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

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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, Apalachicola  |  Apalachicola National Forest
( 30.2769870, -84.9872360 )      5.3 miles

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 yields a bounty of carnivorous plants.


Resources

Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide book cover Florida Trail history book
Full details on this hike, including a trail map, are in our full-color guidebook Florida Trail Hikes.

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

Not that it’s much of a difference from the rest of the Apalachicola National Forest, but this 5.3 mile section of the Florida Trail between Camel Lake and the Savannah trailhead at CR 12 is known for being particularly soggy. Much of that is thanks to Johnson Juniper Swamp and the creeks that feed it, particularly Sand Branch and Little Gully Creek. It’s also just the nature of the pine savanna, an ecosystem where wildflowers flourish.

Tupelo swamp Florida Trail
Gum and cypress swamp in the Savannah section

Trip Planning

JANUARY 2019: this segment of the trail was heavily impacted by Hurricane Michael and is reported as nearly impassible. Until the government shutdown ends, no trail maintenance will be underway to clear the trail. Use extreme caution if you are considering a hike here and expect to follow paralleling forest roads in places.

The Apalachicola National Forest is a popular destination for hunters, especially during the fall deer season, when hikers are restricted to camping at designated campsites. The only one in this segment is the Camel Lake Recreation Area, where a fee applies. The remainder of the year, you are welcome to random camp in any pleasant spot, although it’s hard to find a dry one along this hike.

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

Directions

Camel Lake Recreation Area is roughly 50 miles southwest of Capital Circle West in Tallahassee via SR 20 and CR 12. 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. If you have two cars, drop one off here. Or if you prefer to hike west to east, park here.

To get to the start of the hike, continue another 1.4 miles, passing the Apalachicola National Forest Work Center just before you see a sign for Camel Lake. Turn left onto FR 105 and drive 2 miles on this sometimes-bumpy unpaved road to the recreation area on the right. A $3 per vehicle per day use fee applies to use the parking area, which also grants you access to restrooms with flush toilets and the picnic and swimming areas along the lake. No extra day use fee if you’re camping.

Hike

From Camel Lake Recreation Area, look for the big FNST sign near the camp host in the campground. The short blue blazed path leads to the orange blazes. Turn left to follow it compass west, crossing FR 105 to enter the pine forest. About a mile into the pines, the trail enters a titi tunnel. Look for pitcher plants, which bloom in April. After the next tunnel, you reach the trail intersection with the Trail of Lakes. Turn left.

Pine savanna along the Florida Trail
Pine savanna along the Florida Trail

The trail continues down flooded forest roads and along the edges of swamps as it makes its way from Sand Branch to Little Gully Creek, which flank the edges of Johnson Jumper Swamp. A bridge and boardwalk is a welcome sight across the creek, but you won’t stay dry for long.

Florida Trail, Little Gully Creek
Bridge over Little Gully Creek

After the next stretch of pine savanna, the trail plunges right through a gum and cypress swamp. The trail ascends slowly into the next open savanna before reaching the final trail register in the Apalachicola National Forest. Be sure to sign in before looking for the blue blaze to the Savannah trailhead.

NORTHBOUND: Florida Trail, Bristol Roadwalk
SOUTHBOUND: Florida Trail, Vilas to Camel Lake
CONNECTS TO: Trail of Lakes
CONNECTS TO: Camel Lake Loop

Category: Backpacking, Day Hikes, Florida Trail, Hikes, Northwest Florida, TrailsTag: Apalachicola National Forest, Bristol, Camel Lake, Florida Trail, FT Apalachicola, National Forests, Pitcher Plants, Wildflowers

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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
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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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