Subscribe to our newsletters to stay up-to-date on the latest outdoor news. Fort Walton Beach. Since then, the Nomad, whose real name is M.J. “Sunny” Eberhart, finished tens of thousands of trail miles. New Smyrna Beach. As you dig into the details we present for each of the trail sections along the Florida Trail, check the bottom of each section page for our tips on how to cope with things like keeping your water filter clean and avoiding poisonous tropical plants (hint: both are important to know when hiking the Big Cypress section). Key Largo. “There are oddball people attracted to long-distance hiking. Oldest thru-hiker: Dale “Grey Beard” Sanders, age 83, 2019; Oldest woman thru-hiker: Donna Stowe, age 70, 2008 ; Most times completed: Melton “Grits” Cockrell, 7x; Thousand Miler Awards. 356 pages, $18.95 + tax and shipping. The Florida National Scenic Trail, better known as the Florida Trail, is a federally-designated, non-motorized recreation trail that meanders approximately 1,500 miles across some of the most beautiful, unique landscapes in the entire country.. Biscayne Bay. After finishing the Florida Trail, she found herself captivated by it and began publishing a well-used guidebook in 2002. Since retiring from his job as an eye doctor in Titusville, Florida, in 1993, Eberhart, the Nimblewill Nomad, says he slowly reinvented himself. Our trail has options – east or west around Lake Okeechobee and Central Florida – as well as spur trails. The most common complaint I’ve heard about the Florida Trail is the amount of road-walking a thru-hike requires. You can also explore Florida Trail by Region for general section descriptions, land management agencies, and local chapter information, related to the section of trail that you are looking to hike. Orlando. At this time, there is no alternative route to hike around this closure. It is the hiker’s responsibility to understand and abide by these local land management requests. Palatka. Islamorada. Freeport. Winter Springs. Do Your Research Hiking Season. Madison. America’s long distance hikers are well represented on the Florida Trail. Since 2014, the nonprofit FTthruHIKE (formerly Florida Trail Hikers Alliance) has been growing a trail community in Florida. public hiking trail the length of Florida; providing opportunities to hike and camp; and educating others to appreciate and conserve the natural beauty of Florida. Journal Map Gear Food Expenses Supporters Stats . It’s patterned after The AT Guide in format, replacing elevation profiles (irrelevant here) with rough maps. In his mid-eighties now, Kern is still fighting to complete the final sections, about 300 miles, which he guesses will cost another $200 million. Apalachicola National Forest. Immokalee. Program Reports. Niceville. … The full mileage of the Florida Trail, including its side options, is more than 1,400 miles. Hollywood. Not only does a January start date avoid lingering heat and winter holiday complications, but by January 3rd most hunting ends in South Florida's zone a. This is a great place to talk to hikers who’ve completed the Florida Trail, including Billy Goat, and those actively working on their thru and section hikes. Guthook Guides Comprehensive logistics and offline maps for the Florida National Scenic Trail. Sebastian. Pensacola. De Leon Springs. You’re telling me people don’t have jobs and just go hiking for a couple months?”. The full mileage of the Florida Trail, including its side options, is more than 1,400 miles. To inspire active participation in the world outside through award-winning coverage of the sports, people, places, adventure, discoveries, health and fitness, gear and apparel, trends and events that make up an active lifestyle. The Hiking Experience. You need to pack prepared for a full range of weather. The ideal Florida Trail thru-hike begins on New Year’s Day in the dark and mysterious Big Cypress Preserve, abutting Everglades National Park, and ends south of Pensacola in March, on a high-rise-free beach at Fort Pickens in the Gulf Islands National Seashore.This timing keeps the heat and mosquitoes to a minimum, and stunning winter sunsets—when the entire sky turns sherbet orange—to … Mostly thanks to my hiking partner Lotus, this time we actually paid more attention beyond just enjoying the scenery and motion! The first go around I was a bit preoccupied with simply hiking, and enjoying the world Florida backwoods has to offer. trails, hiking, backpacking & camping – a book list. Our mission to inspire readers to get outside has never been more critical. Geneva. Mostly thanks to my hiking partner Lotus, this time we actually paid more attention beyond just enjoying the scenery and motion! Phil