If you travel to Canada, the BEST thing to do is get into the outdoors.
But when I travel to Florida, hiking is the LAST thing on my mind. (I’m on my way to Cirque du Soleil in Orlando.)
That’s a shame. There’s great hiking in Florida.
Guidebook author Sandy Friend recommends some of her personal favourites:
Florida Trail, Big Cypress National Preserve. Wading a watery wilderness festooned with tropical plants. Close to Miami.
Florida Trail, Ocala National Forest: Prairies and pines in the world’s largest sand pine scrub forest. Very popular.
Florida Trail, Suwannee River: 60mi clambering in and out of floodplain channels on high bluffs with giant trees.
Florida Trail, Eglin Air Force Base: Diverse habitats and coastal scenery.
Torreya Hiking Trail: Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Trail: Rugged ravines, bluffs, and ridgelines.
Garden of Eden Trail: Difficult day hike. Serious topography.
Citrus Hiking Trail: Great karst formations on a 43-mile loop. You can walk pack-on into one cave and explore many others.
Myakka Hiking Trail: Backpacking through broad open prairies in Central Florida
Florida Trail, Lake Okeechobee: More than 100mi around one of the nation’s largest lakes; great views the whole time.
This post is just an appetizer. If you really want to research hiking in Florida, get one of Sandy’s guidebooks:
50 Hikes in South Florida: Walks, Hikes, and Backpacking Trips in the Southern Florida Peninsula, First Edition
50 Hikes in Central Florida: Hikes, Walks, and Backpacks in the Heart of the Peninsula
50 Hikes in North Florida: Walks, Hikes, and Backpacking Trips in the Northern Florida Peninsula
Lake Okeechobee - FTA / Bob Coveney
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