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The Florida Trail is one of eleven
National Scenic Trail
The National Trails System is a series of trails in the United States designated "to promote the preservation of, public access to, travel within, and enjoyment and appreciation of the open-air, outdoor areas and historic resources of the Nati ...
s in the United States. It currently runs , from Big Cypress National Preserve
Big Cypress National Preserve is a United States National Preserve located in South Florida, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) west of Miami on the Atlantic coastal plain. The Big Cypress, along with Big Thicket National Preserve in Texas, becam ...
(between Miami and Naples, Florida along the Tamiami Trail) to Fort Pickens
Fort Pickens is a pentagonal historic United States military fort on Santa Rosa Island in the Pensacola, Florida, area. It is named after American Revolutionary War hero Andrew Pickens. The fort was completed in 1834 and was one of the few ...
at Gulf Islands National Seashore
Gulf Islands National Seashore offers recreation opportunities and preserves natural and historic resources along the Gulf of Mexico barrier islands of Florida and Mississippi. The protected regions include mainland areas and parts of seven isla ...
, Pensacola Beach. Also known as the Florida National Scenic Trail (which applies only to its federally certified segments), the Florida Trail provides permanent non-motorized recreation opportunity for hiking and other compatible activities and is within an hour of most Floridians. The Florida National Scenic Trail is designated as a National Scenic Trail by the National Trails System Act of 1968
The National Trails System is a series of trails in the United States designated "to promote the preservation of, public access to, travel within, and enjoyment and appreciation of the open-air, outdoor areas and historic resources of the Nati ...
(Public Law 90-543).
With its first blaze marked by members of the Florida Trail Association The Florida Trail Association is a private non-profit organization founded in 1964 that oversees the volunteer effort to build, maintain, protect and promote the Florida Trail, one of eleven National Scenic Trails in the United States. Based in Gai ...
at Clearwater Lake Recreation Area in the Ocala National Forest
The Ocala National Forest ls the second largest nationally protected forest in the U.S. State of Florida. It covers of northern Florida. It is located three miles (5 km) east of Ocala and southeast of Gainesville. The Ocala National For ...
, the Florida Trail began on October 29, 1966. The Florida Trail was officially designated as a National Scenic Trail in 1983. The U.S. Forest Service
The United States Forest Service (USFS) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands. The Forest Service manages of land. Major divisions of the agency in ...
, through the National Forests in Florida program, is the official administrator of the Florida National Scenic Trail (FNST), but trail development, maintenance, and management are a result of volunteers and land managers throughout the state.
History
In the early 1960s, Miami resident Jim Kern headed toNorth Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...
with his brother for a hike on the Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail (also called the A.T.), is a hiking trail in the Eastern United States, extending almost between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine, and passing through 14 states.Gailey, Chris (2006)"Appalachian Tr ...
. Returning to Florida and knowing there was nowhere near his home to go backpacking, he envisioned a hiking trail across Florida. He founded the Florida Trail Association The Florida Trail Association is a private non-profit organization founded in 1964 that oversees the volunteer effort to build, maintain, protect and promote the Florida Trail, one of eleven National Scenic Trails in the United States. Based in Gai ...
and encouraged members to join him in the vision of creating a trail across the state. His initial hike, a media event for the ''Miami Herald
The ''Miami Herald'' is an American daily newspaper owned by the McClatchy Company and headquartered in Doral, Florida, a List of communities in Miami-Dade County, Florida, city in western Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County and the M ...
'', took him from the wilds of Big Cypress to Highlands Hammock State Park
Highlands Hammock State Park is a park west of Sebring in Highlands County, Florida, off U.S. 27. The park opened in 1931, four years before the Florida state park system was created. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places ...
near Sebring. By October 1966, Kern had spoken with the managers of the Ocala National Forest
The Ocala National Forest ls the second largest nationally protected forest in the U.S. State of Florida. It covers of northern Florida. It is located three miles (5 km) east of Ocala and southeast of Gainesville. The Ocala National For ...
and received permission to start blazing a hiking trail. After a feasibility study, the trail was officially designated in 1983 as a National Scenic Trail. The Florida Trail has been underway as a volunteer-driven construction project ever since. Like many other National Scenic Trails, the Florida Trail has been built in disconnected segments, created in a corridor where public land (or easements granted by private individuals) is available to route the trail.
