Everybody likes walking in circles. Loop hikes are especially appealing since you see different scenery along your hike. These trails provide loop hikes of varying lengths, from nature trails to backpacking trips.
Resources
Resources for exploring loop trails
Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.
Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.
Our Favorite Loop Trails
Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum Set in a 60-acre cypress dome on the Big Cypress Seminole Reservation, Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki is a museum of Seminole culture with an educational boardwalk loop.
Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park Explore a true Tallahassee treasure on gentle garden paths amid plantings dating back to 1923 or along well-trodden trails into wild woodlands along Lake Hall and Lake Overstreet. 
Alligator Creek Preserve A series of loop trails radiate from Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center, exploring upland habitats and wetlands where freshwater and saltwater ecosystems converge. 
Anhinga Trail For most visitors, the Anhinga Trail is their first glimpse into Everglades National Park. It's short, and the alligators are right there: hard to miss
Apoxee Wilderness Trail In the wet prairies and tropical hammocks of Apoxee Wilderness, an urban wilderness area, tackle a 4.7-mile day hike through the southernmost part of Grassy Waters Preserve.
Bear Swamp Trail Little known except to those who frequent Salt Springs Recreation Area in the Ocala National Forest, the Bear Swamp Trail provides a walk into an ancient forest.
Black Bear Wilderness Loop Trail Trot out your sense of adventure to immerse into one of the wildest trails you'll find near Orlando, a trek into the tangled jungle of the St. Johns River floodplain.
Bonnet Springs Park Offering a bounty of outdoor and nature activities along with museums and public spaces, Bonnet Springs Park is an urban gem in the city of Lakeland, a top destination statewide for family nature fun.
Bulow Woods Loop In a primordial forest of sluggish, fern-lined waterways amid a dense forest of massive, ancient trees, the 5.2 mile Bulow Woods Loop is one of North Florida's most scenic hikes.
Caloosahatchee Creeks Preserve East An accessible paved pathway, boardwalk, and tidally flooded river trail offer a variety of options for exploring immersive landscapes alongside the Caloosahatchee River.
Castellow Hammock Preserve Burrow into Florida's geological and cultural past on this short but rugged hike on an ancient rocky island once surrounded by the Everglades in The Redland.
Circle B Bar Reserve For fabulous birding and more alligators than you can count, roam the marshy edge of Lake Hancock on miles of causeways through Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland
Citrus Hiking Trail 39.1 miles. Savor a rugged hike through rolling hills and rocky terrain on one of Florida's longest backpacking loops when you take on the Citrus Hiking Trail near Inverness
Clear Creek Nature Trail The Clear Creek Nature Trail leads you to a wonderland of bright blossoms and lacy white-veined trumpets reflected against reflections of the sky.
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Weaving beneath a canopy knit by old-growth cypress trees in a majestic swamp forest, the boardwalk at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is one of Florida's best hikes.
Crane Point Hammock Part native, part cultivated, Crane Point Hammock is 63 acres of tropical hammock in the heart of Marathon, with one of the most extensive trail networks in the Florida Keys. 
Crooked River Preserve On a 1.7-mile loop, Crooked River Preserve showcases a wide variety of habitats in a short hike on the northernmost extent of the Lake Wales Ridge in Clermont.
Cypress Creek Nature Preserve A short drive from downtown Tampa, Cypress Creek Nature Preserve is an interesting window into a gradient of ecosystems along a tributary of the Hillsborough River.
Dennis Creek Trail At the Shell Mound Unit of Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge, the Dennis Creek Trail immerses you in classic habitats of the Gulf Coast along a 1-mile loop.
Doc Ehrhart Sanctuary Home to a gentle mile loop through coastal habitats on the Barrier Island Trail, Doc Ehrhart Sanctuary is a gateway to Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge.
Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve Protecting miles of frontage along the sinuous path of Spruce Creek, Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve offers a diverse collection of trails to explore. 
Dudley Farm Historic State Park For a ramble through a authentic Florida pioneer homestead, visit Dudley Farm Historic State Park, which interprets the life of the 1800s Florida family that lived here. 
