Hike Planning

The Ten Essentials and MORE for a Florida Hike What’s in your pack? Florida hikers need to plan differently than hikers from other parts of the United States. Our hiking season is upside down from the rest of the country – October through April are our prime months – and our needs to deal with [...]

Planning a Florida hike? Here are some of the more common questions I’ve fielded over the years from folks who want to square away their logistics well before they hit the trail. It’s smart to keep in mind that hiking in Florida is different than hiking in the rest of the United States. Plan accordingly! [...]

If you think hiking Florida is the same as hiking the Appalachians, guess again! Not only are our habitats very different, the terrain offers unique challenges, our trail surfaces are different, weather and insects are a concern, and the ideal time of year for hiking Florida is almost the exact opposite of the rest of [...]

Considering a hiking trip in Florida? Here are some of the precautions you need to take when planning your outing. Our weather, wildlife, and outdoor conditions are a bit different ……a little more on the wild side than most states. Yes, we’ve got alligators and hurricanes to add to the mix.  Play it smart and [...]

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 [...]

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 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 [...]

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 [...]