Alexander Springs
Astor 1.2 milesSurrounding one of Florida's most picturesque first magnitude springs, Alexander Springs is a prime destination for a summer swim or snorkel.
Before the Burn: Juniper Prairie Wilderness
What did the Juniper Prairie Wilderness look like before the fires of 2009? Here's what I photographed on a hike just a few weeks before the devastating blaze.
Florida Trail, Alexander Springs to Farles Prairie
Ocala National Forest 8.6 miles8.6 miles. Dive deep into the world's largest sand pine scrub forest on this hike through the Big Scrub.
Florida Trail, Clearwater Lake to Alexander Springs
Ocala National Forest 10.5 miles10.5 miles. Hike the original miles blazed by Florida Trail Association trailblazers in 1966 along one of the most beautiful sections of the Florida Trail in the Ocala National Forest.
Florida Trail, Farles Prairie to Juniper Springs
Ocala National Forest 9.7 miles9.7 miles. Follow a ribbon of tall grasses and lily-dotted ponds along Farles Prairie before trekking miles through classic sand pine scrub to the Juniper Prairie Wilderness.
Hiking Farles Prairie
Hiking along the Farles Prairie section of the Florida Trail adjoining Pine Castle Bombing Range, we get to experience both a bomb concussion and a charred "nightmare forest" after a dropped bomb.
Hiking the Juniper Prairie Wilderness
For immersion into the world's largest sand pine scrub forest, take a journey along the Florida Trail through the Juniper Prairie Wilderness. It's perennially a getaway for backpackers thanks to its natural beauty.
Return to Juniper Prairie Wilderness
A return to the Juniper Prairie Wilderness seven years after my last hike finds things very different after wildfires scour across the landscape.
The Other Side of Farles Prairie
What's it like to do trail research? Here's a typical day out on the trail for us when we're tracking down relocations of the Florida Trail or finding new trails to add to this website.
Timucuan Trail
Alexander Springs 0.9 milesWhile 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.