FAQs

The hiking season in Florida runs roughly from late October through April. Because of unpredictable weather and hunting seasons in the fall, we recommend thru-hikes start in the south in early January and end in the north by April. This schedule will avoid almost all general gun hunting restrictions and place your hike during the winter “dry” season.

The total trail mileage is fluid as the USFS and the FTA are continuously working to optimally route and designate new trail. Trail mileage is calculated using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Individual trail user experience may vary slightly. 

An Eastern Corridor thru-hike (eastern Lake O, eastern central FL, including roadwalks and excluding Blackwater side-trail) yields 1,287.9 miles. 903 miles Road connector (road walks): 365.71 miles. The Eastern Corridor by itself is 248.52 miles long.

A Western Corridor thru-hike with the same qualifiers above yields 1,286.63 miles, Trail: 904 miles Road connector: 367.3 miles. The Western Corridor by itself is 247.35 miles long. 

The official Blackwater Side Trail is 48.6 miles, this trail is designated as part of the Florida National Scenic Trail in the 1986 Comprehensive Plan and thus why other connecting or spur trails are not included. 

• Total Florida Trail length (including the Eastern & Western Corridors and road connector/trail gaps): ~ 1,500 miles
• Total designated “true” trail length (excluding road walks/trail gaps): ~ 1,000 miles

The northern terminus of the Florida National Scenic Trail is at the Fort Pickens parking lot of the Gulf Islands National Seashore just south of Pensacola.  The southern terminus is on Loop Road (SR 94). Access to Loop Road is available from Tamiami Trail (US 41), 55 miles west of Miami Courthouse, 42 miles west of the Florida Turnpike, and 52 miles east of Naples.  There are numerous trailheads along the length of the trail which are specified on each map.

Several short portions of the Florida Trail coincide with shared, multi-use trails where bikes and sometimes horses are allowed. However, the vast majority of the Florida Trail is designated for foot traffic only. 

Several short portions of the Florida Trail coincide with shared, multi-use trails where bikes and sometimes horses are allowed. However, the vast majority of the Florida Trail is designated for foot traffic only. 

 A few landowners require advanced notification and permits to cross their land. It is essential that you notify the Florida Trail Association office a minimum of 30 days before starting a thru-hike. See our thru-hiker page for more information.

When visiting areas along the Florida National Scenic Trail, remember to B.A.R.K.!

- Bag your pet’s waste
- Always leash your pet
- Respect wildlife
- Know where you can go

Since many Florida state agencies, private landowners, and national forests along the Florida Trail have different guidelines on hiking with dogs, the Florida Trail Association recommends checking with the relevant land managing agency BEFORE hitting the trails to keep you and your pet safe.

Population growth and the tourism industry have increased the frequency of human-alligator interactions in Florida, but we have no reports of alligator incidents along the Florida Trail. Remember that in Florida, it is illegal to kill or harass alligators. Alligators may only be harvested under special licenses and permits issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Here are some safety tips identified by the UF IFAS Extension Office:

• Leave alligators alone. Alligators are shy animals that usually avoid human contact.
• Pay attention. Keep an eye on your surroundings near fresh or brackish waters. Avoid vegetation-filled areas of rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water.
• Do not feed alligators. Feeding alligators is illegal. Alligators that are fed will come to associate humans with food and will lose their natural fear.
• Throw fish scraps into trash cans. Do not discard fish scraps in the water at fish camps or boat ramps—you will unintentionally feed alligators.
• Follow directions on signs. Do not swim outside of posted swimming areas.
• Swim during daylight hours only. Alligators are most active at night.
• Stay with children. Never allow small children to play unattended near water.
• Keep an eye on your pets. Dogs are in more danger from alligators than humans, because they resemble the reptiles' natural prey. Do not let your dog swim in waters where you know alligators live.
• Remember the odds. You are more likely to be struck by lightning than attacked by an alligator in Florida.

Carry a backpacking stove to cook your meals. Don’t rely on fires. Not only is it more convenient and easier in wet weather, it minimizes your impact on the land around your camp. Campfires are not allowed at all along some sections of the Trail and may be temporarily banned in other areas during periods of high fire danger. When you can build a fire, keep it small. Use only pre-existing fire rings or build a leave-no-trace fire on a deep sandy base.

Rain protection is a must and layering is the rule for clothing. Layered synthetic clothing will allow you to regulate your body temperature on those days that start with finding your water bottle frozen solid and end with you basking in semi-tropical heat.

To be prepared for most contingencies while hiking, authorities recommend that any hiking trip include these “essentials.”

Map and compass
Water (and some means to treat water from streams)
Warm clothing and rain gear
Extra food
First-aid kit
Whistle (three blasts is the international call for help)
Flashlight (with extra batteries and bulb)
Sharp knife
Fire starter and waterproof matches

Challenges along the trail include slogging through marl mud and deep water in Big Cypress; hiking the 8-miles of swamp forest in Bradwell Bay; miles of rough uneven terrain (limerock and grass) on the South Florida dike systems we use, and soft sand in scrub habitats like parts of the Ocala National Forest.  No climbing, but still physically demanding.

All water in Florida should be treated unless identified as potable by signs. You must filter, boil or chemically treat all surface water. Particular care should be taken within the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. At high tide the surface water within St. Marks is brackish, being infused with seawater.

While Florida winters are very moderate compared to the rest of the United States, we do get fronts that come through during the winter that can cause the temperature to drop below freezing in a matter of hours. Fortunately, such weather usually doesn’t stay with us for more than a few days. Be prepared for temperatures ranging from 20 degrees to 80 degrees during this winter hiking season.  Summer hiking can be very hot, especially if there is no shade.  It is crucial to wear a hat and lightweight clothing to protect you from the sun and bring plenty of water to prevent heat exhaustion or heat stroke.  Summer is also a time for thunderstorms.  Florida has some of the most violent storms in the world.  Be prepared to take cover if you see one approaching to avoid dangerous lightning strikes.

No, it is not always clear which way to turn. In some places, offset blazes indicate the turn of direction (upper blaze being the direction of travel), in others they do not. But in general you should be able to see the next blaze from where you are standing.

The answer to this question depends on when and where you are hiking. During hunting seasons on certain public lands, you MUST use designated campsites. On many others, you can camp where you wish using Leave No Trace principles. It is best to check with the designated land agencies and make a plan before setting out on the trail. 

Maps are available at the Florida Trail Association’s office and our online store. In addition, maps are available for all three National Forests the trail passes through from the USDA Forest Service and their district ranger offices.

There are currently only seven hiker shelters along the Florida Trail. It is therefore necessary for you to provide your own tent. We recommend tents, bivys or hammocks with no-see-um netting.

It depends on where you are and when. On weekends in the Ocala National Forest or Little-Big Econ, dozens. In the middle of Big Cypress, probably no one but your group. Day use is heavy on weekends but mainly in state parks and areas near urban centers. During the week, the trail is yours.