Eldora Hammock Trail Near the ghost town of Eldora, the Eldora Hammock Trail loops through the beauty of a lush coastal hammock, highlighting a semi-tropical understory in deep shade.
Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park A hiker's paradise in Tallahassee, Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park offers miles of trails exploring contoured terrain and winding streams under a tall, shady canopy of majestic trees. 
Enchanted Forest Sanctuary It's not rocket science: the first and finest of the Brevard Environmental Endangered Lands, Enchanted Forest Sanctuary in Titusville is a fabulous destination for family hiking.
Falling Creek Falls A gentle walk along a boardwalk in a bluff forest surprises with its ending: a spectacular Florida waterfall in a deeply wooded setting.
Falling Waters Sinkhole Trail The shortest of the treks at Falling Waters State Park shows off Florida's tallest waterfall and a line of sinkholes from both a new accessible vista and a plunge into the pit.
Falling Waters State Park Iconic as the home of Florida's tallest waterfall, Falling Waters State Park is a showcase for Florida geology, where waters splash into a deep abyss near Chipley.
Flat Island Preserve Established as a botanical preserve for native plants, Flat Island Preserve protects islands in the Okahumpa Marsh, offering hikers and paddlers immersion in a lush wilderness
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.
Florida Trail, Shepherd Spring Visit a pair of natural treasures along the Forgotten Coast on this 6 mile hike along the Florida Trail within St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.
Fort Caroline At the site of the original French settlement in Florida, explore the rich natural and cultural history of the region at the Timucuan Preserve visitor center, Fort Caroline, and its interpretive nature trail.
Fort Clinch State Park With 1,100 acres of pristine beaches, towering dunes, maritime forest, and estuarine tidal marshes, Fort Clinch State Park is one of Florida’s paramount recreational areas. 
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park A grand sentinel that protected the fledgling town of Key West from attack, historic Fort Zachary Taylor is an imposing presence looming behind a popular destination beach.
Fox Lake Sanctuary Protecting more than 2,500 acres along the western edge of Titusville, Fox Lake Sanctuary provides an immense landscape for exploration.
Gold Head Branch State Park One of Florida's oldest state parks and notable for its Civilian Conservation Corps architecture, Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park offers a lesson in Florida topography.
Green Cay Wetlands Discover a bounty of bird life along the extensive boardwalks at Green Cay Wetlands, one of South Florida's best urban birding destinations
Green Turtle Hammock Nature Preserve On a wild sliver of Upper Matecumbe Key, footpaths wind through a rockland tropical hammock where a rocky crevice emits sulfur fumes and signs warn of crocodiles. 
GTM Reserve Trails Circling a peninsula between the Guana River and the Tolomato River, the extensive trail system at GTM Research Reserve is one of Florida's most beautiful hiking destinations. 
Highlands Hammock Cypress Boardwalk Teeter-tottering above a swamp, experience a stretch of old-time catwalk through the cypress swamp on the Cypress Boardwalk at Highlands Hammock State Park.
Highlands Hammock Nature Trails Three interconnected nature trails on the east side of Highlands Hammock - Wild Orange Grove, Big Oak, and Hickory - provide a gentle introduction to this wild place.
Highlands Hammock State Park One of Florida's oldest state parks, Highlands Hammock protects an old-growth forest while enabling you to explore it on a network of fascinating interpretive nature trails. 
Hillsborough River State Park With footpaths and picnic grounds built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, this park delights with miles of scenic trails, a swinging bridge, and the froth of river rapids.
Holly Hammock Hiking Trail A 2.4 mile loop showing off the habitat diversity of Ross Prairie State Forest, this easy hike provides scenic panoramas across the prairie on a mostly shaded trail.
Indian Lake Bear-N-Oak Trail The Bear-N-Oak Trail at Indian Lake State Forest provides a fascinating look at karst terrain centered on Indian Lake, a sinkhole lake that connects to Silver Springs via the Floridan aquifer.
Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens For a surprising diversity of habitats and hilly terrain, the Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens is a hidden treasure for hikers and a bonanza for botanical delights
Jennings Sandridge Trails Extraordinary quiet awaits west of Jacksonville on a 4.1 mile immersion into a healthy pine savanna on a central loop within the Sandridge Trails at Jennings State Forest.
