Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides
The birthplace of the Florida Trail and home of the world’s largest sand pine scrub forest, the Ocala section is Florida’s top backpacking destination
Amid a patchwork of scrub ridges and longleaf pine islands, the Florida Trail makes its way northwest of Salt Springs around the vastness of Lake Kerr on this 10.1 mile section
We met Ruth at the Florida Trail Association Conference in March and spent time hiking with her on the Panhandle Trace. At both events, she invited us to come hike in her backyard and visit. With five hikes left for Five Star Trails Gainesville and Ocala, we headed to North Gainesville, staying at the Best …
I’d been planning to pick up this 5.5 mile segment in the Ocala National Forest and the Cross Florida Greenway for years, but only took care of it this week with help from my friend Bob (LWOP) Coveney, who with his wife Bonnie live the RV lifestyle and are hanging out in the forest; we’ve …
If you’re wondering why I’m so quiet right now, I’m working hard at creating the next generation of the Florida Hikes! website. I did, however, take the time last week to rejoin Lou & Rachael Augspurg’s Florida Trail section hike through the Ocala National Forest. This time it was Farles Prairie, the first place I …
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.
A historic moment for the Florida Trail: the reunion of three of the original trailblazers, 40 years after they painted the first blazes of the Florida Trail heading north from Clearwater Lake in the Ocala National Forest.
It’s Florida Biking Month! Which makes it a good time to talk about bikes and the Florida Trail, and how to ride your bike to, but not on, our statewide National Scenic Trail when it’s in the woods.
Established in 1908 as the first National Forest east of the Mississippi, the Ocala National Forest is a mecca for hikers as the birthplace of the Florida Trail.
According to trail maintainers in the area, the Florida Trail has been relocated in the vicinity of The 88 Store in the Ocala National Forest. The thru-trail now passes directly behind The 88 Store and within sight of FR 11 south of CR 316 for a short stretch, making it easier to access services at …
Hurricanes and fires have kept me off of one of my favorite hikes on the Florida Trail, the Juniper Prairie Wilderness, for many years. I’d get ready to go out there and something would happen that I knew would wreck my memories of my first hikes there, so I wouldn’t go. When my friend Bob …
How to order a copy of The Florida Trail: Florida’s National Scenic Trail, our limited edition full-color coffee table book that tells the comprehensive story of the first 50 years of routing, building, maintaining, and enjoying our statewide National Scenic Trail.
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.
