• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Florida Hikes logo

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

  • Trails
  • Maps
  • Guidebooks
  • Search
  • Hike
    • Scenic Hikes
    • Loop Trails
    • Dog-friendly Hikes
    • Hikes for Kids
    • National Parks in Florida
    • Florida State Parks
  • Bike
    • Major Bike Trails
    • Paved Bike Trails
    • Off Road Biking
    • Biking Articles
  • Paddle
    • Canoe & Kayak Rentals
    • Paddling Destinations
    • Paddling Articles
  • Camp
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Car Camping
    • Primitive Camping
  • Florida Trail
    • Plan your Hike
    • Best Scenic Hikes
    • Best Backpacking
    • Section Hiking
    • Thru-Hiking
    • Trail Updates
  • Travel
  • Hike
    • Scenic Hikes
    • Loop Trails
    • Dog-friendly Hikes
    • Hikes for Kids
    • National Parks in Florida
    • Florida State Parks
  • Bike
    • Major Bike Trails
    • Paved Bike Trails
    • Off Road Biking
    • Biking Articles
  • Paddle
    • Canoe & Kayak Rentals
    • Paddling Destinations
    • Paddling Articles
  • Camp
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Car Camping
    • Primitive Camping
  • Florida Trail
    • Plan your Hike
    • Best Scenic Hikes
    • Best Backpacking
    • Section Hiking
    • Thru-Hiking
    • Trail Updates
  • Travel
Big Shoals

Hiking inn-to-inn on the Florida Trail

October 25, 2012    Sandra Friend

Big Shoals
Hiker looking over the base of Big Shoals

As part of a question sent to me by Rick, a reader in New England, he asked “we would be interested to find an area where we hike from inn to inn over a few days” as part of a vacation day hiking in Florida. As I’m in the midst of working on a new Florida Trail guide, it got me thinking: where is this possible? Along much of the Florida Trail’s route,  there aren’t services close enough to make an inn-to-inn style walk feasible, except along some of the rail-trail corridors like the Cross Seminole Trail and the Withlacoochee State Trail, which mean walking on pavement.

I like the “rugged during the day, comfy at night” idea. I first ran across this concept while hiking in the Bruce Pensinsula of Ontario, Canada many years ago. You hike the linear Bruce Trail atop the very scenic and rocky Niagara Escarpment, and have your luggage escorted ahead for you to the next B&B along the way.

A SUWANNEE SOJOURN
One spot I can think of where it might be possible to enjoy scenic hiking and comfort in Florida is along a portion of the Suwannee River, where outfitters American Canoe Adventures and Suwannee Outpost cater to folks doing the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail, of which the Florida Trail is a part. I’ve used both for shuttle services in the past. Here’s a rough plan for up to a week, with the assumption you set up reservations and shuttles in advance.

DAY 1: Get to Lake City, Florida, just south of the junction of Interstate 10 and Interstate 75. Pity Amtrak is no longer running to this gateway town! There are dozens of hotels to choose from at every price level. I’ll vouch for the Hampton Inn and the Holiday Inn & Suites, where I’ve stayed most recently.

DAY 2: Have the cab take you (or drive your car) to Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park (cabin rental), or stay at the White Springs B&B, which shortens today by a mile and adds one tomorrow. If you took a cab, get dropped off at Bell Springs trailhead [30.329298, -82.689613]. If you drove, call ACA about a shuttle. Hike west into White Springs along the Florida Trail right to the cabin door, stopping for a meal en route. Looks like Fat Belly’s on US 41 S and pizza from the gas station up the hill from the park entrance are the only options for food in White Springs now, with word that the Telford Hotel has closed again. Spend the night in your cabin or room. 9 miles.

DAY 3: Have ACA pick you up and take you to Camp Branch trailhead [30.3778, -82.8789]. Walk the 1-mile blue blaze to the Florida Trail and head east back along the orange blazes to Stephen Foster to your cabin. 14.2 miles. If you need to leave the car somewhere, behind the gates at Stephen Foster is a great place. Just let the rangers know before you leave on foot for the rest of the trek. Long-term parking for hikers is down by the river gazebo access to the Florida Trail.

DAY 4: Call Suwannee Outpost and have them take your bags to Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (cabin rental), where they are based, dropping you off at Camp Branch along the way. Take the blue blaze trail again, and this time check out the scenic loop (an extra half-mile walk). Hike west from Camp Branch to Spirit of the Suwannee. 6.8 on the trail, 7.5 or so total to get to the cabin area. The cabins here range tremendously in quality and cost (from old mobile homes to a gorgeous “Treehouse”), ask ahead. Check ahead for which days the SOS Cafe is open.

DAY 5: Arrange for Suwannee Outpost to drop you off at Gibson Park [30.438753,-83.093018] and walk east, back to where you stopped the day before. Spend another night at Spirit of the Suwannee. 15.5 on the trail, 16.2 or so total.

DAY 6: Have Suwannee Outpost take your bags to Suwannee River State Park (cabin rental) and drop you off at Gibson Park; you walk to your cabin at Suwannee River State Park. 15.2 miles on the trail, 16.7 to the cabins. Tricky part: no food nearby, and you’re on foot. Good news: a new convenience store is being built between the Florida Trail and the state park. I’m sure they’ll keep busy. A couple miles east of the park, the Falmouth Crossing General Store (386-362-1916) along US 90 has sandwiches and such.

