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

Lake Griffin State Park

Leesburg      ( 28.857491,-81.903251 )      

Lake Griffin State Park sits along the marshy shore of Lake Griffin, its campground and canoe launch its biggest draws

Lake Kissimmee State Park

Lake Wales      ( 27.972226,-81.378925 )      16.0 miles

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

Lake Louisa State Park

Clermont      ( 28.4558,-81.7238 )      

As longleaf pine reaches for the sky, the rolling hills of Lake Louisa State Park near Clermont return to their forested roots

Lake Manatee State Park

Bradenton      ( 27.475551,-82.346631 )      5.5 miles

With a natural lakefront stretching three miles along the edge of Lake Manatee, this state park outside Bradenton is a quiet place to camp, fish, and hike

Lake Mills Park

Chuluota      ( 28.633123,-81.123244 )      0.8 miles

Camp beneath ancient live oaks or wander the gentle trails to Lake Mills as you enjoy one of Seminole County’s nicest county parks

Little Manatee River State Park

Wimauma      ( 27.657607,-82.37414 )      

With sandy shores around every bend and a canopy of trees overhead, Little Manatee River State Park provides a place for a pretty paddling trip for families.

Little Talbot Island State Park

Talbot Islands      ( 30.458366,-81.418244 )      

With one of the closest wild beaches to Jacksonville, Little Talbot Island State Park is a heavily visited park, and not just for its beaches. Paddling in the estuaries and camping amid the dunes are popular pastimes, too.

Magnolia Park

Lake Apopka North Shore  |  Apopka
( 28.634023, -81.549971 )      

On forested bluffs above Lake Apopka, Magnolia Park anchors the eastern terminus of the Lake Apopka Loop Trail near a campground under ancient live oaks

Manatee Springs State Park

Chiefland      ( 29.496241,-82.963574 )      

Showcasing the lower Suwannee River, Manatee Springs State Park centers around a clear blue spring

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park

Keystone Heights      ( 29.847977,-81.961958 )      

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.

Myakka River State Park

Sarasota      ( 27.239406,-82.316719 )      

With tall waving grasses, saw palmetto, and the sound of birds, Myakka River State Park is Florida’s Big Sky country, blanketing more than 28,000 acres east of Sarasota

Myron B Hodge City Park

Sopchoppy      ( 30.051383, -84.499444 )      1.1 miles

Myron B. Hodge City Park offers a nature trail where you can linger along the Sopchoppy River amid the sweet spring scent of Florida azalea.