FNST partners
Land managers
*The Florida National Scenic Trail is managed by more than 25 different agencies and private partners. Partnerships, memorandums of understanding, and certification agreements between these agencies, land managers and owners, and the USDA Forest Service create unique management opportunities to celebrate Florida’s natural, cultural, and historic resources via the FNST. *Land managers include theNational Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government within the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages all national parks, most national monuments, and other natural, historical, and recreational propertie ...
, South Florida Water Management District
The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is a regional governmental district that oversees water resources from Orlando to the Florida Keys. The mission of the SFWMD is to manage and protect water resources by balancing and improving w ...
, St. Johns River WMD, Suwannee River WMD, Northwest Florida WMD, US Army Corps of Engineers
, colors =
, anniversaries = 16 June (Organization Day)
, battles =
, battles_label = Wars
, website =
, commander1 = ...
, US Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...
, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is a Florida government agency founded in 1999 and headquartered in Tallahassee. It manages and regulates the state's fish and wildlife resources, and enforces related laws. Officers ar ...
, Forever Florida
Zipline Safari is a zip-line course in Florida. It is the only zip-line course in the state, and is claimed to be the world's only zip-line created for flat land. Zipline Safari opened on 16 January 2009 in Forever Florida, a wildlife attraction n ...
, Florida Forest Service
Florida's state forests are state forests overseen by the Florida Forest Service. There are 35 state forests in Florida covering more than 1,058,000 acres.Seminole County, US Forest Service, FDEP-Division of Recreation & Parks,
Florida National Scenic Trail 5-Year Strategic Plan
was released in 2012, setting goals for trail completion, standards, partnerships, and FNST promotion. Coalition members participate in bi-annual meetings to address emerging issues and to exchange resources such as expertise, funding, and information.
* The Southern Region consists of:
**
Florida is home to a unique range of environments not seen anywhere else in the world; this means that there are amazing wildlife and nature viewing opportunities on the FNST. The Trail crosses both urban and remote wilderness areas, and traverses a variety of semi-tropical ecosystems. From swamps to forests to prairies to springs, there are endless habitat exploration opportunities.
* Types of Plant Life by Region
** Southern Region: Swamplands and pine flatwoods are common in the Southern Region of the FNST. The Trail passes through cypress swamp, pine, prairies of cabbage palm, saw palmetto, sawgrass, marsh, oak hammocks, and scrub.
** Central Region: Palmetto prairies, pine flatwoods, ranch land, cypress sloughs, freshwater marshes, scrub, and oak hammocks are found in the Central Region.
** Northern Region: Longleaf pine and wiregrass are common features in the Northern Region of the Trail. Additionally, users can find flatwoods, pine plantations, hardwoods, cypress, and oak hammocks.
** Panhandle Region: Users can encounter salt marsh, hardwood hammocks, coastal pine flatwoods, pine savannas, wild ground orchids, pitcher plants, titi swamp, hydrangea, magnolia, liverworts, and dune grasses in the Panhandle Region.
* Types of Wildlife by Region
** Southern Region: Common wildlife in the Southern Region includes panthers, Florida black bears, cattle, alligators, and a wide variety of birds.
** Central Region: Sandhill cranes, wood storks, cattle, white-tailed deer, feral hogs, wild turkey, bobwhite quail, river otters, alligators, Red Widow spider, Florida pine snake, black bears, and gopher tortoises are all found in the Central Region.
** Northern Region: Common wildlife includes red-cockaded woodpeckers, gopher tortoises, black bears, eastern cottontail rabbits, wild turkeys, deer, red-tailed hawks, gators, and Gulf sturgeon.
** Panhandle Region: Waterfowl, bald eagles, ospreys, otters, alligators, deer, black bears, warblers, sea turtles, and piping plovers can be spotted in the Panhandle Region.
* Cautionary
** There are six species of venomous snake in Florida: Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Southern Copperhead, Cottonmouth/Water Moccasin, Timber Rattlesnake, Dusky Pigmy Rattlesnake, and Coral Snake. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes, Dusky Pigmy Rattlesnakes, and Coral Snakes are found across the entire state of Florida. The Southern Copperhead is typically only found in the Panhandle of Florida, whereas the Timber Rattlesnake is found in northeastern and north central parts of the state, with few sightings in the panhandle. There are two species of Cottonmouth/ Water Moccasin found in Florida: the Florida Cottonmouth and the Eastern Cottonmouth. The Florida Cottonmouth is found throughout the state, while the Eastern Cottonmouth is found only in the western edge of the panhandle of Florida.
here
and through the ArcGIS App on smartphones. * KMZ files are available via the FNST websit
here
for use in Google Earth and handheld GPS units. These files include the full official FNST route, campsites, trailheads, and unofficial connectors.
