Florida Hikes

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

Tropical forest with white blazed tree

Rafael Sanchez Trail

In a narrow slice of forest atop the relict shoreline of Lake Okeechobee, the Rafael Sanchez Trail stays in deep shade for its 5.7 mile linear traverse of the rocky Okeechobee Ridge.

Port Mayaca (26.986861, -80.617139)   5.7 miles   Lake Okeechobee Ridge Conservation Area

Lake Okeechobee Ridge Conservation Area protects a slender slice of tropical forest in a region where most of it was destroyed a century or more ago.

Ancient cypresses and massive ficus trees crowd the ridge, a counterpoint to surrounding agricultural fields and ranchland.

Started in the 1930s, the massive Herbert Hoover Dike holds back Lake Okeechobee from lapping at its former shoreline along this ridge.

Footpath in tangle of forest beyond a cypress At the base of an enormous cypress tree

Originally blazed orange by the Florida Trail Association, the Rafael Sanchez Trail now follows white blazes along a thin strip of forest paralleling US 441.

Either place a vehicle at each end, or walk as far out along the 5.7 mile linear path as you like for up to an 11.4 mile round-trip.

White blazes on palm trunks Traversing a palm hammock

Resources

Resources for exploring the area
Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover 50 Hikes in South Florida book cover South Florida Explorers Guide book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover
 
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Overview

Location: Port Mayaca
Length: 5.7 miles linear
Trailhead: 26.986861, -80.617139
Address: Hwy 441, Port Mayaca
Fees: Free
Restrooms: None
Land manager: Martin County
Phone: 772 220-7114

Open sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome.

Directions


 
From the city of Okeechobee, drive south on US 441 to the Port Mayaca Bridge and take the turnoff to the right just before the bridge to the Port Mayaca Recreation Area. Alternatively, use SR 76 from Indiantown to reach US 441 and drive north across the bridge, turning left to enter the recreation area. Once you drive down the hill towards the St. Lucie Canal, turn left and drive beneath the bridge to access the trailhead on your left. The northern trailhead is not marked but is a turnout on the ridge at the start of a road leading east into a farm 2.2 miles south of J&S Fish Camp along US 441.

Hike

At the trailhead, take a picture of the map on the kiosk to help navigate the trail. At several points, it emerges and returns to the woods alongside US 441.

Begin along a distinct pathway under a canopy of cypress, cabbage palms, and remarkably large strangler figs.

Kiosk with map and sign next to footpath into tunnel of forest South trailhead

White blazes indicate the route as it ventures across undulating terrain covered in roots, clusters of ferns, and leafy undergrowth.

Although the park is narrow and traffic can be heard from the highway, a sense of trekking through a primordial forest prevails.

Vegetation is dense enough to block the view from the nearby road and farms.

Trees draped in vines Tropical hammock

Reaching 1.3 miles, the path diverges quickly towards the road to wind around private property.

The trail dives in and out of the woods for a half mile stretch before delving back into a shady hammock.

Pay close attention to the blazes as they turn onto a driveway, then cross a footbridge next to a royal palm farm.

Small brown hiking trail sign Trail sign near the palm farm

Dodge through a jungle of angled palms. The twisted, braided roots of strangler figs engulf trees as they climb to the top of the canopy in search of more sunlight.

Spanish moss sways in the breeze, suspended from a tangle of gnarled branches high above.

Network of roots smothering a tree trunk Strangler fig

Canals border the trail to the east along the northern half of the route, providing opportunities to spot alligators or waterfowl along the edges.

At 5.2 miles, cross over a paved driveway. Look for blazes hidden next to the road to continue along the final half mile stretch to reach the north trailhead.

Deep blue water of canal speckled with water lettuce Trailside canal

Trail Map

Rafael Sanchez Trail Map

Explore More!

Learn more about the Florida Trail Okeechobee section

Words Florida Trail Okeechobee overlaid on horizon to horizon lake Florida Trail, Okeechobee Looping around one of America's largest lakes, the 112-mile Okeechobee section of the Florida Trail provides panoramic views from atop the Herbert Hoover Dike.

Video

Hiking the Rafael Sanchez Trail

Slideshow

See our photos from the Rafael Sanchez Trail

Nearby Adventures

Florida Trail, Port Mayaca to Henry Creek Florida Trail, Port Mayaca to Henry Creek 14 miles. In an arc between ancient natural shoreline and expansive waters, this hike along Lake Okeechobee's eastern shore offers unparalleled vistas.
Well worn path through a wet pine flatwoods landscape DuPuis Loop Trail Made up of four stacked loops, the DuPuis Loop Trail lets you tailor your length of hike from 5.3 to 16.5 miles.
Hiking trail through pines and palms Florida Trail, Ocean to Lake: DuPuis WMA On this western end of the Ocean-to-Lake section of the Florida Trail, this linear hike leads to the heart of DuPuis Reserve, zigzagging through pine forests and cypress domes.
Narrow path between tree trunks Bluefield Ranch Preserve Atop an ancient ridge between Lake Okeechobee and the Atlantic Ocean, Bluefield Ranch Preserve hosts a surprising diversity of habitats.

Official Website

Chris Stevens
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