The Florida Trail Guide

Fourth Edition, November 2021. 356 pages, $19.95.
Shipped Priority Mail

Cumulative updates to this edition are posted here.

The Florida Trail Guide provides detailed logistics for hiking and backpacking the Florida Trail, whether you’re planning a weekend trip with friends, an outing with a Scout troop, a week in the woods, section hikes of significant length, or a full thru-hike of 1,100 miles across the state of Florida.

Building on the strength of our prior edition and our ongoing collaboration with app developer FarOut Guides (previously Guthook), this new edition of The Florida Trail Guide includes data charts and mileage markers derived from the app as of July 2021, along with detailed narrative of important features along the trail, which we’ve hiked end-to-end. We incorporate feedback from hikers, Florida Trail Association staff, and the vast network of FTA volunteers who build and maintain the trails. All service updates derive from on-the-ground reconnaissance along the entire length of the trail. We’ve added more/updated landmarks for Big Cypress, Bull Creek, Caravelle Ranch, Cassia, and the hurricane ravaged region between Blountstown and Ebro, with assistance from Chris and Chelsey Stevens tackling additional ground proofing during the 2021 hiking season.

What’s Inside?

Logistics for nearly 1,500 miles of trail.
43 updated regional overview maps.
62 town maps annotated with updated service details.
18 sections, including connector trails.
Data sheets with mileage northbound/southbound/section.
GPS coordinates for trailheads.
At-a-glance service icons.
Section and thru-trail mileage for each chapter.
Mileages between designated campsites.
Post office hours and locations.
Lodgings and campgrounds near the trail.
Outfitters and shuttle providers along the trail.
Contact information for thousands of services.
How to get to and from the termini.
Permit requirements and precautions.
Basics for hiking in Florida.
Camping and backpacking outfitters in Florida.
Where to buy stove fuel along the trail.
List of maildrops locations.
Alternate routes provided for flooding and closures.
Southbounder alerts throughout the book.
All roadwalks are highlighted in the text.
Eastern Continental Trail details for Key West to Big Cypress.
Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail details, good for hikers and cyclists.

Originally inspired by The AT Guide, this 356 page guidebook covers the full length of the Florida National Scenic Trail as well as the major side trails that connect to it: Blackwater, Ocean-to-Lake, and the Eastern Continental Trail between Key West and Big Cypress Preserve. Data spreads and service spreads are provide in an easy-to-read format (please see samples). Mileages, and the overall flow of the book, are based on a typical thru-hiker route from Big Cypress to Fort Pickens, with alternate routes fully detailed throughout. Connecting side trails are included in the back of the book.

Florida Trail map — Trail segments found in this book (click to enlarge map)

Updates

During the course of each hiking season, we keep track of trail relocations, services changing, and closures – both temporary and permanent. You can find our cumulative updates for each edition here:

Third Edition updates
Second Edition updates
First Edition updates

App Version

A geolocated version of the information in this guidebook is available as an app for iPhone or Android through FarOut Guides. Using the GPS technology in your smartphone, the app works offline, showing you where you are on the trail and the resources near you. See app features here.