Florida Hikes

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

St Johns River at Welaka

St. Johns River

Hiking, biking, paddling, camping, and other outdoor recreation, public lands, and communities along the shores of the St. Johns River. This is Florida’s longest river, rising in marshes west of Vero Beach and flowing northward 310 miles to the Atlantic Ocean at Jacksonville. As it has a vast floodplain, there are extensive public lands along its entire route.

Among the Palms

Of all of Florida's habitats, the one that truly sings "Florida" is the palm hammock, a richly textured riot of green and fronds, of mosses and lichens, of light and shadow perfectly balanced. Enjoy it on the Taylor Creek Loop.

Arlington Lions Club Park

Jacksonville   1.8 miles

A breezy walk along the St. Johns River awaits at this park near the north end of Arlington, its half mile riverside boardwalk connecting to showy upland trails and to Blue Cypress Park.

Bartram Gardens & Trail

DeLand   0.4 miles

Along the St. Johns River at Lake Beresford, discover the river anew through William Bartram's eyes as he recorded his observations of alligators, fish, and flora in 1774.

Bayard Conservation Area

Green Cove Springs   7.0 miles

Bayard Point Conservation Area preserves an untouched riverfront forest on the St. Johns River. Follow this route through the John P. Hall Nature Preserve to visit the river.

Biking around Osteen

Using Beck Ranch Park as our launch point for a cycling adventure in Osteen, we discovered how easy it was to stitch together the local network of bike paths into a pleasant ride, with the Osteen Diner right at hand for lunch.

Biking Tosohatchee

  miles

A 20.2-mile circuit on forest roads by bike provides a unique perspective on this 31,000-acre preserve along the St. Johns River floodplain in Christmas.

Black Bear Wilderness Area

Sanford   7.1 miles

North of Orlando, Black Bear Wilderness Area in Sanford offers some of the best wildlife watching in the region on its loop along the St. Johns River.

Black Bear Wilderness Loop Trail

Sanford   7.1 miles

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.

Black Bear Wilderness Walk

Tackle the easiest portion of the Black Bear Wilderness Loop Trail with a walk on its original trail segment out to the St. Johns River.

Blue Spring Pine Island Trail

Orange City   7.3 miles

Showcasing habitat diversity along the St. Johns River basin, the Pine Island Trail treats you to ancient oaks, open scrub, and the bank of the river itself

Blue Spring State Park

Blue Spring State Park is well acclaimed for being the best place in Florida to see manatees in the wild, and we don’t mean a dozen or two. Think hundreds.