Updates to my hiking guidebooks ... as I find errors that need corrected in the next edition, or significant changes to trails such as closures and major reroutes, I will post them here!
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Jenkins Trail closed |
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In May, I discovered the Jenkins Trail at Tiger Creek Preserve has been closed due to hurricane damage and flooding and a lack of volunteers to maintain it … sorry to hear! If anyone lives near Lake Walk-in-the-Water in Polk County (east of Lake Wales / Frostproof) and wants to assist reopening the trail, contact The Nature Conservancy at (863) 635-7506. It's a beautiful little trail and it would be a shame to lose it. |
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Cedar Key hikes directions |
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Directions are in error for Hike 9 (Cedar Key Scrub Preserve) and 10 (Atsenie Otie Key) in 50 Hikes in North Florida. Both say:
"From I-75 exit 384 in Gainesville, head east on FL 24..."
and SHOULD read "head WEST on FL 24..."
in addition, directions are given going west from Cedar Key, which should be EAST.
Ooops. Sorry about that! |
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Gator Creek adds trails |
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On a recent visit to Gator Creek Reserve, Lakeland, I discovered a new, large paved parking area with picnic pavilion and portalet, and even better, new trails throughout the reserve! In 50 Hikes in Central Florida and Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State, I only describe a single loop trail, which is still in place as the Piney Wood Trail. There are now two additional trails: a paved (wheelchair accessible) loop called the Cypress Loop, which is 0.6 mile long, and a spur and loop off the far end of the Piney Wood Trail called the Gator Creek Loop (partially described in my books), running 0.8 mile. All trails have great signage and an overview map (along with map brochures) is at the main kiosk at the parking area. |
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Fort George River Walk closure |
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The 'unmarked trail' hike described as Fort George River Walk within Hike 35, Talbot Islands, in 50 Hikes in North Florida, has been permanently blocked off due to the rebuilding of the highway bridge over the river and related drainage areas. |
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Big Gum Swamp Trail Closure |
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In May, the Bugaboo Fire - Florida's largest ever wildfire, which crept over the state line from the Okeefenokee Swamp in Georgia - pretty much erased the pine forest and bayheads of the Big Gum Swamp Wilderness Area, which means the end of the Big Gum Swamp Trail until someone decides to blaze it again after the forest grows back.
This affects the following guidebooks of mine:
The Hiking Trails of Florida’s National Parks, Forests, and Preserves
Pages 147-148
50 Hikes in North Florida
Hike 11, Page 100
Hiker’s Guide to the Sunshine State Hike
NF-18, Page 167
When I get word from the National Forests in Florida that the trail has reopened, I'll remove this update and check it out. It's a rugged trail but fun. It lies north of the Florida Trail, which was not affected by the fire. |
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Carney Island lat-long |
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In Hiker's Guide to the Sunshine State, page 303, the lat-long for Carney Island Park is given as 29°00.884’ W081°57.870’ ... it's incorrect. Use 29°0'53.77"N, 81°57'51.52"W or 29.014936, -81.964311. See the map for the Carney Island Park hike for the actual location. |
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