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

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Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail

Florida Trail, Ocean to Lake

61 miles. A spur of the Florida Trail that leads from Port Mayaca on the east side of Lake Okeechobee to Hobe Sound Beach on the Atlantic Ocean, treating hikers to unexpected wild landscapes north of West Palm Beach.

Florida Trail  |  Hobe Sound, Jupiter, Port Mayaca
( 26.950026, -80.610184 )      61 miles

Florida Trail, Ocean to Lake

61 miles. Stuart, West Palm Beach, Hobe Sound & Jupiter

One of the more beautiful and difficult backpacking routes in South Florida, the Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail is a surprising introduction to wild spaces that you wouldn’t expect to still exist on this heavily populated coast of Florida.

Created and maintained by the Loxahatchee chapter of the Florida Trail Association, it is as a spur trail off the Florida Trail.

It is routed through the North Everglades Natural Area, a ribbon of public lands between Lake Okeechobee and Hobe Sound Beach.

As you’re hiking through the wilds of DuPuis Reserve, Corbett WMA, Loxahatchee Slough, and the backcountry of Jonathan Dickinson State Park, it’s hard to imagine over a million people live in the West Palm Beach metro nearby.

The trail touches a few residential areas between its wild spaces, including down the sidewalks of downtown Hobe Sound and behind homes in Jupiter Farms.

But the vast open pine flatwoods, haunting cypress swamps, and open prairies that hikers immerse in – literally, as the hike can be like a mini-Big Cypress in sections – makes this a compelling destination for backpackers.

As a friend has pointed out, the Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail is a fractal of the entire Florida Trail, a microcosm that captures every habitat you otherwise experience along an end-to-end hike of 1,100 miles.

As such, it’s an excellent place to try out backpacking in Florida before setting off to do longer segments of the Florida Trail.


<< Okeechobee


Resources

Orlando & Central Florida: An Explorer's Guide
An overview of the Ocean-to-Lake Hiking Trail, including a trail map, are in our full-color guidebook Florida Trail Hikes. The chapter also includes full details on two of the best day 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.


Trip Planning

CAMPING

Random camping is not permitted. Designated campsites must be used. Make sure you have your permits in order prior to tackling this section as a backpacking trip. Some of the agencies can only be contacted during weekday business hours.

Free permits are required from several different agencies for camping (South Florida Water Management District, Palm Beach ERM, Jonathan Dickinson State Park). See each trail segment for specifics.

There is a small fee for camping at Jonathan Dickinson State Park and it must be paid in advance, along with a park entrance fee.

FEES

Day hiking requires no permits, but fees apply for day hikers at Corbett WMA and at Jonathan Dickinson State Park.

DOGS

Leave your pets at home. Dogs are not permitted on most of these public lands, nor are they advisable companions, given the swamps you’ll be wading through.

WILDLIFE

Alligators are common in the canals and ponds along the route.

WATER

Water sources along this section are primarily ponds, swamps, and canals. Canals do carry agricultural runoff.

Alligators are common in the canals. If you do need to filter water, don’t do so at dawn or dusk, when you might be mistaken for a deer.

Avoid filtering water near culverts as well, since alligators often den inside them. There has been a known alligator in the culvert at Big Gopher Canal.

HUNTING SEASON

Wear a bright orange shirt or vest during hunting seasons in Corbett WMA and DuPuis WMA. Check the FWC website for hunting season dates.

Deer hunting is the big deal here, especially in Corbett where swamp buggies are permitted.

Backpackers may wish to stay away during the deer hunts, given the noise of these large machines in the night.

Swamp buggies are off-road vehicles designed for swamp exploring, oversized trucks with huge wheels that help them to maintain traction in mud and water. Expect deep standing water in their ruts.

RESUPPLY

Pack prepared for the full trip. Minor resupply is just off the trail at Indiantown Road, along with a hardware store and a few restaurants. More restaurants await in Hobe Sound.

PARKING & SHUTTLE

If you are backpacking, it’s best to have a friend shuttle you. The NENA trailhead is not secure, and a car left overnight at Hobe Sound Beach might be towed.

The only secure parking along the route is inside Jonathan Dickinson State Park for a nightly fee. You’ll need to arrange for that in advance.

If you need assistance with a shuttle, join the Florida Trail Hikers Facebook group and ask for assistance.

There are a number of volunteers in the area who can help. Be sure to compensate them for their gas and time.

SAFETY

The connector section along the canal in Jupiter Farms runs behind a neighborhood with access to the trail.

The roadwalk from Jonathan Dickinson State Park to Hobe Sound includes crossing US 1 and walking along A1A to the sidewalks of Hobe Sound. Be aware of your surroundings. Cars don’t expect hikers.

