The Bluffton Nature Trail at Lake George State Forest near Volusia, west of Barberville along SR 40, provides a glimpse into an ancient past along the St. Johns River. It’s a short trail with a great deal of habitat diversity through an area occupied by civilizations for thousands of years.

Clues remain: the spill of fossilized snail shells that signify a midden, old piers where a thriving citrus grove once shipped its wares by steamboat. Off the beaten path, it’s a beautiful little hike for all ages with a kayak / canoe launch area, restroom, and picnic tables. Get off the main road and experience this quiet spot.

Bluffton Nature Trail details …

Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park in Tallahassee has the distinction of being a park inside city limits where you won’t feel a touch of city. With hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails on sloping hillsides along Lake Jackson, it’s primarily a dense forest shaded by ancient pines, oaks, and magnolia trees, with alluvial streams cutting through the sand and clay to add a touch of burble in the background. The Phipps Park Hiking Trail is the focus of this week’s Hike-A-Week for Florida Hikes! subscribers … here’s a peek at why this is a don’t-miss trail system extending 7.4 miles.

I’m giving a talk this evening in Tallahassee for the Florida Trail Association Apalachee Chapter on “Hiking Florida’s Western Panhandle.” Here’s a sneak peek from the presentation. Do drop in and join us! The talk is at 7 PM at the USFS / Florida Trail headquarters, Woodcrest Office Park, 325 John Knox. As you turn in to the complex, look for the door on the right with the Florida Trail symbol on it. See you there!

One of the hikes that sticks in my memory from when I was under ten years old is the Pine Land Trail at Everglades National Park. It’s not very long, but it’s certainly diverse … and on my last visit, there were tree snails in the tropical trees! Take a virtual walk in the woods and learn more about the Pine Land Trail.

Everglades National Park entrance monument

Let me be your personal guide to Everglades National Park! In addition to completing the full roster of hikes for Everglades National Park, a related project I completed in June was a driving tour of the Main Park Road.  Created in conjunction with Visual Travel Tours, it’s available as a written tour, an iPhone tour, and soon to be available as an audio tour.

Nearly 100 spectacular images illustrate the beauty of Everglades National Park, with a 30-minute narration about the park’s history and what you’ll encounter as you drive from the park entrance to Flamingo.

Order yours now!