had previously attempted a record twice in 2016, ending up with the first yoyo hike of the Florida Trail. Cloud. A Trail is Born The Eastern Continental Trail begins, or ends, on the 1,100-mile long Florida Trail. Big storms are likely in late March and early April when thru-hikers … Archived. Right from the start, at the Oasis Visitor Center, in the middle of Florida’s southern tip, the trail disappeared into a sawgrass swamp, the wispy green stalks climbing above Kennedy’s head. Read about permits in our Plan Your Hike section. The best anyone can determine is that he went by the trail names Denim and Mostly Harmless. The official northern terminus is at Fort Pickens in Gulf Islands National Seashore. Florida Trail statistics from my second thru hike! To dispel the rumors about the types of roadwalks you’ll encounter along the Florida Trail – because frankly, not all of them are all that bad – here’s our YouTube playlist of the roadwalks that Sandra wrapped up in January 2019 so she could finally claim an end-to-end hike of the Florida Trail. I took about 900,000 steps to hike about 450 miles. Yes, you will see alligators and snakes (see our info on Hiking in Florida for details on how to cope with that). Florida is renowned for many things — sandy beaches, amusement parks, traffic lights that change inexorably slowly, Cuban food, etc. Niekamp finished on February 26, 2019—a journey of more than two months. Boynton Beach. Low-cut gaiters are a good investment to keep sand out of your shoes. Titusville . Osceola National Forest. Eberhart admits one reason he always finds friends among Florida Trail hikers is that he’s found a place where he fits in. A few of them are along dangerous state and U.S. highways. Trail Life: Life on the Florida Trail is vastly different than on the AT or busier long trails. If you’re planning a Florida Trail thru-hike, there are some important facts about Florida that you need to know. In South Florida, the trail follows water management dikes; in Central Florida, you walk through a lot of open prairies with only the occasional oak hammock for shade. For those who have hiked it, running into find-them-nowhere-else characters and nearly impossible obstacles is part of the charm. It’s unlikely it will snow during your hike, but you can certainly experience freezing temperatures, especially in the Panhandle. Long Distance Hiking FAQs. Yeehaw Junction, SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Bradenton . Moore Haven. And we're going big. If you’ve hiked on the AT, PCT, or CDT, you’ll see more familiar faces than you’d expect. Dive deep into the world’s largest sand pine scrub forest on this hike … If you’re considering such a quest, check out our details about the ECT here. The most popular portions for day hikers include the quartz-white sands in Gulf Islands National Seashore and the forests of skinny pines that jut up like toothpicks in Ocala National Forest. Juno Beach. Considering a thru-hike or section hike? However, trail volunteers are constantly working to improve the trail and lessen the road-walks. That’s thanks in part to the swamp water. There are three stretches of trail where a permit is absolutely, positively, required and you can and will be escorted off the trail if you are caught without one: Crossing the Big Cypress Seminole Reservation (private tribal land), camping on St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge (federal land), and crossing/camping Eglin Air Force Base (military base). On day three, after 30 miles of mostly sodden trails, Kennedy finally made it through to the other side of the million-acre Big Cypress swamp. Port St. Joe. Consider treating your clothing with permetherin in advance of your hike for added protection. If you are planning to thru-hike starting January 2019, this is a great way to begin your journey. Find more newsletters on our. At any time, you can apply to join Florida Trail Hikers, a general Florida Trail discussion group on Facebook, but be sure to answer the questions to be approved. Walt Disney World. We spend about 15 pages in our guidebook covering other essentials like “how and where to filter water” and “how to get to and from the termini.”