JILONA South Trail Circling scrub and tropical habitats in the shadow of Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, this delightful mile loop along the Indian River Lagoon leads to outstanding scenic views. 
Jonathan Dickinson State Park One of South Florida's best backpacking destinations, Jonathan Dickinson State Park encompasses a vast mosaic of ecosystems along the wild and scenic Loxahatchee River.
Juno Dunes West Traverse a gradient of habitats interrupted by a basin marsh along the scrubby slopes of the Atlantic Coastal Ridge to the mangrove-fringed edge of Frenchman's Creek.
Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden Boardwalks and footpaths wind through curated plant collections against a backdrop of natural habitats at the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden.
Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park Enjoy Florida's own big sky at the only state park in Florida where starry skies fill the horizon and an extensive network of trails - including the Florida Trail - provides access for exploration.
Lake Eaton Trail Gently descending from ancient dunes down to the forested shores of its namesake lake, the 2.3-mile Lake Eaton Trail provides a great deal of habitat diversity in a short hike.
Lake Kissimmee State Park Discover the beauty of the land between the lakes east of Lake Wales while exploring the vast prairies and fern-laden hammocks of Lake Kissimmee State Park.
Leon Sinks Geological Area In the Apalachicola National Forest just south of Tallahassee, Leon Sinks Geological Area offers a delightful introduction to the wonders of karst topography on its trails.
Little Manatee River Trail Scenery, rugged landscape, and botanical diversity are all important for a great Florida hike. You'll find that on this 6.5 mile hike, one of our all-time favorites.
Lower Wekiva Loop Venture across lush floodplain forests of Blackwater Creek and the Wekiva River, using a scrubby section of the Florida Trail to create the 10.5-mile Lower Wekiva Loop.
Loxahatchee NWR Cypress Trail Following the boardwalk behind the Visitor Center at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, you'll enter a jungle-like wonderland along the Cypress Trail into a habitat lush with ferns and bromeliads.
Loxahatchee Slough Natural Area Escape to a vast watery wilderness where you can hike, bike, or paddle through Northern Everglades habitats on the outskirts of residential Palm Beach County 
Lyonia Preserve Florida's best place to see a Florida scrub-jay up close is Lyonia Preserve, with 2.1 miles of loops through the highest ground in Volusia County.
Manatee Springs State Park Showcasing the lower Suwannee River, Manatee Springs State Park centers around a clear blue spring, one of Florida's largest and most picturesque
Myakka River State Park With tall waving grasses, saw palmetto, and the sound of birds, Myakka River State Park is Florida's Big Sky country, blanketing more than 37,000 acres east of Sarasota.
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens Established in 1919 by botanist Henry Nehrling, what is now the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens has improved over a century's worth of expansion into an accredited zoological park.
O’Leno State Park At the site of an 1826 pioneer community along the Old Bellamy Road connecting St. Augustine and Tallahassee, O'Leno State Park protects one of North Florida’s weirder geologic wonders, a disappearing river. 
Oak Hammock Trail The wildlife-rich interpretive Oak Hammock Trail at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge provides an easy introduction to the hammocks of the island.
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Protecting a massive natural basin of prairie between Micanopy and Gainesville, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park combines panoramic views with wildlife watching along its trails.
Pinelands Trail The Pinelands Trail is a showcase for South Florida’s weird and wonderful karst, a limestone bedrock that’s full of Swiss-cheese like holes, in a tropical forest where colorful tree snails make their home.
Ponce De Leon Park A city park with dramatic sunsets over a beach on Charlotte Harbor, Ponce De Leon Park is a delight for birders and paddlers, too.
Prairie Lakes Loop Enjoy the counterpoint of moss-draped oak hammocks and expansive prairies at Prairie Lakes along one of the older and more beloved pieces of the Florida Trail.
Rainbow Springs State Park A botanical and a geological delight, Rainbow Springs wraps the beauty of a first-magnitude spring with gardens and waterfalls once part of a classic Florida attraction. 
Robinson Preserve Edging Tampa Bay, the vast sweep of Robinson Preserve is a puzzle of natural and restored habitats circled by more than ten miles of mixed-use trails. 
