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Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

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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 National Scenic Trail  |  Bristol & Sopchoppy | Apalachicola National Forest
( 30.074890, -84.404846 )      77.9 miles

386 shares

Florida Trail, Apalachicola

77.9 miles.    Bristol, Carrabelle, Crawfordville, & Tallahassee

Heading away from the coastal fringe and into the heart of Florida’s largest National Forest, the Apalachicola section of the Florida Trail traverses some of the wettest, wildest swamp forest found outside of the Big Cypress Swamp.

The legendary Bradwell Bay, a swamp basin in the heart of the Apalachicola National Forest, protects a stand of virgin pine forest.

Crossing it when wet, which is often, is one of the most difficult feats on the Florida Trail.

Known for its botanical beauty, particularly for its pitcher plant bogs and terrestrial orchids, the Apalachicola is often soggy underfoot, with its many titi swamps and wet pine flatwoods.

By contrast, beautiful views await on the river bluffs of the Sopchoppy and Ochlockonee Rivers. Best hiked in spring, when the flowers are at their peak, it is a challenging hiking destination.


<< Big Bend >> Central Panhandle


Resources

Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide book cover Florida Trail history book

Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.

 
Guthook GuidesGuthook Guides GPS-driven map-based guide to the Florida National Scenic Trail with thousands of waypoints from The Florida Trail Guide. Works offline. For iPhone and Android.


Hiking Tips

FLOODING can make hiking along the Sopchoppy River dangerous. Check National Weather Service flood gauge.

Roadwalk around the Sopchoppy River if it is flooded. The Apalachicola National Forest is otherwise always generally wet. Expect to wade.

Contact the Apalachicola National Forest, 850-926-3561 regards flood conditions and advisories regarding water levels in Bradwell Bay.

Bradwell Bay is one of the most challenging pieces of the Florida Trail, even though it can be done in a day hike.

High water levels and a muddy bottom with deep holes means slow going. In times of high water, Bradwell Island campsite is flooded.

Wear a bright orange shirt or vest during hunting seasons. Check the FWC website for hunting season dates.

Backpackers are limited to using designated campsites (the established primitive campsites with signage, plus Camel Lake Recreation Area) during general gun season.

Random camping is otherwise permitted the remainder of the year. A fee applies for camping at Camel Lake.

A bear bag or bear canister is required for backpackers in the Apalachicola National Forest.

Resupply in Medart, Panacea, or Sopchoppy before you head north into the Apalachicola National Forest, and in Bristol if you are heading south. There are no facilities except campsites anywhere near the trail through this section.


Trail Map

Florida Trail Apalachicola section map


Hikes

Bradwell Bay (Mary McKinley)

Florida Trail, Bradwell Bay

12.3 miles. You’re guaranteed to get wet on Florida’s roughest, wildest day hike. Situated south of Tallahassee, the Bradwell Bay Wilderness is one of the most majestic and wild places in Northwest Florida.

Ochlockonee River near Porter Lake

Florida Trail, Bradwell West to Porter Lake

6.8 miles. A connective piece of the Florida Trail centered on the Langston House trailhead, this stretch of trail marries wet flatwoods with roadwalking as it crosses the Ochlockonee River.

Florida Trail Bristol Roadwalk

Florida Trail, Bristol Roadwalk

11.2 miles. One of the narrowest high-speed highways that the Florida Trail follows, CR 12 into Bristol connects the Apalachicola National Forest with the Apalachicola River.

Tupelo swamp Florida Trail

Florida Trail, Camel Lake to Savannahs

5.3 miles. Wet feet are expected on this traverse of the pine savannas along the edges of Johnson Juniper Swamp in the Apalachicola National Forest, where careful inspection along the Florida Trail yields a bounty of carnivorous plants.

Florida Trail Jewel to Vilas

Florida Trail, Jewel to Vilas

14.3 miles. Delving deep into the swampy heart of the Apalachicola National Forest, this section spans some of the gnarliest titi and gum swamps you’ll see outside of Bradwell Bay.

Florida Trail at Cox Branch

Florida Trail, Porter Lake to Jewel

4.6 miles. A deep immersion in pine flatwoods and titi swamps awaits along this segment of the Florida Trail, which uses many old forest roads to cross tributaries draining into the Ochlockonee River.

