I recall questioning Florida hiking guru Sandra Friend when she insisted we include Okeechobee on our list of the best hikes in North America.
Over 110mi long. Circling the second largest freshwater lake entirely inside the United States. It sounded a little … flat.
OK. I’m convinced after reading her recent trip report.
Why Sandra loves the Big O:
… Hiking this section of the Florida Trail introduced me to a part of Florida I previously knew little about, and to a lake I’d only ever seen in the distance from the dike at John Stretch Park. I watched anglers putter into the locks with a boatful of catfish, and duck hunters slide their fast boats past with nary a duck on board. I learned the rhythm of the sugar cane harvest, and could spot white pelicans soaring over the endless blue. I learned the calls of the blue-winged teal and the smooth-billed ani, and discovered that sandhill cranes like to hang out around lone cattle. And I discovered that I liked being away from the normal flow of life for nine days, rising before sunrise to catch the colorful morning glow from every conceivable angle. Sure, there’s no shade. And it’s flat, except when you have to go down the dike. But it’s a different take on Florida, a quiet refuge from the humming cities on either coast—and you’ll never lack for fresh water to filter. …
Read Sandra’s trip report – Florida Hikes! | The Best of Hiking in Florida | Hike, Day, Big, Lake, Trail
Florida Hikes is a quality site. Sandra a terrific writer.
The Big O is an ideal destination when most of the rest of the North American hikes are frozen.
Sandra has many Florida hiking guidebooks on Amazon.
besthike.com 