Gateway Communities
A Gateway Community is a designated town in close proximity to the Florida Trail that offers resources to hikers such as lodging, restaurants, grocery stores for resupply, and other local attractions.
This mutually beneficial program connects Florida Trail hikers to local businesses within the community and helps communities leverage the Florida Trail as an economic and recreational resource. The Gateway Communities Program invites hikers off the Florida Trail and into communities and community members onto the Trail.
Look for the Florida Trail Service Mark in the window of business along the Trail. This decal signifies that the business has partnered with the Florida Trail to enhance the hiking experience.
Florida Trail Passport program
The Florida Trail Passport Program is a fun way for hikers to collect stamps from Gateway Communities as a memento of their hiking experience.
Click the map hotspots below to explore participating locations!
Panhandle Region
Florida’s Panhandle offers beautiful hiking experiences along the Gulf of Mexico. Here, visitors are treated to pine-fringed estuaries and long walks along the sparkling sands. The panhandle is known for its “hills,” where hikers are challenged to transverse steep ravines along narrow footpaths.
The Panhandle region houses the highest points along the Florida Trail as well as the highest point in Florida. These heights contrast the low boggy areas and seepage slopes which are host to a colorful assortment of wildflowers, including terrestrial orchids and pitcher plants.
Pensacola Beach
Pensacola Beach is a vibrant community of 8,000 that sits along the stretch of legendary beachside hiking. It offers lodging, various shops, and activities before hitting Gulf Islands National Seashore. Hikers can get a discount at one of four Innisfree hotels in town. There are also plenty of dining options right along the Trail.
Crestview
With a multitude of hiker-friendly businesses and a walk right through historic downtown, Crestview is a larger community that makes for a great place to resupply and rest. Lodging options abound and there are many places to dine right on the Trail. Stop by Back Home Bakery for lunch, a sweet treat, and free coffee for hikers.
Blountstown
Blountstown is a peaceful river town of about 2,000 people named for Seminole Chief John Blount. It hosts turn-of-the-century architecture and many amenities right on the Trail. The Panhandle Pioneer Settlement is a historic site that offers camping to hikers. Blountstown has several grocery and convenience options. El Jalisco is a popular dining spot.
Sopchoppy
Surrounded by Apalachicola National Forest and St. Mark’s Wildlife Refuge, Sopchoppy is a friendly town tucked away in Florida’s Big Bend area. Sopchoppy is just under four miles to the west of the Florida Trail making it close enough to the trail to serve as a great resupply and dayhiker stop. Sopchoppy’s worm grunting festival is widely attended and celebrates the town’s most important animal: the earthworm. Resupply at Sopchoppy Grocery and camp at Myron B. Hodge City Park.
St Mark's
Saint Mark’s is a nature lover’s dream tucked away in the Big Bend of Northern Florida. Here the Florida Trail merges with the St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail and runs directly through the Town of St. Marks, making it a perfect stop for rest and resupply. St. Mark’s Wildlife Refuge is the monarch butterfly’s last stop before migrating across the Gulf of Mexico. The St. Mark’s monarch butterfly festival in October offers a chance to see the butterflies and celebrate their amazing journey. Stop by the Riverside Cafe or The Shack for a pick me up! Laundry and some lodging available.
Northern Region
North Florida is a window into the past, passing through 1700’s plantations and civil war battlefields. The region is known primarily for its flatwood forests and hilly terrain along spring-fed, tannin-rich rivers.
White Springs
Florida Trail’s first established Gateway Community, White Springs, is a haven for outdoor recreation. A historic travel destination for spring-goers, it sits on the banks of the Suwannee River. Here the Florida Trail combines with a road that goes right through White Springs, offering opportunities for camping, laundry, and resupply. Take some time to explore the historic buildings throughout town or check out American Canoe Adventures for paddling rentals and hiking shuttles.
Lake Butler
In Lake Butler, the Florida Trail overlaps with the western section of the Palatka-to-Lake Butler trail and runs directly through the town, making it a great place to resupply or grab a bite to eat. Long distance hikers can check in with City Hall to sign the hiker log, use the hiker resupply box, and camp on the property. Restrooms and water available. Lake Butler also marks the rough halfway point on an end-to-end hike. Laredo’s Mexican Restaurant and Spires IGA are hiker favorites and less than a mile from the Trail.