Salt Springs Loop Savor the beauty of the Big Scrub and habitats along crystalline Salt Springs Run on this easy loop on the outskirts of Salt Springs.
Sams House at Pine Island A delightful immersion into the natural side of Merritt Island, the trails at Sams House at Pine Island range from mild to wild as they delve into habitats along the Indian River Lagoon.
Savage Christmas Creek Preserve Protecting more than a thousand acres, Savage Christmas Creek Preserve east of Orlando has more than 8 miles of trails through panoramic prairie and pine flatwoods landscapes. 
Silver Springs River Trail Discover the wonder of the floodplain of the lower Silver River on a 2.3 mile hike to a river overlook and a loop through through its lowlands.
Silver Springs State Park One of the world's largest and deepest springs, Silver Springs pours out more than 550 million gallons of water daily, forming the Silver River.
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve Winding 1.4 miles through the slough, the broad wheelchair-accessible boardwalk at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Fort Myers leads you into a dark cypress strand.
Split Oak Forest WEA A live oak tree more than 200 years old is the centerpiece of Split Oak Forest, a 2,000-acre prairie and scrub preserve near Orlando, home to families of sandhill cranes
St. Francis Trail One of Central Florida's most scenic and easy-to-follow day hikes, the St. Francis Trail leads to a ghost town within the St. Johns River floodplain.
Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park At Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, Florida pioneer crafts and Florida folk music are as important as the lovely setting on the Suwannee River.
Suwannee River State Park Perched on rugged limestone bluffs along one of Florida’s most iconic waterways, Suwannee River State Park preserves significant historical sites in stunning natural landscapes. 
Terry Rhodes Trail System Featuring steep topography and a high biodiversity of plant life along its network of five loop trails, Bear Creek Educational Forest is the crown jewel of Lake Talquin State Forest.
The Yearling Trail On Pat's Island, discover the landscape and the history that inspired Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings to write her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Yearling in 1938.
Theodore Roosevelt Area Hike 3.1 miles looping around an ancient midden fronting the St. Johns River on this scenic hike honoring the conservation legacy of Willie Brown, who preserved his coastal forest for us to enjoy. 
Tiger Creek Preserve North Take a step back in time while navigating the rolling terrain of impeccably preserved ancient islands along the Creek Bluff and Highlands Loops on the Lake Wales Ridge. 
Timucuan Trail While less than a mile long, the Timucuan Trail at Alexander Springs Recreation Area is the best place to sample the Big Scrub habitats of the Ocala National Forest while enjoying lush habitats along a spring run.
Topsail Hill Preserve Hiking Trails Along with views of three miles of protected coastline on the Gulf of Mexico, the extensive hiking trail system at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park delves into dozens of unique biomes around two coastal dune lakes.
Trimble Park A superb family destination for its playground and campground, Trimble Park boasts a showy nature trail looping over a mile between two lakefronts.
Turkey Creek Trails Discover a deeply folded landscape at the edge of the scrub along the eastern rim of Turkey Creek, with a beautiful boardwalk across the Fern Creek floodplain at its heart.
Visitor Center Boardwalk The only fully-accessible trail at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, the Visitor Center Boardwalk offers many overlooks for wildlife watching and birding.
Weedon Island Preserve Tunneling through mangrove forests and palm hammocks to overlooks on Tampa Bay, the trails of Weedon Island Preserve offer unique perspectives for birders while interpreting one of Florida's ancient settlements. 
Wild Turkey Strand Preserve Historic and natural landscapes come together along impressively accessible trails at this picturesque conservation area on a WWII-era training base.
William Bartram St. Johns River Loop Discover the beauty of Welaka State Forest on a 5 mile footpath that winds along ecotones and hugs the bluffs of the St. Johns River to showcase natural wonders that botanist William Bartram documented in 1774.
Withlacoochee River Park With two different trails - gentle and wild - showing off the park's natural features, Withlacoochee River Park is a popular overnight camping destination.
Wright Lake Trail At Wright Lake Recreation Area near Sumatra, a day hiking loop along the western edge of the Apalachicola National Forest features an unusual bridge and numerous pitcher plant bogs.