Every year, Rachael and Lou Augspurg lead a series of hikes somewhere in Central Florida for Florida Trail Association members. These day hikes are extremely popular, as they help you knock off a section hike of the FT or learn more about a bunch of trails in one particular area.
This year, they’re celebrating the Centennial of the Ocala National Forest with a series of hikes to get you down the ENTIRE Florida Trail (Eastern Corridor) in the Forest. Today’s hike was this morning, so I’m VERY sorry I missed it! I just pulled up the email. Here’s the rest of the series:
Wed – Jan 14 – Kirkpartick Dam to Lake Delancy West Rec Area – 7 miles
……Meet at the Lake Delancy West Rec Area (fee)
Wed – Jan 21 – Lake Delancy to Kerr Island (cut out on FR 63) – 8 miles
……Meet at the junction of FR /88 and old FR 63 (roadside parking)
Wed – Jan 28 – Kerr Island to SR 19 at Salt Springs – 9 miles
……Meet at the FNST x-ing on SR 19 S of Salt Springs (roadside parking)
Wed – Feb 4 – SR 19 at Salt Springs to Hopkins Prairie trail parking- 9 miles
……Meet at the FNST parking area east of Hopkins Prairie Rec Area
Wed – Feb 11 – Hopkins Prairie to Silver Glen Spring (via Yearling Trail) – 8 miles
……Meet at the Yearling Trail parking on SR 19 across from Silver Glen (fee)
Wed – Feb 18 – Juniper Wilderness – Pat’s Island to SR 40 – 10 miles
……Meet at the FNST x-ing on SR 40, E of Juniper Springs (roadside parking)
Wed – Feb 25 – SR 40 FNST Crossing to Farles Lake Rec Area – 8.5 miles
……Meet at Farles Lake Rec Area on FR /595 (fee)
Wed – March 4 – Farles Lake to CR 445 at Alexander Springs – 8 miles
……Meet at entrance to Alexander Springs on CR 445 (roadside parking)
Wed – March 11 – CR 445 at Alexander Springs to Duck Pond (cut out) – 8 miles
……Meet at Duck Pond cut out on FR /538 (roadside parking)
Wed – March 18 – Duck Pond (cut out) to Clearwater Lake Rec Area – 4.5
……Meet at the picnic area at Clearwater Lake Rec Area (fee)
After the hike will be the END OF SERIES pot-luck picnic.
To join in, you must be a Florida Trail Association member (cheap and easy to join online!). Then contact Rachael to let her know you’ll be attending.