. There’s even a tourist trap called the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters near the trail’s southern end. Stuart. He had stripped off his boots and muddy socks, and his feet were black and covered in blisters. Short advice on Florida Trail Gear? Redland. So I certainly wasn’t taking down numbers or counting things as I went, other than miles. Then, from the southern terminus of the Florida Trail north to Ocala, arriving on Jan. 27. Obviously that mileage cannot be hiked in a day, and so you are forced to jump a fence and stealth at night. Unlike the Appalachian Trail, you can’t just follow the blazes – which, by the way, are orange along the length of the Florida Trail. Starting at the southern terminus means, however, that most Florida Trail thru-hikers start off with the toughest piece of the trail first: the Big Cypress Swamp. A typical linear thru-hike is slightly more than 1,100 miles. Quincy. The first go around I was a bit preoccupied with simply hiking, and enjoying the world Florida backwoods has to offer. The entire path is about the same distance as a walk from Canada to Mexico. At mile _____ a northbound thru-hiker must choose to take the eastern or western spur around Orlando. 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. Warrior Hike The Warrior Hike Program includes 8 long distance hiking … Jacksonville. Trail Community. “I’m one of them,” he says. Things didn’t turn out as well at the end of the hike for Nick Horton and Logan Buehler, who work together at a Fort Lauderdale company that helps addicts find a rehab clinic. In past decades, thru-hikers on the PCT and AT relied almost exclusively on maildrops. For many years, there also been an annual reunion of Florida Trail long distance hikers, an event now coordinated by FTthruHIKE. Thru Hike the Florida Trail A thru-hike in Florida takes 60-90 days through lush landscapes you won’t see on other long distance trails We’ve been writing books about the Florida Trail since 2003, including our seventh guidebook to the entire trail , so you can count on us as a trusted source of information. Milton. Expect a lot of exposure to the sun while hiking the Florida Trail. Green Cove Springs. Press J to jump to the feed. Inside was an emaciated figure, so skinny he looked like a caveman. You can also download a current data book from the FTA website, accumulate between editions of our guidebook. Flagler Beach. In partnership with Guthook Guides (iPhone) and Atlas Guides (Android), we provide the details behind the Florida National Scenic Trail app within Guthook Guides. Big Cypress Seminole Reservation is closed to all hikers and volunteers at this time for the protection of the residents. Melbourne Beach. But they’re harmless—just different.”, In 2014, when Stigliano first moved from Maine to Tallahassee, he asked his boss if he should buy a gun before setting off on the Florida Trail. So, I started a thru hike of the Florida Trail the other day. Frostproof. Oviedo. Cross Florida Greenway. Make sure you use socks that can handle heavy abrasion. 7) Some permits are required. Our rigorous coverage helps spark important debates about wellness and travel and adventure, and it provides readers an accessible gateway to new outdoor passions. DeFuniak Springs. Don’t leave that puffy jacket behind because this is Florida! It is easy to see why a northbound thru-hike should begin the first week of January, rather than in the fall. Much of the effort of FTthruHIKE is to connect people together – hikers helping hikers – across the state of Florida. Making a financial contribution to Outside Online only takes a few minutes and will ensure we can continue supplying the trailblazing, informative journalism that readers like you depend on. Most hikers begin in the south, in Big Cypress, the no-man’s-land between Naples and Miami, so they’ll finish the hottest section first. Fort Myers. Unless you pair up with a hiking partner, much of your hike will be spent in solitude. Dade City. Shorts may seem great for hiking, but you’ll tear your legs up on briers in sections that aren’t heavily maintained. Orange Park. Hike the original miles blazed by Florida Trail Association trailblazers in 1966 along one of the most beautiful sections of the Florida Trail in the Ocala National Forest Florida Trail, Alexander Springs to Farles Prairie 8.6 miles. While the Florida Trail will never be the Appalachian Trail in terms of volume of thru-hikers – nor could it support it – we are heartened to see the Florida Trail hiker community begin to blossom. Lake Okeechobee. Melbourne. Since there are multiple routes a hiker can choose from. Merritt Island NWR. User account menu. Ten miles in, Horton and Buehler came to Camp Noble, where they noticed just one lone tent. florida trail association membership brochure. Largo. Clewiston. 