Florida, located in the southeastern U.S., is a peninsula consisting of four main regions: the Gulf Coast/Atlantic Ocean coastal plants, the upland of the north and northwest, the Everglades in the south, and the Florida Keys that extend off the southern point of the state. While it may not have the mountains and deserts of other outdoor hotspots, hiking in Florida is still a fascinating experience.
Florida is home to Everglades National Park, which sits at the southern tip of the peninsula, a subtropical wilderness comprised of mangroves and swamps. Boaters and hikers can explore the park’s interior by canoe or kayak, or venture into its heart on one of the few trails that dip in.
It has cypress swamps, shorelines, and an offbeat character all its own. What the Florida Trail doesn't have is crowds, or many thru-hikers at all. Could it be the winter adventure for you?
Florida gets stereotyped as a land of beaches and snowbirds. Reality check: It's also home to the largest wilderness east of the Mississippi River, the Everglades, and some of the best paddling and wildlife-watching opportunities in the U.S.
Located off the coast of the Everglades, the Sandfly Island Loop is an intro to sea kayaking that even beginners can do.
How one hiking photographer got the perfect shot in Florida's Gulf Islands.
The pain I experience while thru-hiking draws me back to the present and makes me more aware of my privilege
There's more than gators and beaches here: Florida has one of the best all-season thru-hikes around.
If you’re operating on a three-season schedule, you’re missing out. Here are a dozen reasons to keep your boots at the ready.
See the wilder side of the Sunshine State.
You deserve this: Find a private slice of paradise in this hammock-camping hotspot.
When most other long trail systems are in hibernation, Florida’s premier path is coming into prime time. Stretching over 1,000 miles from the cypress forests of the Everglades to the sandy Gulf Coast beaches of Pensacola, the Florida Trail runs the gamut of the Sunshine State’s diverse natural landscapes. Hit the highlights on one of these three sections.
Beat the crowds by braving the wet.
Caladesi Island State Park, Florida
Florida Trail Loop, Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida
The sand beckons—but don't just throw down your towel and soak up the sun.
Thirty miles in Florida’s swampy backcountry can challenge even the toughest of nerves. But if you can stomach the elements, the rewards will gladly greet you.
There's plenty of wilderness to be found after work, in a day, or for a weekend on Orlando's top close-to-home trails.
Follow Panther Creek through nature's zoo on General Andrew Jackson's Red Ground Trail and the Florida Trail.
Hike easy on a rolling 4.5-mile loop through bluffs and ravines to an oak hammock above this gorgeous riverway in northern Florida.
Discover central Florida's hidden pocket of dry, undulating forest on this 8-mile loop through longleaf pine hills, wet prairie, and an abandoned lead mine.
This 7.7-miler in St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge swings through salt marshes and forested swamps with birds, butterflies, and an occasional gator.
Hike through shady sweet-gum forest and rolling grasslands on this 6.5-miler along the premier canopy road of the Red Hills region.
This lightly traveled 9.5-mile trail strings together sawgrass marshlands, sandhill flats, and thick forests on its way to sweeping views overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.
Spend a laid-back afternoon in a unique geologic area chock full of swamps and sinkholes on a fascinating 4.4-mile loop in Apalachicola National Forest.
This double loop takes you 5.4 miles past old homesites to the abundant native vegetation on the undeveloped shores of Lake Overstreet.
Massive sand dunes, scenic side trips, and a historic fort highlight this mellow 5.3-mile loop on Florida's northernmost barrier island.
Pick one or both of these short, scenic loops to see limestone bluffs, cypress and palmetto forests, and maybe a gator in the marshes of the Suwannee.
This figure-eight loop connects 9.6 miles of pristine forest and wooded marshes in Wakulla Springs State Park.
Go wildlife-spotting along the edges of Central Florida's prairie.
Rolling up and down 150-foot bluffs along the Apalachicola River, this 6.1-mile loop offers a uniquely hilly Florida hiking experience.
Explore log bridges, pine forest, and white sand dunes in one of Florida's most pristine wetlands.
This St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge loop swings through salt marshes and forested swamps flush with birds, butterflies, and gators.
Take a walk on the Florida Trail's wild side over this 5.6-mile out-and-back through lush riverine habitat.
Scale a giant treehouse, explore an abandoned mine, and skirt a towering fortress on this 1.6-mile loop in Disney World's Magic Kingdom.
Hear red-cockaded woodpeckers thumping pines and see Florida black bears roaming the underbrush in this out-and-back hike through Osceola National Forest.
Traverse a primeval landscape of cypress swamp, hardwood hammocks, and pinelands.
Check out these city hikes in Walt Disney World, Las Vegas, and Manhattan.
A humble high point in a low-lying state