Florida National Scenic Trail: US Forest Service page
Florida Trail Association
USDA Forest Service: National Forests in Florida
Trailjournals.com: Read what it's like to hike the Florida Trail
iNaturalist Project for the Suwannee River area of the Florida Trail
{{Coord missing, Florida Hiking trails in Florida Long-distance trails in the United States National Scenic Trails of the United States Big Cypress National Preserve Great Eastern Trail 1966 establishments in Florida
Florida Department of Military Affairs
The Florida Department of Military Affairs is a state agency of the state of Florida, which was created by Chapter 250, Florida Statutes. The department is responsible for providing management oversight and administrative support to the Florida N ...
, Plum Creek Timber Company
Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. was a timberland owner and manager, as well as a forest products, mineral extraction, and property development company, until it merged with Weyerhaeuser Company. It was headquartered in Suite 3100 at 601 Union ...
, City of Blountstown, Florida Department of Transportation
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is a decentralized agency charged with the establishment, maintenance, and regulation of public transportation in the state of Florida. The department was formed in 1969. It absorbed the powers of t ...
, Nokuse Plantation, Santa Rosa Island Authority, Escambia County, the University of West Florida
The University of West Florida (West Florida or UWF) is a public university in Pensacola, Florida. Established in 1963 as part of the State University System of Florida, the university sits on the third largest campus in the State University Sy ...
, and US Fish & Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or FWS) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats. The mission of the agency is "working with othe ...
.
Stewardship partners
TheFlorida Trail Association The Florida Trail Association is a private non-profit organization founded in 1964 that oversees the volunteer effort to build, maintain, protect and promote the Florida Trail, one of eleven National Scenic Trails in the United States. Based in Gai ...
is a non-profit partner of the FNST, administering a volunteer program to construct, maintain, and garner support for the Trail. Dedicated volunteers monitor the condition of the Trail and associated facilities.
The FNST Coalition
The FNST Coalition was established in 2010 by the Forest Supervisor of the National Forests in Florida with the goal of engaging a broader group of partners to manage the Trail and serve recreationists. The Coalition is composed primarily of agency, district, or company leaders who own or manage the land through which the FNST passes. The FNST Coalition’s engagement of a diverse group of stakeholders will continue to make the Trail a high quality, recreational resource. ThFlorida National Scenic Trail 5-Year Strategic Plan
was released in 2012, setting goals for trail completion, standards, partnerships, and FNST promotion. Coalition members participate in bi-annual meetings to address emerging issues and to exchange resources such as expertise, funding, and information.
FNST route
The Florida National Scenic Trail consists of four main geographic regions:Regions
* The Southern Region consists of:
** Big Cypress National Preserve
Big Cypress National Preserve is a United States National Preserve located in South Florida, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) west of Miami on the Atlantic coastal plain. The Big Cypress, along with Big Thicket National Preserve in Texas, becam ...
** Miami Canal Levee L1, L2, L3
** Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee (), also known as Florida's Inland Sea, is the largest freshwater lake in the U.S. state of Florida. It is the tenth largest natural freshwater lake among the 50 states of the United States and the second-largest natural freshwat ...
& Okeechobee North
** Kissimmee River Lands
** Avon Park Air Force Range
Avon may refer to:
*River Avon (disambiguation), several rivers
Organisations
* Avon Buses, a bus operating company in Wirral, England
* Avon Coachworks, a car body builder established in 1919 at Warwick, England, relaunched in 1922, followin ...
** KICCO Wildlife Management Area
* The Central Region consists of:
** Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area
The Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area (not to be confused with Three Lakes near Miami) is the second largest remaining expanse of dry prairie in the United States. It is located approximately south of the Kissimmee - Disney World area of Ce ...
** Forever Florida
** Herky Huffman/Bull Creek Wildlife Management Area
** Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area
** Seminole Ranch Conservation Area
** C.H. Bronson State Forest
** Mills Creek Woodlands
** Little Big Econ State Forest & Flagler Trail
** Cross Seminole Trail
The Cross Seminole Trail is a pedestrian, bicycle, and equestrian trail in Seminole County, Florida just north of Orlando. The first segment opened in 2002. The current route begins at the intersection of Aloma and Howell Branch where it meets the ...
** Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park
Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park is an Florida State Park located on six miles (10 km) of the St. Johns River in Lake and Seminole counties. The park forms a wildlife corridor to the Ocala National Forest along the Wekiva and St. ...
