Whether you’ve lived in Florida all your life or are just visiting for the week, you’ll find no better immersion into natural Florida than along our many trails. As I’ve learned over the years, there’s nothing like being able to identify what you see to have a richer appreciation for the beauty around you. This section of the website is dedicated to helping you do just that.
Florida's Habitats
Florida is a haven of biodiversity, with 81 distinct biological communities. It’s one of the best reasons to hike in Florida: an ever-changing landscape. At Florida’s southern tip, trees indigenous to the Caribbean grow in thick, tangled jungles, and endemic tree snails creep slowly up the limbs of smooth-barked trees. At Florida’s northern border, you’ll [...]
Florida’s Flora
The flora found along Florida’s trails is unlike anything you’ll find elsewhere in the United States – and that’s just the native species. From columbine and trillium found in Appalachian like valleys in the Florida Panhandle to tropical trees of Caribbean origin throughout South Florida, our botanical diversity is one of the best reasons to [...]
Florida’s Birds
For birders, a hike down a Florida trail means an ever-unfolding adventure of discovery. Positioned as we are along major annual migratory routes, Florida offers thousands of places for sightings of both common and offbeat species. Our Great Florida Birding Trail points you to sites where local folks concur the birding is especially excellent, and [...]
Florida Wildlife
Florida boasts a great diversity of wildlife, with some top of the food chain creatures that’ll have your heart racing during an encounter to some of the most spectacular bird species in the world. You’ll see plenty of Florida’s wildlife if you hike quietly! Alligators Alligators are the number one fear that new hikers to [...]