Trail Map

Florida Trail Okeechobee Ocean to Lake section maps
Okeechobee & Ocean to Lake

Guthook GuidesGuthook Guides GPS-based maps and logistics for hiking the Florida Trail. Available for iPhone and Android.


Mileages

Important landmarks starting with mile 0 at NENA trailhead to mile 61 at Hobe Sound Beach.

Hike from Lake Okeechobee to Hobe Sound Beach for best logistics. You can Uber/Lyft or call a cab from Hobe Sound to an airport, bus station, or your parked car.

0.0 – NENA trailhead
8.7 – Loop 4 campsite
14.4 – Powerline campsite
18.6 – Little Gopher campsite
24.6 – Bowman Island campsite
30.3 – Hungryland trailhead (0.2W)
42.0 – Lucky Hammock campsite
45.4 – Riverbend Park (0.4W)
52.5 – Kitching Creek campsite $
53.2 – Kitching Creek trailhead (2.0E) $
55.9 – Scrub Jay campsite $
58.3 – Camp Murphy trailhead (2.4E) $
61.0 – Hobe Sound Beach


Trail Segments

We have not yet written up all of the segments of the Florida Trail along Lake Okeechobee for our website, although details about all of them can be found in our guidebook and app.

Each of the segments below describe a piece of the hike, noting landmarks, water, and campsites along the way. This is the order they are in from Lake Okeechobee to Hobe Sound.

Dupuis Reserve

Florida Trail, Ocean to Lake: DuPuis Reserve

On this western end of the Ocean-to-Lake section of the Florida Trail, the trail leads you to the heart of DuPuis Reserve, zigzagging through pine forests and cypress domes

Florida Trail, DuPuis to Corbett

Florida Trail, Ocean to Lake: DuPuis to Corbett

Deep in the heart of the Ocean-to-Lake Greenway, this 9.7 mile segment of the Florida Trail bridging DuPuis Reserve and Corbett WMA is one of the most wild and scenic treks in southeastern Florida

Florida Trail, Corbett WMA

Florida Trail, Ocean to Lake: Corbett WMA

With 11.7 miles of linear hiking in a vast watery wilderness – like Big Cypress and the Everglades – you’d hardly believe this Florida Trail section at Corbett WMA is in Palm Beach County

Crossing a boardwalk

Florida Trail, Corbett WMA to Lucky Tract

On this 12.1 miles of the Florida Trail from Corbett WMA to the Lucky Tract campsite, immerse in the full diversity of habitats you’ll find in Palm Beach County

Backpacker in pine scrub

Florida Trail, Lucky Tract to Kitching Creek

10.7 miles. A hike of extreme contrasts, this segment of the Florida Trail between Loxahatchee Slough and Kitching Creek offers the best of the Loxahatchee River basin.

Florida Trail Connections

This section of the Florida Trail connects to the Ocean-to-Lake section.

Florida Trail, Okeechobee

Florida Trail, Okeechobee

112.8 miles. Looping around one of America’s largest lakes, the Okeechobee section of the Florida Trail provides panoramic views from atop the Herbert Hoover Dike.


Recent Articles

Ocean to Lake History

Walking the Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail

February 20, 2013//  by Sandra Friend

This week marks the 9th Annual Ocean to Lake Hike. It was a delight to learn last year that the 61-mile Ocean-to-Lake Trail is finally fully complete and open to the public. Last winter, John and I participated in the final three days of the six day group hike; the year before, I’d done the …

Sweetbay Natural Area

Sweetbay Natural Area

December 15, 2008//  by Sandra Friend

A quick visit to Sweetbay Natural Area, which has a trailhead along the Beeline north of PGA Boulevard. Wildflowers put on a grand show in the summer months.


Don’t miss this expert planning advice for the OTL from James “Jupiter Hikes” Hoher, who has backpacked the OTL more times than anyone else we know.

 

All Articles & Hikes Interactive Map

Category: Backpacking, Day Hikes, Florida Trail, Hikes, Southeast Florida, TrailsTag: Best Florida Trail Backpacking, Florida Trail, Hobe Sound, Jupiter, Lake Okeechobee, Locations, NENA, Ocean-to-Lake, Stuart

Have an update? Contact us.

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Our Florida Trail Books

Florida Trail Guidebook cover The comprehensive mile-by-mile guidebook to planning section and thru-hikes along the entire length of the Florida Trail. 356 pages, $18.95 + tax and shipping.

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

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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

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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
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

Florida Trail, Ocean to Lake

Florida Trail, Ocean to Lake
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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