Florida Trail, Sopchoppy

Florida Trail, Sopchoppy

8.9 miles. Slipping through pine flatwoods and sandhills to the east of Sopchoppy, the Florida Trail plays tag with a network of forest roads that criss-crosses the southern portion of the Apalachicola National Forest.

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.

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.


Recent Articles

Ocean Pond Olustee

National Forests in Florida Implement New Fees

July 24, 2019

Effective July 26, 2019, fees go up at many National Forest campgrounds, boat ramps, and recreation areas

National Forest Foundation magazine article

Head out on a Florida Trail adventure

January 24, 2011

Take an armchair journey up the Florida Trail by reading my feature article starting on page 17 of the Winter / Spring 2011 issue of the official magazine of the National Forest Foundation.

All Articles & Hikes Interactive Map

Category: Backpacking, Day Hikes, Florida Trail, Hikes, Northwest Florida, TrailsTag: Apalachicola National Forest, Best Florida Trail Backpacking, Blountstown, Bristol, Crawfordville, Florida Trail, Locations, National Forests, Sopchoppy, Tallahassee

Have an update? Contact us.

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Our Florida Trail Books

The Florida Trail Guide

The Florida Trail GuideThe comprehensive mile-by-mile guidebook to planning section and thru-hikes along the entire length of the Florida Trail. 356 pages, $19.95 + tax and shipping.

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Florida Trail Hikes

Florida Trail HikesFifty of the best day hikes, overnights, and weekend trips on the Florida Trail, plus nine of the best section hikes. Full hike descriptions and maps, full color. 376 pages. $24.95 + tax and shipping.

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Discovering the Florida Trail

Florida Trail mini coffee table book cover of trail into palm hammock
Our virtual walk along the length of the Florida Trail, covering more than 1,500 miles from the Everglades to Pensacola Beach. Hardcover, 196 pages. $24.95 + tax and shipping.

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The Florida Trail

Florida Trail large coffee table book cover of trail down swamp causeway under ancient pines

Our history of the first 50 years of the Florida Trail, from its founding in 1966 to becoming a National Scenic Trail to volunteer efforts today.

Learn More

The Florida Trail App

Comprehensive logistics and offline maps all in one: The Florida Trail Guide is now also an interactive map-based mile-by-mile app by Guthook Guides.

Get the App!

Florida Trail Updates


Get periodic recaps of changes to the Florida Trail, which we accumulate between editions of our guidebook. Find all official Trail Closures & Notices here.

Hiking the Florida Trail

  • Florida Trail Overview
  • Plan your Hike
  • Choose the Right Gear
  • Best Scenic Hikes
  • Best Backpacking Trips
  • Section Hiking
  • Thru-Hiking
  • Eastern Continental Trail
  • Florida Trail in South Florida
  • Florida Trail in Central Florida
  • Florida Trail in North Florida
  • Florida Trail in Northwest Florida
  • Florida Trail for Scouting
  • Florida Trail Adventures
  • Florida Trail Updates

Florida Trail by Section

Porter Lake, Apalachicola National Forest

Florida Trail, Apalachicola

Florida Trail, Apalachicola
Florida Trail Big Bend view

Florida Trail, Big Bend

Florida Trail, Big Bend
Florida Trail Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Blackwater

Florida Trail, Blackwater
Florida Trail Nokuse

Florida Trail, Central Panhandle

Florida Trail, Central Panhandle
Eglin Weaver Creek

Florida Trail, Eglin

Florida Trail, Eglin
Florida Trail Kissimmee

Florida Trail, Kissimmee

Florida Trail, Kissimmee
Florida Trail at Rice Creek

Florida Trail, Northeast Florida

Florida Trail, Northeast Florida
Juniper Prairie Wilderness

Florida Trail, Ocala

Florida Trail, Ocala
Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail

Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail

Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail
Florida Trail, Okeechobee

Florida Trail, Okeechobee

Florida Trail, Okeechobee
Florida Trail at Forever Florida

Florida Trail, Orlando

Florida Trail, Orlando
Florida Trail Seashore Dunes

Florida Trail, Seashore

Florida Trail, Seashore
Florida Trail along a canal south of Clewiston

Florida Trail, Seminole

Florida Trail, Seminole
No Name Creek

Florida Trail, Suwannee

Florida Trail, Suwannee
Cypress Lakes Preserve

Florida Trail, Western Corridor

Florida Trail, Western Corridor

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