Keystone Heights
Keystone Heights is a charming mid-sized town nestled in North Central Florida. Here the Florida Trail merges with the Palatka-to-Lake Butler State Trail and goes straight through Keystone Heights for hikers looking to resupply. Explore the alternate route of the Trail as it traces a network of lakes in Camp Blanding WMA and the rolling sandhills, sinkholes and ravine creeks of Gold Head Branch State Park. The Ace Hardware in town sells fuel canisters.
Palatka
Palatka is a true Trail Hub as it sits along long-distance multi-use trails including the Palatka-to-Lake Butler State Trail, the St. Johns River Blueway and historic Bartram Trail in Putnam County. Here the Florida Trail skirts around Palatka dropping down along Rice Creek, the trail follows a floodplain where ancient cypresses stand over the remains of a Revolutionary War-era indigo and rice plantation. Palatka makes a great resupply and access point for the Florida Trail, especially because it hosts an Amtrak station and municipal airport. Stop by Azalea City Brewing Company in town for cold brews!
Central Region
Circling conservation areas around the Greater Orlando Metro Region, the Florida Trail splits into its Eastern and Western corridors. Travel through palmetto and pine flatwoods, creekside hammocks, rolling sandhills and floodplain forests.
Marion County
Marion County ecompasses the birthplace of the Florida Trail and houses more miles of Florida Trail than any other county in Florida. The cities of Ocala, Belleview, Silver Springs, and Dunellon host many amenities for the day or thru-hiker and endless opportunities for outdoor recreation. The 88 store is right on the Trail and offers warm food and cold drinks. There are also camping and resupply options at the Juniper Springs Recreation Area.
Winter Springs
A small town that sits right on the outskirts of Orlando. Here the Florida Trail goes right through Winter Springs, making it a great place to stop for fun activities, resupplying and local eats. Follow the sidewalk off Trail to Winter Springs Town Center to access Publix and fast food options.
Oviedo
A larger town that sits on the outskirts of Orlando near Little Big Econ State Park. Here the Florida Trail follows along the edge of Oviedo, making it a great stop to grab some food and resupply. The local roaming chickens can be friendly and be sure to grab a bite at the Townhouse or Cucinella’s Pizza.
Inverness
Inverness is a friendly town about two miles from the western corridor section of the Florida Trail. Here the Florida Trail merges with the Withlacoochee State Trail. Inverness houses many miles of paved bike trail and serves as a great day-hike destination for those hoping to explore the Withlacoochee State Forest Citrus Tract. Check out its historic downtown area to see public art, the Courthouse Museum and a plethora of restaurants.
Southern Region
Explore the wet wilderness of sawgrass prairies, hardwood hammocks and dwarf cypress swamps of Southern Florida. Start your journey at the Southern Terminus in Big Cypress National Preserve, and trek through swamps & historic cattle country before you reach winding Kissimmee River.
Okeechobee
A friendly, medium-sized town just North of Lake Okeechobee. Here the Florida Trail merges from each side of Lake Okeechobee, making it a great stop for a big resupply before carrying on. If you head into town you’ll have access to a Publix and Walmart. Okeechobee KOA offers camping; ask for the hiker rate at Best Western. Don’t miss Lightseys’s Seafood for a delicious meal and check out the Okeechobee Battlefield historic site.
Glades County
Glades County encompasses 56 miles of the Florida Trail as it runs past the communities of Moore Haven, Lakeport, and Buckhead Ridge on the western side of Lake Okeechobee. Glades County is home to the serene and biodiverse Fisheating Creek, the only water source that flows freely into Lake Okeechobee. The county sponsors Chalo Nitka, one of Florida’s oldest annual festivals which celebrates local heritage and culture of the Seminole Tribe. Glades County is a vibrant Gateway Community that can support thru and day hikers alike with several lodging, dining, and resupply options.
Clewiston
Often the first stop for thru-hikers, Clewiston sits just outside of Lake Okeechobee. As Florida’s main site for sugar cane production it is known as “America’s Sweetest Town”. Here the Florida Trail is paved as it wraps around Lake Okeechobee. If you choose to take the Western route along the lake, Clewiston is the perfect stop to rest and resupply. Explore the area’s history at the Clewiston Museum and grab lunch and a sweet treat at Common Grounds Café. Clewiston hosts a handful of convenience stores, hotels, laundry and a Walmart.