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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 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, Apalachicola  |  Apalachicola National Forest
( 30.176849, -84.677361 )      4.6 miles

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.


Resources

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

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Overview

One of the more compelling short hikes on the Florida Trail in the Apalachicola National Forest, this segment between Porter Lake and Jewel offers a little bit of everything that the trail offers through this vast, wet forest, a fractal of the whole.

There are narrow bridges like balance beams, seepage slopes with pitcher plants, bogs where sundews and butterworts thrive, and vast pine plantations traversed on a puzzle of forest roads. You’ll even dip through a titi swamp or two.

Bridge near Porter Lake, Florida Trail
Long bridge west of Porter Lake trailhead

Wildflowers are abundant, particular St. John’s Wort in the forest understory. Swales in the pine flatwoods cradle carnivorous plants.

Fragrant wild azaleas grow along Hickory Branch in several spots, including right where the trail uses FR 142 to cross this major tributary of the Ochlockonee River.

While wet feet can be expected on this traverse, most of the major water crossings are bridged.

One of the more interesting ones is at Cox Branch, where an older bridge provides a cable to steady you as you walk the narrow beam over the jet black waters of Cox Branch.

Trip Planning

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, which include Porter Lake Recreation Area and Indian Creek.

The remainder of the year you are welcome to random camp in any pleasant spot. Indian Creek is a designated backpacking campsite.

Be aware that although Porter Lake offers water and a privy, it is a magnet for folks looking for free camping in the Apalachicola National Forest.

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

Directions

To get to Porter Lake Recreation Area [30.176849, -84.677361] take Smith Creek Road (CR 329) either 16.3 miles north from Sopchoppy or 17.8 miles south of SR 20 at Fort Braden. From either direction, turn west on FR 13. There is a large sign for the recreation area on the left as you finish crossing the last bridge, with a steep ramp down into the parking and camping area.

The Jewel trailhead [30.196779, -84.727692], an undeveloped site where a fire tower once stood, is on the west side of CR 67 south of Indian Creek. Look for the paved apron leading up to it. It is 13.6 miles south of Telogia and 27.3 miles north of US 98 at Carrabelle, and can be easily reached on paved roads from Porter Lake via FR 13 west and CR 67 north.

Hike

Leaving Porter Lake, the trail parallels FR 13 to the south to cross a long picturesque bridge through a cypress floodplain.

Crossing the paved road, it continues compass north, jumping on and off of forest roads as it parallels the Ochlockonee River floodplain upstream.

Florida Trail Porter Lake
Forest roads with puddles are common along this section of the trail.

After a wall of titi and a tunnel through this cloyingly fragrant native swamp-loving shrub, the trail reaches a dry area under the pines two miles in, where random camping is possible.

After following a series of forest roads, the trail reaches the Hickory Branch floodplain and turns compass west to follow it upstream.

Another dry place to random camp is among the azalea before you reach FR 142, which the trail uses to cross Hickory Branch.

Re-entering the woods on the opposite side of the culverts and road, the trail works its way west through and around numerous bogs under the pines, with carnivorous plants thriving in these damp acidic areas.

Florida Trail at Cox Branch
Cox Branch bridge along a a tributary of Indian Creek

At Cox Branch, filter water before crossing the bridge if you plan to camp at the Indian Creek campsite, which sits just shy of the end of this section but is well hidden from the light traffic along CR 67.

NORTHBOUND: Florida Trail, Jewel to Vilas
SOUTHBOUND: Florida Trail, Bradwell West to Porter Lake

Category: Backpacking, Day Hikes, Florida Trail, Hikes, Northwest Florida, TrailsTag: Apalachicola National Forest, Big Bend Scenic Byway, Bristol, Carrabelle, Florida Trail, FT Apalachicola, National Forests, Primitive Camping, Sopchoppy, 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

  • Florida Trail Overview
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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

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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