Florida National Scenic Trail hiking information



Does Florida Have a Statewide Trail? Q: We want to visit your country in 2004. We want to walk around from Miami to Gainesville. Do you have a trail? We want to stay 3 months: February, March and April. Thanks -- Anton, from the Netherlands A: You bet, Anton! And good for you for planning ahead. The Florida National Scenic Trail -- also known as simply the Florida Trail -- is just what you're looking for. Its southernmost point is west of Miami in Big Cypress National Preserve, a wonderful place to visit. The Florida Trail here can sometimes be covered by standing water, which isn't likely in February, but be prepared. North from there, the trail will take you through the Seminole Indian Reservation, which has a quota for the number of hikers who can pass through on the Florida Trail. Other parts of the trail are also on private property, and in order to hike these portions, you need to be a member of the Florida Trail Association (FTA). A family membership is $30 for a year. In addition to joining, you should notify the FTA of your planned hike so it can alert any private-property owners of your presence and make other arrangements because access is sometimes granted on a first-come, first-served basis. It also just makes sense to tell someone where you are going when you are planning a long hike, for your own safety. The trail will lead you around Lake Okeechobee -- the 2nd-largest freshwater lake in the United States -- across ranchland and through Ocala National Forest. To learn more about these natural areas, reading books on Florida nature will be helpful to you, such as Exploring Wild South Florida, and 50 Hikes in Central Florida by EcoFlorida's hiking columnist, Sandra Friend. You'll also want to get maps of the Florida Trail, which the FTA sells, to become as acquainted as possible with your route. You have a whole year to prepare! Perhaps one of the best ways to do that is to read and participate in the Florida Trail forums so you can communicate with others who have hiked the trail and find out the latest news about hiking the trail. Read the current Q&A Do you have a question? Contact the editor.
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