North Florida provides a quiet getaway for outdoor recreation, with a fine focus on rivers and springs. As the authors of Explorer’s Guide: North Florida & The Panhandle, we’ve spent a great deal of time exploring the outdoors here. This region has some of the more rugged trails in the Florida peninsula, with a surprising number of destinations where a scenic view is at the end of your walk.
Most of the world’s first magnitude springs bubble forth in this region, forming crystalline spring runs and short, broad rivers. The Suwannee River and St. Johns River have many miles of protected shorelines. With a wild coastline on the Gulf of Mexico and a highly developed coastline on the Atlantic Ocean, North Florida offers a full range of beach experiences, with vast estuaries and sweeping scenic views. In the central part of the region, two National Forests offer plenty of outdoor recreation – the Ocala National Forest and the Osceola National Forest. From Jacksonville to Gainesville and Cedar Key, you’ll find plenty to explore in these wild outdoors.
Trails
Recommended trails in North Florida.
Alfred A. Ring Park
Alfred A. Ring Park features a dense slope forest along Hogtown Creek with old-growth trees and rare wildflowers along Appalachian-style
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Alligator Lake
In the city once called Alligator, first home of the University of Florida and named for a great chief of
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Ancient Dunes Trail
At Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine, the Ancient Dunes Trail leads you on a short scramble up and over
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Arlington Park
A breezy walk along the St. Johns River is an easy way to start your day in Jacksonville at the
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Barr Hammock Preserve
Encompassing more than 5,700 acres, Barr Hammock Preserve near Gainesville includes an expansive wetland area, the Levy Prairie, an excellent
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Bayard Conservation Area
Bayard Conservation Area preserves an untouched riverfront forest on the St. Johns River. Follow this route through the John P.
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Bear Swamp Trail
Little known except to those who frequent Salt Springs Recreation Area in the Ocala National Forest, the Bear Swamp Trail
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Bella Vista Trail
A 1.8-mile loop through the uplands of Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, the Bella Vista Trail walks you through most
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Parks
Beyond trails: natural destinations such as state and national parks, beaches, campgrounds, gardens, paddling runs, scenic drives, and springs in North Florida, along with ecotours, wildlife, and historic and cultural sites.
Addison Blockhouse Historic State Park
Beneath a dense canopy of cabbage palms and live oaks, the remains of a 19th century plantation rise from the
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Alfred A. Ring Park
Alfred A. Ring Park features a dense slope forest along Hogtown Creek with old-growth trees and rare wildflowers along Appalachian-style
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Alligator Lake
In the city once called Alligator, first home of the University of Florida and named for a great chief of
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Amelia Island State Park
A sweep of Atlantic Coast beach awaits along the southern tip of Amelia Island, where the sand glistens and the
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American Beach
Home to the largest dune system on the Atlantic Coast in Florida, American Beach has a rich history as a
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Anastasia State Park
Anastasia State Park is windswept and sandy, with an arc of beach that stretches four miles to Matanzas Inlet, curving
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Arlington Park
A breezy walk along the St. Johns River is an easy way to start your day in Jacksonville at the
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Atsena Otie Key
The original Cedar Key isn't where you think it is. It's offshore, within sight of the current historic waterfront, an
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Destinations
Find outdoor recreation in North Florida by browsing destinations.
Amelia Island
Amelia Island is home to one of Florida's oldest settlements, Fernandina Beach. Fringed by estuary and beaches, it's a popular
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Cross Florida Greenway
Stretching from the St. Johns River near Palatka to the Gulf of Mexico, the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway
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Fernandina Beach
With deep roots spanning back more than 500 years, Fernandina Beach is the city where John Muir stepped off a
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Flagler Beach
Along Scenic A1A on one of the prettiest stretches of oceanfront on the Atlantic Coast, the seaside community of Flagler
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Gainesville
Home of the University of Florida, Gainesville has many small urban parks with trails. Surrounded by larger natural lands, it
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Jacksonville
Jacksonville offers many hikes along the estuaries and along its beaches, as well as a surprising number of urban parks
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Articles
Articles on outdoor recreation and travel in North Florida.
Alligators Everywhere
In spring, alligators become more active as the days warm up. It's also mating season, so alligators are on the
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Do Not Feed the Bears
Bear bagging is the art of hanging your food properly out of reach of bears. If you're a Florida backpacker
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Botanically rich hikes along the Florida Trail
With more than 1,400 miles of hiking statewide, the Florida Trail provides a gateway to grand landscapes for botanical beauty.
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The Over 80 Across Florida Hike
In 2007, a group of senior hikers made Florida hiking history by successfully completing a backpacking trip from the Atlantic
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Paddling Juniper Run
Paddling Juniper Run from Juniper Springs to the take out at SR 19 in the Ocala National Forest, a popular
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Florida’s Best Urban Parks
When you live in a tightly packed space, you need somewhere green as your go-to place nearby. These are our
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Auto know Lake City
It takes a real car guy to find these offbeat treasure troves of auto-related antiques scattered around the quiet little
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Mountain biking and the Florida Trail
It's Florida Biking Month! Which makes it a good time to talk about bikes and the Florida Trail, and how
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Interactive Map
Drag, zoom, and click on this interactive Florida map to discover all recommended destinations in North Florida.
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