** Seminole State Forest
The Seminole State Forest is in the U.S. state of Florida. The forest is located in Central Florida, near Eustis. Access to the forest is available from Florida State Road 44, Lake County Road 46A and Florida State Road 46. Surrounding parks a ...
** Ocala National Forest
The Ocala National Forest ls the second largest nationally protected forest in the U.S. State of Florida. It covers of northern Florida. It is located three miles (5 km) east of Ocala and southeast of Gainesville. The Ocala National For ...
** The Cross Florida Greenway
The Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway is a protected green belt corridor, more than one and a half miles (1.6 km) wide in places, that was the former route of the proposed Cross Florida Barge Canal. It is named for the leader o ...
** Withlacoochee State Forest
The Withlacoochee State Forest is in the western central part in the U.S. state of Florida, near Lecanto, Inverness, Floral City, Brooksville, Ridge Manor, and Dade City. The forest was named for the Withlacoochee River, which passes throug ...
** Green Swamp Wild Management Area
* The Northern Region consists of:
** Rice Creek Conservation Area
** Etoniah Creek State Forest & Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail
The Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail (PLB) corridor stretches nearly from the vicinity of Lake Butler, Union County, Florida, Lake Butler, Florida to Palatka, Florida. The project is located along the former Georgia Southern and Florida Railway ri ...
** Plum Creek
** Osceola National Forest
Osceola National Forest is a National Forest located in northeast Florida.
Osceola National Forest was created by President Herbert Hoover's proclamation on July 10, 1931. It is named in honor of the noted Seminole warrior, Osceola.
The fore ...
& Olustee Battlefield
** Fall Creek
** Forest Service Tracts & Stephen Foster Culture Center State Park
** Swift Creek Conservation Area & Camp Branch Conservation Area
** Suwannee River Farms Management Areas
** Holton Creek Conservation Area & Lower Alapaha Conservation Area
** Suwannee River State Park
Suwannee River State Park is a Florida State Park located near Live Oak. It offers some of the best backcountry canoeing opportunities in the state. Visitors can see cypress trees, southern magnolia, herons, American coots, turtles and hawks. The ...
** Twin Rivers State Forest
** Aucilla River
The Aucilla River rises in Brooks County, Georgia, USA, close to Thomasville, and passes through the Big Bend region of Florida, emptying into the Gulf of Mexico at Apalachee Bay. Some early maps called it the Ocilla River. It is long and ha ...
* The Panhandle Region consists of:
** St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, in Wakulla County, Florida, is one of the oldest wildlife refuges in the United States. Established in 1931 as a wintering ground for migratory birds, it encompasses 68,000 acres (280 km2) spread between ...
** Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail
Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail is a rail trail and Florida State Park located on of the historic railbed of the Tallahassee Railroad, which ran between Tallahassee and St. Marks, Florida. The trail ends near the confluence o ...
** Apalachicola National Forest
The Apalachicola National Forest is the largest U.S. National Forest in the state of Florida. It encompasses and is the only national forest located in the Florida Panhandle. The National Forest provides water and land-based outdoors activities ...
** Blountstown Greenway & SR 20
** Upper Chipola Water Management Area
** Econfina Creek Water Management Area
** Pine Log State Forest
The Pine Log State Forest is in the U.S. state of Florida. The forest is located in the panhandle, near Ebro. It was established in 1936 and is Florida's oldest state forest
A state forest or national forest is a forest that is administered ...
** Nokuse Plantation & Choctawhatchee River
The Choctawhatchee River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map , accessed 15 April 2011 river in the southern United States, flowing through southeast Alabama and the Panhandle o ...
Water Management Area
** Eglin Air Force Base
Eglin Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) base in the western Florida Panhandle, located about southwest of Valparaiso in Okaloosa County.
The host unit at Eglin is the 96th Test Wing (formerly the 96th Air Base Wing). The ...
** Yellow River Water Management Area
** Gulf Islands (Gulf Islands National Seashore
Gulf Islands National Seashore offers recreation opportunities and preserves natural and historic resources along the Gulf of Mexico barrier islands of Florida and Mississippi. The protected regions include mainland areas and parts of seven isla ...
, Santa Rosa County, Navarre Beach
Navarre is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Santa Rosa County in the northwest Florida Panhandle. It is a major bedroom community for mostly U.S. military personnel, federal civil servants, local population, retirees ...
, Pensacola Beach
Pensacola Beach is an unincorporated community located on Santa Rosa Island, a barrier island, in Escambia County, Florida, United States. It is situated south of Pensacola (and Gulf Breeze connected via bridges spanning to the Fairpoint Pen ...
