When people ask us “where’s the best place to hike in Florida?” it’s tough to come up with a quick answer.
Our state is so diverse, with 83 different types of habitats to explore.
We are always delighted to come across a new “wow” moment when visiting a trail. If we return and feel the same, it’s on our scenic hikes list.
But that list itself is pretty long, so we’ve narrowed it down even more.
Florida Trail, Aucilla Sinks
Walk a 4.4-mile linear stretch of the Florida Trail on a narrow footpath across natural bridges and stone arches that drop into natural voids in earth like Swiss cheese, deep sinkholes which the most ancient residents of Florida used to trap mastodons.
Florida Trail, Aucilla Sinks 4.4 miles. Winding through a geologically weird and archaeologically significant part of Florida, the most fascinating segment of the Florida Trail is the Aucilla SinksBulow Hammock Loop
In Florida, “hammock” means “woods.” Bulow Hammock is among the most ancient in the state, its immense trees casting deep shade along this 5.2-mile loop through a primordial landscape.
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.Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Enter a rare cathedral of old-growth cypress trees in the heart of Corkscrew Strand, the realm of the ghost orchid and the Florida panther, on a 2.3-mile boardwalk loop through this Audubon preserve.
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.Highlands Hammock State Park
On narrow catwalks and trails originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, immerse into one of Florida’s oldest state parks in a palm-shaded landscape straight out of Florida’s past.
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. Prairie Lakes Loop
In this “land between the lakes” in the Kissimmee River basin, vast prairies are punctuated by dense oak and palm hammocks on a figure-8 route along the Florida Trail with several lakefront panoramas.
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.Florida Trail, Alaqua
Of all 1,400+ miles of our National Scenic Trail in Florida, this segment on Eglin Air Force Base is tops for its tough terrain, immersive magnolia-beech forest, and suspension bridge over Alaqua Creek.
Florida Trail, Alaqua 12.8 miles. With significant botanical beauty, rugged climbs, and nice campsites, the Alaqua section of the Florida Trail in Eglin Air Force Base is one of the most scenic parts of the trail statewide.Citrus Hiking Trail
The longest loop trail on a single piece of public land, the 43-mile Citrus Hiking Trail in Withlacoochee State Forest features rugged rocky terrain, rolling hills, trailside caves, and a sense of quiet.
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 InvernessMyakka Hiking Trail
The longest backpacking loop in a Florida State Park, the Myakka Hiking Trail offers a two-mile walk across an open prairie as a part of its 39-mile series of loops. A day hike to Bee Island provides highlights of the habitats along this extensive trail system.
Myakka Hiking Trail For immersion in the vast central prairies of the Florida peninsula, the 39-mile Myakka Hiking Trail is a serious backpacking destination in South Florida near Sarasota.Florida Trail, Big Shoals
Follow a Florida Trail segment from Bell Springs along the Suwannee River on a 4.6-mile round-trip to views of the only Class III rapids in Florida, with a waterfall to circle along the way.
Florida Trail, Big Shoals 4.6 miles. Showcasing Florida's only Class III whitewater, the hike from Bell Springs to Big Shoals is one of the most scenic segments of the Florida Trail along the Suwannee River.Anhinga Trail
If you can only do one hike in Everglades National Park, this is it. It’s the shortest and busiest trail in Everglades National Park, but it provides panoramic views as well as up-close viewing of alligators, orchids, and hundreds of wading birds.
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 missTop Trails in Florida
In addition to the trails listed above, we have a list of Top Ten Trail Destinations for planning your next trip.
These are not individual trails that you can tackle all at once, but major trail systems and large parks and preserves throughout Florida which have many different trails in them.
Some can be tackled on a bicycle, and some offer paddling trails as well.
All Scenic Trails in Florida
Let’s face it: even though we don’t have much elevation, we do have a lot of fascinating habitats. Florida is a very pretty place. Here are more suggestions for trails that you should put on your to-do list.
We’ve tagged a lot of trails on this website as scenic, and you can see their locations on our Scenic Trails Map.
Our Favorite Scenic Trails
In addition to the ones at the top of the page on our list of top scenic trails, these are some of our personal favorites statewide.
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.
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.
Blue Spring Boardwalk If you've never seen manatees by the dozens, let alone a hundred or more, there is no better place to watch these gentle giants than the Blue Spring Boardwalk in the wintertime
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.
Devil’s Millhopper Nature Trail The Devils Millhopper Nature Trail circles the lip of an enormous sinkhole before plunging down into it on a series of staircases and landings with views of natural waterfalls.
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.
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.
Florida Trail, Chuluota Wilderness to Joshua Creek 3.9 miles. Enjoy natural beauty and botanical diversity along a scenic segment of the Florida Trail connecting Chuluota Wilderness and Bronson State Forest. 
Florida Trail, Gold Head Branch Following high ground above Devils Washbasin and Gold Head Ravine, the oldest section of the Florida Trail at Gold Head Branch State Park makes for a pleasant six-mile round trip.
Florida Trail, Lake Delancy to Rodman 6.7 miles. Experience a sense of perspective on a piece of the Florida Trail traversing rolling hills topped with a majestic forest of longleaf pines.
Florida Trail, Juniper Creek 7.3 miles. Also known as the Juniper Creek Trail, the Florida Trail at Juniper Creek is a gorgeous place to explore, with its panorama at Red Rocks and botanical delights along and above the creek basin.
Florida Trail, Sopchoppy River 4.1 miles. Following the gentle curves of the Sopchoppy River in the Apalachicola National Forest, this section of the Florida Trail is one of the most scenic hikes on the trail.
Grassy Waters Preserve Protecting a sheet flow of rainfall moving steadily southward and parallel to the Atlantic Ocean, Grassy Waters Preserve bears a striking resemblance to the Everglades - because it is.
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. 
Juniper Springs Experience crystalline waters emerging from the midst of the world’s largest scrub forest in a subtropical forest at Juniper Springs in the Ocala National Forest.
Kirby Storter Boardwalk An accessible walk through the habitats of the Big Cypress Swamp, Kirby Storter Boardwalk gets you up close to the wonders of nature in Big Cypress National Preserve.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.