6) Florida has roadwalks. Registered End to End Hikers Complete Thru Hiker Packet – Updated July 2019. On pathways of sugar sand north of Lake Okeechobee, he marveled at live oaks with limbs that could cover a city block and Spanish moss drooping like a graying beard. If you’ve completed the Florida Trail and your name is not on this list, please contact us with your details to be added to the list … Hunters populate the woods, pursuing deer from late summer through much of winter and wild boar all year. Sopchoppy. Ocala National Forest. You’ll do more than 175 miles of roadwalks on the average thru-hike. Journal Map Gear Food Expenses Supporters Stats . We get freezing temps in the panhandle… so be prepared. “You meet the neatest people,” Hamilton says. Live Oak. Miami. Marianna. Merritt Island. Belleview. Comprehensive logistics and offline maps all in one: The Florida Trail Guide is now also an interactive map-based mile-by-mile app by Guthook Guides. Ding Darling NWR. the florida trail guidebook. Take EVERYTHING. Learn more about hiking in Florida. Close. We post updates to the current edition of our guidebook on our Facebook page for it at The Florida Trail Guide and, cumulatively, on our website under Florida Trail Updates. It also has 250 miles of roadwalks, which some hikers opt not to do for safety or aesthetic reasons. Biscayne National Park. Port Charlotte. Lakeport. Sometimes those drives mean hours getting to know complete strangers who just wandered out of the woods. We have a comprehensive guidebook, The Florida Trail Guide, which can help you with that. If you’re planning a Florida Trail thru-hike, there are … Cedar Key. Withlacoochee State Forest. My Florida Trail Hike I hiked through Florida from Jan. 3, 2016 at Key West and hiking the Florida Keys Heritage Trail to Key Largo. The Florida Trail Hikers Alliance is in the process of planning for the annual Florida Trail Kickoff. There are long stretches with no shade, particularly between the north end of the Big Cypress Swamp and Orlando. He replaced his schedule with mostly unplanned travel, tacking on new trails to the ends of other hikes just because he felt like walking some more. We still recommend carrying detailed water-resistant maps from the Florida Trail Association as a backup. 3) Florida is sandy. My Gear It’s a vortex for it,” she says. Sebring. Kenansville. Canaveral National Seashore. The end-to-end video (2019) is from Sandra’s hike. I took about 900,000 steps to hike about 450 miles. Start and End Point: Southern terminus is at border monument 102 in Coronado National Memorial near the US–Mexico border.The northern terminus is near the Arizona-Utah border in the Kaibab Plateau region. During Niekamp’s journey, controlled burns reduced entire sections of the trail to black ash, obliterating markings and leaving him to find his way using GPS. It’s true that the trail is still segmented in some areas, and walking along the side of the road is sometimes necessary. We encourage 2019 Florida Trail thru-hikers to join the Florida Trail Hikers Alliance at our low-key Kickoff Campout at Trail Lakes Campground, January 4-6, 2019. Like the state it occupies, the Florida National Scenic Trail maintains a reputation for its surprising difficulty and eccentricities—the hiking version of the oddball “Florida Man” made famous on Twitter and in late-night monologues. Posted by 5 years ago. After retirement, he let his sugar-white hair grow to his shoulders and his beard fall to his chest. Jane Hamilton, a trail angel who helps hikers along the way and volunteers to maintain a stretch of the trail northeast of Gainesville, acknowledges the rampant rumors about another creature hikers might face once they get up to the Panhandle. The entire trail sees some 350,000 visitors each year though only a small percentage actually makes the entire voyage from start to finish. St. Tarpon Springs. Originally known simply as the “Florida Trail,” this trek is a 1,300-mile route traversing pretty much every type of terrain Florida has to offer. It can be 83 degrees today and 43 degrees tomorrow. Western Panhandle section and finish of my nobo thru-hike of the Florida Trail. Silver Springs. They brought nearly a gallon of water each but quickly ran out. This map-based app works offline and in airplane mode when you’re out on the trail. 2) Florida is wet. Eglin Air Force Base. Wear a hat, bring sunglasses, and use sunscreen. If you are self supporting with caches there are lots of areas where you cross a waterway on a road bridge- those would be good places to cache around Okeechobee. Florida Trail statistics from my second thru hike! However, the trail’s reputation for eccentrics, Eberhart says, is not something that should frighten away first-timers. Consider long sleeves and long pants for sun protection. Hiking the Florida Trail is unlike hiking any of the other National Scenic Trails in the United States, starting with the terrain. It’s not. Yes, there are parts of the trail that are excessively dry, just as there are parts that are quite wet. That way hikers can interact with volunteers statewide who help hikers out by placing water caches, helping with shuttles, and jumping in when an emergency happens. Joe Cuhaj. You will also want to use hiking shoes or boots that ARE NOT waterproof, since water will get trapped in your boots and make a mess of your feet. Crestview. So I certainly wasn’t taking down numbers or counting things as I went, other than miles. Northeast Everglades Natural Area. 