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

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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.

Florida Trail, Apalachicola  |  Bristol
( 30.297371, -85.018288 )      11 miles

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 and the Central Time Zone.


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.



Overview

The Florida Trail’s initial northern terminus was set at the west end of the Apalachicola National Forest.

When the terminus was pushed farther west in the 1980s, the only way to cross the Apalachicola River was to walk up CR 12 into Bristol to use the highway bridge on SR 20.

That’s what thru-hikers and section hikers still must do today to complete an end-to-end hike of the Florida Trail.

While this region is quite rural, a surprising amount of high-speed traffic, especially logging trucks, uses this road.

CR 12 in the Apalachicola National Forest
CR 12 in the Apalachicola National Forest

Trip Planning

Whenever roadwalking on the Florida Trail, wear a bright orange or yellow safety vest so as to stand out to motorists.

Always walk facing traffic and step off the highway when vehicles approach. Assume that motorists, if they see you at all, see you as an obstruction, not as a hiker.

The southern portion of this roadwalk is in the middle of the Apalachicola National Forest.

Check hunt dates as a part of your trip planning, and always wear bright orange clothing during hunting seasons.


Directions

 
In Bristol, the closest place to park near the Apalachicola River Bridge is a small grassy pulloff off the eastbound lanes of SR 20 coming off the bridge. The next closest place is the Apalachee Restaurant along SR 20 (ask before leaving a car there). Public parking is available along SR 20 at Theo Jacobs Rd at Veterans Memorial Park. All of the above options are day use only unless otherwise arranged at the park. For the start of this hike, from the traffic light along SR 20 in the town of Bristol along the Apalachicola River, drive south 10.1 miles on CR 12 to reach the Savannah trailhead.

Hike

Only thru-hikers and section hikers need to take on this segment of the Florida Trail. A narrow road with no bike lane and lots of logging trucks makes this one of the more unnerving roadwalks along the FT.

There is a sawmill about halfway up CR 12, which is why there is so much logging truck traffic.

There are several spots with bridges where you can take a break on a guardrail, away from traffic.

Florida Trail Bristol Roadwalk
CR 12 at Johnson Branch on the Bristol Roadwalk

The store at CR 333 is defunct, but TJ’s at Lake Mystic has snacks, drinks, and hot meals. Look for the Citgo sign.

Once you are north of TJ’s and the Bristol Baptist Church, a sidewalk appears on the west side of the highway.

Make use of it to get to SR 20, which you follow west to the river. Sidewalks run briefly along SR 20 towards the Trammel Bridge.

Sidewalk in Bristol FL
Sidewalk on the west side of CR 12 in Bristol

The Apalachee Restaurant offers regular AYCE buffets and is a favorite of long distance hikers traversing the Florida Trail.

NORTHBOUND: Florida Trail, Apalachicola River
SOUTHBOUND: Florida Trail, Camel Lake to Savannah


Explore More!

Learn more about the Apalachicola section of the Florida Trail

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.

Video

A visual walk-through of our roadwalk on this section


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

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.

Blountstown Greenway

Blountstown Greenway

Connecting neighborhoods, parks, and services within a historic Apalachicola River town, the paved 3.9-mile Blountstown Greenway includes a segment of the Florida Trail

Garden of Eden

Garden of Eden Trail

Try one of Florida’s toughest day hikes on for size: local legend has it this was the Garden of Eden, and from the lush forests and rare flora along this trek, they might be on to something

Floodplain forest at Torreya

Torreya State Park

Perched on bluffs above the Apalachicola River, Torreya State Park is one of Florida’s first state parks, developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s

Category: Backpacking, Florida Trail, Hikes, Northwest Florida, TrailsTag: Apalachicola National Forest, Apalachicola River, Bristol, FT Apalachicola, National Forests

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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
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  • Florida Trail in South Florida
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  • 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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