)
Additional trails
* Western Corridor *Blackwater River State Forest
Blackwater River State Forest is a State Forest in the western panhandle of Florida. It is administered by the Florida Forest Service, part of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Blackwater River State Forest is completel ...
& Blackwater River State Park
Blackwater River State Park is a Florida State Park located fifteen miles northeast of Milton, near Harold, off U.S. 90. The address is 7720 Deaton Bridge Road.
History
The park was certified a Registered State Natural Feature in 1980, for poss ...
* Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail
The Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (LOST) is a 109-mile multi-use path around Lake Okeechobee, the seventh largest lake in the United States and the largest in the state of Florida. The trail began as the Okeechobee Segment of the Florida National S ...
* Ocean to Lake Trail Ocean to Lake Trail is a 63-mile greenway spur off the Florida Trail. It starts at Hobe Sound Beach and ends at Lake Okeechobee in Port Mayaca. The trail is under development as of 2012 and portions are open to the public in Jonathan Dickinson Sta ...
Flora and fauna
Florida is home to a unique range of environments not seen anywhere else in the world; this means that there are amazing wildlife and nature viewing opportunities on the FNST. The Trail crosses both urban and remote wilderness areas, and traverses a variety of semi-tropical ecosystems. From swamps to forests to prairies to springs, there are endless habitat exploration opportunities.
* Types of Plant Life by Region
** Southern Region: Swamplands and pine flatwoods are common in the Southern Region of the FNST. The Trail passes through cypress swamp, pine, prairies of cabbage palm, saw palmetto, sawgrass, marsh, oak hammocks, and scrub.
** Central Region: Palmetto prairies, pine flatwoods, ranch land, cypress sloughs, freshwater marshes, scrub, and oak hammocks are found in the Central Region.
** Northern Region: Longleaf pine and wiregrass are common features in the Northern Region of the Trail. Additionally, users can find flatwoods, pine plantations, hardwoods, cypress, and oak hammocks.
** Panhandle Region: Users can encounter salt marsh, hardwood hammocks, coastal pine flatwoods, pine savannas, wild ground orchids, pitcher plants, titi swamp, hydrangea, magnolia, liverworts, and dune grasses in the Panhandle Region.
* Types of Wildlife by Region
** Southern Region: Common wildlife in the Southern Region includes panthers, Florida black bears, cattle, alligators, and a wide variety of birds.
** Central Region: Sandhill cranes, wood storks, cattle, white-tailed deer, feral hogs, wild turkey, bobwhite quail, river otters, alligators, Red Widow spider, Florida pine snake, black bears, and gopher tortoises are all found in the Central Region.
** Northern Region: Common wildlife includes red-cockaded woodpeckers, gopher tortoises, black bears, eastern cottontail rabbits, wild turkeys, deer, red-tailed hawks, gators, and Gulf sturgeon.
** Panhandle Region: Waterfowl, bald eagles, ospreys, otters, alligators, deer, black bears, warblers, sea turtles, and piping plovers can be spotted in the Panhandle Region.
* Cautionary
** There are six species of venomous snake in Florida: Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Southern Copperhead, Cottonmouth/Water Moccasin, Timber Rattlesnake, Dusky Pigmy Rattlesnake, and Coral Snake. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes, Dusky Pigmy Rattlesnakes, and Coral Snakes are found across the entire state of Florida. The Southern Copperhead is typically only found in the Panhandle of Florida, whereas the Timber Rattlesnake is found in northeastern and north central parts of the state, with few sightings in the panhandle. There are two species of Cottonmouth/ Water Moccasin found in Florida: the Florida Cottonmouth and the Eastern Cottonmouth. The Florida Cottonmouth is found throughout the state, while the Eastern Cottonmouth is found only in the western edge of the panhandle of Florida.
FNST resources
* Access to the ArcGIS map is available onlinhere
and through the ArcGIS App on smartphones. * KMZ files are available via the FNST websit
here
for use in Google Earth and handheld GPS units. These files include the full official FNST route, campsites, trailheads, and unofficial connectors.
References
External links
Florida National Scenic Trail: US Forest Service page
Florida Trail Association
USDA Forest Service: National Forests in Florida
Trailjournals.com: Read what it's like to hike the Florida Trail
iNaturalist Project for the Suwannee River area of the Florida Trail
{{Coord missing, Florida Hiking trails in Florida Long-distance trails in the United States National Scenic Trails of the United States Big Cypress National Preserve Great Eastern Trail 1966 establishments in Florida