 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.
Return to Juniper Prairie Wilderness (1/26/2009) - A return to the Juniper Prairie Wilderness seven years after my last hike finds things very different after wildfires scour across the landscape.
Kissimmee River Adventure (1/7/2009) - Backpacking the Florida Trail from Okee-tanie to Bluff Hammock along the Kissimmee River section for the first time.
Day Nine: Pelican Bay (11/25/2007) - The final day of the 2007 Big O Hike sweeps us around the curve of Pelican Bay into Pahokee as the details sink deep into my memories.
Day Eight: Torrey Island (11/24/2007) - After a moonlight walk the night before with fellow hikers, I arise early for a walk to Torrey Island on Day 8 of the Big O Hike. 
Day Seven: Surreal (11/23/2007) - Day seven of the 2007 Big O Hike is a counterpoint to the previous day, entertaining family with the highlights of Clewiston.
Sunrise and Fog on Lake Okeechobee (11/22/2007) - Sunrise unfolded ever-so-slowly through the fog-shrouded marshes at Moore Haven, making for the perfect start of Thanksgiving Day during the 2007 Big O Hike.
Day Five: In the pink (11/21/2007) - On Day Five of the 2007 Big O Hike, sunrise over Eagle Bay was the event of the morning before a move to our southerly campground in the afternoon. 
Day Four: Halfback (11/20/2007) - Day four of the 2007 Big O Hike evolved into a relaxed walk from the halfway point back into the campground in Okeechobee, greeting hikers along the way. 
Day Three: Hiking with Cliff (11/19/2007) - On the third day of the 2007 Big O Hike, I walk with Cliff Moody, the oldest man to ever complete the walk around Lake Okeechobee.
Day Two: On Vacation (11/18/2007) - Discovering that the Big O Hike can be a vacation immersed in the beauty of Lake Okeechobee, I take the time to slow down and enjoy nature at my own pace.
Day One: Kickoff! (11/17/2007) - Day 1 of the 2007 Big O Hike around Lake Okeechobee starts off with sunshine and a walk to Port Mayaca along the glistening lake waters.