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

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Tom Montoya, Margaret Scruggs, and Jim Kern at the 40th Anniversary of the Florida Trail

In Their Footsteps

A historic moment for the Florida Trail: the reunion of three of the original trailblazers, 40 years after they painted the first blazes of the Florida Trail heading north from Clearwater Lake in the Ocala National Forest.

March 22, 2006    Sandra Friend

Clearwater Lake in the Ocala National Forest
Clearwater Lake in the Ocala National Forest

One of my favorite places to hike is the Ocala National Forest, so I suppose it is no coincidence that the very first long distance hiking trail in Florida took shape there back in 1966. On October 29, five members of the fledgling Florida Trail Association set foot on the entrance road at Clearwater Lake Recreation Area near Paisley and stenciled an “FT” on the pavement before proceeding north through the campground to blaze the state’s first serious hiking trail.

Florida Trail 1966
The pioneer trail crew of the Florida Trail Association, building the first segment in 1966

40 years and thousands of volunteers later, the Florida Trail stretches over 1,400 miles from the edge of the Everglades to Fort Pickens on Pensacola Beach. Designated a National Scenic Trail, it provides the best long distance hiking that the Sunshine State has to offer.

This past Sunday, I had the pleasure of walking with a few of the folks who didn’t know they were making history back in 1966 when they blazed the Ocala Trail : Jim Kern, founder of the Florida Trail Association; Tom Montoya, its second president; and Margaret Scruggs, its first office manager. It was an honor to walk with these pioneers of Florida hiking and make my own memories at this spot by chatting at length and listening to their stories of establishing the trail. Today’s Florida Trail isn’t in quite the same place — it moved closer to town — but when you head north from the Clearwater Lake trailhead and enter the cathedrals of longleaf pine where the wiregrass below forms a yellow haze to the horizon, you’ll understand why the Forest is a special place and how the Florida Trail connects you to it….and those who have gone before.

Tom Montoya, Margaret Scruggs, and Jim Kern at the 40th Anniversary of the Florida Trail
Tom Montoya, Margaret Scruggs, and Jim Kern at the 40th Anniversary of the Florida Trail

Take a hike! The Ocala section of the Florida Trail provides a continuous 72-mile backpacking experience which can be broken into long day hikes if you utilize the many trailheads and shuttle cars between them. The Clearwater Lake trailhead is just off CR 42 to the west of Paisley in Lake County; CR 42 runs between SR 44 in Deland and SR 19 in Altoona.

The 10-mile segment between this trailhead and Alexander Springs Recreation Area (to the north) follows rolling sandhills topped with longleaf pine, dips through oak hammocks, and crosses boardwalks across jungle-like hydric hammocks. A blue blazed side trail leads to Alexander Springs. There is no charge for parking at the Clearwater Lake trailhead, but there is a per-person charge at Alexander Springs which can be circumvented by parking along the road shoulder at the trail crossing along CR 445A; look for the FNST signs.

Category: Articles, Conservation, Hiking, HistoryTag: Florida Trail, FT Ocala, Ocala, Ocala National Forest, Paisley

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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.

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Get periodic recaps of changes to the Florida Trail, which we accumulate between editions of our guidebook. Find all official Trail Closures & Notices here.

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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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