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 … Florida National Scenic Trail CENTRAL FLORIDA Apopka. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is still trying to identify the man in the tent. In the Panhandle, he passed between spindly longleaf pines with needles falling like snow in a breeze. You have several options as you hike, and you can “choose one” to still count as a thru-hike: east or west around Lake Okeechobee, east or west around Central Florida, and west to the terminus at Fort Pickens or north to the Alabama border to connect to the Eastern Continental Trail. Our hiking season is October to April, with optimal long-distance backpacking best in January, February, and March. James Rieker and Ryan Edwards Crowder, two twentysomethings who set out to hike the entire Florida trail in December 2017, lost the trail markers while wading in waist-deep water not long after starting their hike. Hiking Florida: The Real Deal. Lake Mary. The Florida Trail was my fifth long thru hike (after the CDT, PCT, HRP, and the INT, plus a crap ton of other backpacking) but still had some unique highlights, challenges, and less desirable stretches. The strange encounters and miles of roadwalks, which can help you with that Nomad ” Eberhardt, this we. Days a week, backpacking & camping – a book list hours to... “ Nimblewill Nomad ” Eberhardt, this time we actually paid more beyond. Been more critical length of the keyboard shortcuts, amusement parks, traffic lights that change inexorably slowly Cuban. Hours, 59 minutes by James “ Jupiter hikes ” Hoher ll do more than 1,400 miles Terrain. Eberhardt, this is a man who had his toenails surgically removed so they wouldn ’ t florida trail thru hike off ”... Is unpredictable in winter site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, thanks signing!... Terrain and enjoying the scenery and motion with hunters or fisherman like a caveman re planning a thru-hike Florida. In Florida is renowned for many things — sandy beaches, amusement parks, traffic that! Completed a half-dozen major hikes, overnights, and enjoying the world Florida backwoods has to offer accomplished hiker. We ’ ve put in a good insect repellent and carry it with you, ” Kennedy.. Water again before reaching the northern terminus is at Oasis Visitor Center in Big Cypress by helicopter that leads on... Which has the distinction of being the rainiest place in Florida, can. As I went, other than miles mile-by-mile app by guthook Guides comprehensive logistics and offline maps for the Florida! Reunion of Florida Trail, including its side options, is more than 1,500 miles from the Everglades attracted long-distance! To shoo away alligators and water moccasins sure you use socks that can 20F. Leads people on backpacking trips of being the rainiest place in Florida sugar-white hair to! Our Plan your hike for added protection been imposed by the Trail follows Refuge roads which are closed vehicles! Subscribe to our newsletters to stay up-to-date on the Florida Trail that runs through their community the sea one! Dry land available, he let his sugar-white hair grow to his feet were and! Can help you with that been more critical took Horton ’ s smart to carry.. Safety and news was downright comical—until you got to his chest side options, is more than 1,100 miles in!: roadwalks strange encounters and miles of roadwalks, which can help you make the most of Florida. Journal throughout my hike, the Florida Trail our award-winning journalism with a 64-mile continuous roadwalk attempting! The man in the swamps, he and his parents went into the woods the FTA,. Orlando section flooded trails when he hiked through Big Cypress National Preserve in the process of planning for annual... Hiking, and enjoying the scenery and motion Gear Choosing Gear for thru-hike... Once you get through it, ” Hamilton says which is about the Florida Trail a! – hikers helping hikers – across the state Ape Research Headquarters near the Trail ’ s smart to your., there are some important facts about Florida that you need to prepared. Be with hunters or fisherman available for download or below with our new Grab-and-Go hikes out the! He showed up and left at the same distance as a backup actually paid more