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Florida Trail at Rice Creek

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 National Scenic Trail  |  Lake Butler.Lake City.Keystone Heights.Palatka.Starke
( 29.546721, -81.728249 )      123.8 miles

345 shares

Florida Trail, Northeast Florida

123 miles    Lake City, Palatka, & Jacksonville

As the Florida Trail curves its way north and west between Buckman Lock and the Suwannee River, it touches on centuries of Florida’s history.

Timeframes span from the British colonial period at Rice Creek and the boom of Civil War cannons through the pine forests at Olustee and the Civilian Conservation Corps efforts that built Gold Head Branch State Park.

Connecting an array of public lands, this section of the Florida Trail includes the smallest of Florida’s national forests, Osceola National Forest as well as walks on backroads.

There is also a very long stroll down a former rail line, now the Palatka-Lake Butler Trail. This part of the trail is an introduction to a decidedly rural pace of life.

Some of the region’s highlights include the botanical wonders of Rice Creek Conservation Area, the deep ravine at Etoniah Creek State Forest, and the rolling sandhills of Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park and Camp Blanding.


<< Ocala >> Suwannee


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

There are three trail shelters along this section, at Rice Creek, Etoniah Creek, and Osceola National Forest. All three are popular destinations for weekend backpackers.

Wear a bright orange shirt or vest during hunting seasons. Be aware that private hunting leases flank many portions of the Palatka-Lake Butler Trail corridor, so wearing bright colors there is smart.

Where the trail traverses Lake Butler Forest, the entire corridor is under a hunting lease and hunters may be present 24/7.

Check the FWC website for hunting season dates for Caravelle Ranch, Etoniah Creek, Camp Blanding, and Osceola National Forest.

During general gun (deer) season, backpackers must use designated campsites and recreation areas in the Osceola National Forest. Random camping is permitted at all other times.

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

Fees are applicable for entry and camping at Gold Head Branch State Park.

Call ahead to reserve your space at the primitive campsite: 352-473-4701. Cabins and spaces in two developed campgrounds are also available.

You must sign in and out at the kiosks at Camp Blanding and carry your permit with you.

Prominent signs indicate whether the base is closed for training maneuvers. If it is, use the bike path south from Gold Head Branch State Park to bypass it.

Be cautious of loose dogs along the Palatka-Lake Butler Trail and along the roadwalk sections. A hiker was bit by a small dog near Carraway and required medical treatment.

Camping options are limited along the Palatka-Lake Butler Trail because of the narrowness of the corridor and the many swamps that flank it. Plan your stops ahead of time.

Expect mud and water while traversing the trail between SR 19 (north of Buckman Lock) and SR 100 (north of Rice Creek), both across the forest roads and on the footpath in the woods.

It’s certainly interesting to arrive at Olustee during their annual Civil War reenactment in mid-February. Learn more about it here.


Trail Map

Florida Trail Northeast Florida map


Hikes

Grassy corridor amid tall planted pines

Florida Trail, Buckman Lock to SR 20

7.4 miles. Crisscrossing former timberlands and blackwater cypress swamps, the Florida Trail north of Buckman Lock highlights conservation efforts taken on land previously used for agriculture.

FT Etoniah West

Florida Trail, Etoniah West

On this 3.5-mile segment of the Florida Trail in Etoniah State Forest, you’ll encounter the rare Etonia rosemary and a number of sinkholes in the pine forests and scrub

Florida Trail, Gold Head Branch State Park

Florida Trail, Gold Head Branch

Following the high ground above Devil’s Washbasin and Gold Head Ravine, the Florida Trail works its way across Gold Head Branch State Park on a scenic 3.5 mile route

Picturesque cypress swamp

Florida Trail, New River to Hampton

A surprisingly pleasant section of the Florida Trail that sees very few hikers, the most remote part of the Palatka-Lake Butler Trail stretches 9.3 miles between Hampton and the New River, southwest of Starke.

White and orange blazes on longleaf pine in forest

Florida Trail, Nice Wander Loop

In the Osceola National Forest, this short loop along the Florida Trail adjacent to Olustee Battlefield is one of the easiest places in the state to see red-cockaded woodpeckers.

Dense understory along hiking trail in pine flatwoods

Florida Trail, Ocean Pond to Turkey Run

An easy linear hike or round trip with a stop at the Florida Trail’s oldest shelter, this short segment of the Florida Trail in Osceola National Forest is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail.

Florida Trail, Rice Creek

Florida Trail, Rice Creek

Home of ancient cypress trees and the remains of a 1700s rice plantation, Rice Creek Conservation Area has a fascinating loop trail along the statewide Florida Trail

Pine flatwoods orange blaze and footpath

Florida Trail, Turkey Run to Deep Creek

In the northwest corner of Osceola National Forest, this 11.4 mile segment of the Florida Trail offers strong contrasts between pine flatwoods and bogs.

Lake Butler Trail terminus

Lake Butler Trail

The northernmost paved segment of the Palatka-Lake Butler Trail, the Lake Butler Trail extends 4.5 miles from SR 237 to Union Depot

Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail

Palatka-Lake Butler Trail

With a corridor spanning nearly 50 miles through North Florida, the Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail provides paved trail for riders and an unpaved corridor used by the Florida Trail


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

The Rainbow Swamp

January 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?

All Articles & Hikes Interactive Map

Category: Backpacking, Day Hikes, Florida Trail, Hikes, North Florida, TrailsTag: Florida Trail, Keystone Heights, Lake Butler, Lake City, Locations, Osceola National Forest, Palatka, Palatka-Lake Butler Trail, Starke, Waldo

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.

Order Now


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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