DAY 7: Have Suwannee Outpost give you a ride back to a hotel in Lake City, or to Stephen Foster if you left your car there. Depart from there.

CAVEATS
You’ll need to join the Florida Trail Association to do this hike, as the trail crosses some private land through this section.

You’ll also need to keep an eye on river levels, as this section is impassible when the Suwannee River is over 60 feet. Make sure you have a Plan B!

One final note on this section: it is NOT flat! It’s quite hilly for Florida, with the trail dropping in and out of tributaries and climbing bluffs. There are even waterfalls along the way. The scenery is some of the best in the state. Be sure your hiking capability is up to the mileage. Carry a water filter in your day pack in case you need extra hydration.

Category: Articles, Hiking, How ToTag: Ellaville, Florida Trail, FT Suwannee, Live Oak, Suwannee River, Suwannee Springs, White Springs

Reader Interactions

Have an update? Contact us.

Primary Sidebar

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.

Order Now
 


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.

Order Now


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

Footer

FIND A TRAIL OR PARK

NORTHWEST FLORIDA
Apalachicola. Apalachicola National Forest. Blackwater River State Forest. Blountstown. Bonifay. Bristol. Cape San Blas. Carrabelle. Chattahoochee. Chipley. Crawfordville. Crestview. DeFuniak Springs. Destin. Ebro. Eglin Air Force Base. Fort Walton Beach. Freeport. Gulf Islands National Seashore. Madison. Marianna. Milton. Monticello. Mossy Head. Navarre Beach . Niceville. Panama City Beach. Pensacola. Ponce De Leon. Port St. Joe. Quincy. Sopchoppy. South Walton. St. Marks. St. Marks NWR. Tallahassee. Vernon. Wakulla. Wewahitchka

NORTH FLORIDA
Alachua. Amelia Island. Baldwin. Branford. Bunnell. Cedar Key. Chiefland. Crescent City. Dowling Park. Ellaville. Fernandina Beach. Flagler Beach. Gainesville. Green Cove Springs. High Springs. Jacksonville. Keystone Heights. Lake Butler.Lake City. Live Oak. Mayo. Macclenny. Micanopy. Olustee. Orange Park. Osceola National Forest. Palatka. Palatka-Lake Butler Trail. Palm Coast. Perry. Salt Springs. St. Augustine. Starke. Steinhatchee. Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. Suwannee Springs. Talbot Islands. Timucuan Preserve. Trenton. Welaka. White Springs. Williston

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo

MULTI-REGION
Big Cypress Swamp. East Coast Greenway. Everglades National Park. Florida National Scenic Trail

CENTRAL FLORIDA
Apopka. Belleview. Brandon. Brooksville. Bushnell. Canaveral National Seashore. Christmas. Chuluota. Clearwater Beach. Clermont. Coast to Coast Trail. Cocoa Beach. Cross Florida Greenway. Crystal River. Dade City. Daytona Beach. De Leon Springs. DeBary. Deland. Deltona. Dunedin. Dunnellon. Frostproof. Geneva. Inverness. Kenansville. Kissimmee. Lake Mary. Lake Wales. Lakeland. Largo. Leesburg. Longwood. Melbourne. Melbourne Beach. Merritt Island. Merritt Island NWR. Mims. Mount Dora. New Port Richey. New Smyrna Beach. Ocala. Ocala National Forest. Ocklawaha. Orlando. Ormond Beach. Osteen. Oviedo. Palm Bay. Ridge Manor. Sanford. Silver Springs. Spring Hill. St. Cloud. St. Petersburg. Tampa. Tarpon Springs. Titusville . Walt Disney World. Weeki Wachee. Winter Springs. Withlacoochee State Forest. Withlacoochee State Trail. Yeehaw Junction

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Bradenton . Charlotte Harbor. Ding Darling NWR. Englewood. Estero. Fort Myers. Immokalee. Naples. Pine Island. Port Charlotte. Punta Gorda. Sanibel Island. Sarasota. Venice

SOUTH FLORIDA
Arcadia. Basinger. Big Cypress National Preserve. Big Cypress Seminole Reservation. Clewiston. Everglades City. Fisheating Creek. Lake Okeechobee. Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail. Lake Placid. LaBelle. Lakeport. Moore Haven. Okeechobee. Pahokee. Port Mayaca. Sebring. South Bay

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
Big Pine Key. Biscayne Bay. Biscayne National Park. Boca Raton. Boynton Beach. Coral Gables. Davie. Delray Beach. Northeast Everglades Natural Area. Florida Keys. Fort Lauderdale. Fort Pierce. Hobe Sound. Hollywood. Homestead. Islamorada. Jensen Beach. Jupiter. Juno Beach. Key Biscayne. Key Largo. Key West. Marathon. Miami. Ocean to Lake Greenway. Overseas Heritage Trail. Palm Beach. Port St. Lucie. Redland. Sebastian. Stuart. Vero Beach. West Palm Beach

  • Trails
  • Parks
  • Beaches
  • Gardens
  • Springs
  • Ecotours
  • Attractions
©2006-2023, Sandra Friend & John Keatley | Disclosure | Site Index | Work with Us | Advertise with Us
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy | Florida Hikes PO Box 93 Mims FL 32754| Contact