Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides
Outdoor recreation near Perry, the timber capital of Florida, sitting along the vast swamp forests of the Big Bend.
Perry
Protecting nearly 4,400 acres where the Econfina River snakes its way to the Gulf of Mexico through the vast marshes of the Big Bend, Econfina River State Park is well off the beaten path.
9 miles. Endearingly scenic, surprisingly rugged in places, and unlike any other piece of the Florida Trail statewide, this trek along the Aucilla River showcases some of Florida’s top natural features in one hike.
4.4 miles. With dark waters reflecting against pockmarked limestone walls and a footpath winding through the most geologically weird piece of any National Scenic Trail, the Aucilla Sinks are the most fascinating segment of the Florida Trail.
116.2 miles. After crossing rural farms and forests in the Big Bend, the Florida Trail reveals the secrets of the Aucilla River before tracing the Gulf coastline at St. Marks NWR
To learn about the storied past of the forestry industry in Florida, stop in the Forest Capital Museum State Park, where one of the highlights is a pioneer homestead.
Lafayette Blue Springs was an old swimming hole for folks in Mayo and the rural communities west of Live Oak, a hidden beauty spot along the Suwannee River that is now a state park.
A permanent closure of 55 miles of the Florida Trail between the Suwannee and Aucilla Rivers leaves thru-hikers no alternative but a very lengthy roadwalk
The widest waterfall in Florida and a scenic stop in the Big Bend, Steinhatchee Falls is both geologically intriguing and an important piece of Florida history.
Follow the 3.3-mile Steinhatchee Trail through wildflower-rich uplands for a spectacular finish at Steinhatchee Falls, Florida’s broadest waterfall.
