Where is the beginning of the Florida Trail?

The Florida National Scenic Trail (also known as the Florida Trail or FT for short) is a congressionally-designated, long-distance hiking trail that weaves its way across Florida from Big Cypress National Preserve in the south to Gulf Islands National Seashore in the western end of Florida's panhandle.



People Also Ask

The official southern terminus of the Florida Trail is at Oasis Visitor Center in Big Cypress National Preserve. The official northern terminus is at Fort Pickens in Gulf Islands National Seashore.

MORE DETAILS

Florida Trail, Sopchoppy River Along this extraordinarily scenic piece of the Florida Trail, the footpath follows the tops of bluffs where weirdly shaped cypresses outline the inky waters of the Sopchoppy River below as it snakes its way through the Apalachicola National Forest near Tallahassee.

MORE DETAILS

The town is already a hub for several long-distance multi-use trails such as the Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail and the St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop. Other recently designated Florida Trail Towns include Dunedin, Titusville, Malabar, Clermont, Vilano Beach, Palatka, Inverness and Everglades City.

MORE DETAILS

Cost of a Thru-Hike Today, the figure is usually considered to be about $3 per mile. If that is the case, then to complete all 1,100 miles you shouldn't begin the trip without $3,300 in the bank.

MORE DETAILS

Trail Community If you plan to thru-hike the Florida Trail, keep in mind this is not a social trail like the Appalachian Trail. Less than 400 people have completed the entire trail. Unless you pair up with a hiking partner, much of your hike will be spent in solitude.

MORE DETAILS

The trail is approximately 1,500-miles long and is intended to offer a continuous, permanent non-motorized recreation opportunity for hiking and other compatible activities.

MORE DETAILS

Florida Trail, Seminole 56.2 miles. Stretching from the Big Cypress Seminole Reservation to Lake Okeechobee, the Florida Trail Seminole section traverses a vast agricultural region, the former Everglades.

MORE DETAILS

There are several backcountry campsites located along the trail. Backcountry permits are required to camp at these sites. During the dry season (November-April), there may be very little to no water along the trail. Hikers need to pack in their own water.

MORE DETAILS

Continental Divide Trail Arguably the most challenging thru-hike of the National Scenic Trails, it traverses five states, ranges from 4,000 to 14,000-feet in elevation, and passes through alpine tundra, broad glacial valleys, craggy mountain peaks, and desolate desert landscapes.

MORE DETAILS

Big Cypress National Preserve South Florida's Big Cypress National Preserve is a must-visit spot along the Florida Trail, particularly if you're looking for a challenge. Although this 30-mile hike is touted as Florida's toughest backpacking trip, its incomparable beauty makes the hard work worth it.

MORE DETAILS

Notably, it includes the entirety of the Appalachian Trail (AT) and Florida Trail (FT). Many roads and shorter trails connect the two through the deep south, and the International Appalachian Trail (IAT) takes over where the AT drops the ball in Maine, carrying it across the border and deep into Quebec.

MORE DETAILS

Thru-hikers are exempt from all fees and may camp at any campsite without a permit except for Lake Jackson. If you want to camp at Lake Jackson, call 352-732-1225. Section hikers must day for day use permits at trailside kiosks.

MORE DETAILS

Even in its incomplete state, the Florida Trail is one of just 11 federally designated national scenic trails, and while few walk its full length, the trail attracts more than 350,000 people each year who bite off sections.

MORE DETAILS

In an environment where temperatures are frequently in the 90s, and long stretches of trail may provide no shade or little water, heat exhaustion is a major concern. It's one of the reasons (along with summer rains and insect populations) that most Florida hikers only hit the trail between October and April.

MORE DETAILS