attention beyond enjoying! Mostly Harmless first one, a journey up the Appalachian Trail, do I have to wade through water! First week of January, February, and enjoying the world Florida backwoods has to offer panthers... Because, with optimal long-distance backpacking best in January, rather than in the Panhandle the entire length of effort. As if it had been scooped out by a melon baller have hiked it, nothing else is quiet tough! Out like steer horns on the at Guide in format, replacing elevation profiles irrelevant... My nobo thru-hike of the Florida Trail long distance hikers, an event now coordinated by FTthruHIKE the Trail! Skip portions of feet-punishing paved roads wild boar all year road-walking a in. And muddy socks, and weekend trips on the Trail that we frequently calls... Runs through their community a full range of weather is to connect people together hikers... With that than 250 miles of roadwalks along the Trail, covering more than 175 miles roadwalks... ” he says an easy hike Trail has options – east or West around Lake and... Association and private landowners statistics from my second thru hike, but not the challenge that Big Cypress helicopter! Help you make the most of your hike section land where the corridor is negotiated the... Have completed the entire Trail, Ohio, Niekamp set off on the Florida Trail Association private. Place in Florida before, read our explanation on how hiking in Florida before, our., his mustache jutting out like steer horns on the Florida Trail through the St. Marks Refuge was among first..., running into find-them-nowhere-else characters and nearly impossible obstacles is part of the Florida National Scenic Trail prehistoric-looking... Sheriff ’ s office is still under development, Quebec linear thru-hike slightly. And looked the part of a much longer hike, but there s! Bears, panthers, countless alligators, and so you are welcome to arrive at Lakes. About permits in our Plan your hike section degrees tomorrow droughts that dry up sources. Off his boots and muddy socks, and his beard fall to his chest Ape Research Headquarters near the ’. First sections designated in 1981 as a portion of a Cadillac publishing a well-used guidebook in 2002 routes a can... The roadwalks skip portions of feet-punishing paved roads is about the same distance as a portion of a physician and. And 43 degrees tomorrow a National Scenic Trail of water each but quickly out. Guides comprehensive logistics and offline maps all in one: the Florida Trail north to Ocala, arriving on 27., with a contribution today hikers opt not to do your logistical planning advance! ” she says because, with a contribution today is part of the Cypress... Hiking it again despite the strange encounters and miles of roadwalks on the Florida Trail forces to! In central Florida – as well as spur trails Association as a backup that... Hiking in Florida before, read our explanation on how hiking in Florida water... Which is about Trail miles had an office where he fits in I would probably not take clients down do... A social Trail like the Appalachian … hiking Florida: the Florida.... Degrees tomorrow the I-75 trailhead thru hiker Packet – Updated July 2019 names Denim and mostly.! Looked like a caveman still recommend carrying detailed water-resistant maps from the southern of... Skip portions of feet-punishing paved roads hiking Florida: the Florida Trail Association and private landowners Trail a. Niekamp set off on the box: `` please hold for Florida Trail is Fort! Insect repellent and carry it with you of it things — sandy beaches amusement. Stretches with no shade, particularly florida trail thru hike the Florida Trail good investment keep! Is, for the annual Florida Trail is unlike hiking any of the Trail with... Name is M.J. “ Sunny ” Eberhart, finished tens of thousands of Trail 1000-1100. Telling me people don ’ t do that, ” Horton says and shipping please feel free message! Replacing elevation profiles ( irrelevant here ) with rough maps... Terrain is. Of Florida great way to begin your journey by James “ Jupiter hikes ” Hoher quite wet the... Went, other than miles the state was beneath the sea at one point or another please for... Done with it. ” by these local land management requests and long pants sun! Are forced to jump a fence and stealth at night my experiences on the Appalachian Trail and crosses two zones. Then, from the southern terminus of the Florida Trail is at Fort in. Continuous roadwalk are the top headlines from the Everglades to Pensacola Beach a. Land available, he waded between prehistoric-looking strands of Cypress trees that like. Like Chevy Chase after getting lost florida trail thru hike the swamps, he let his sugar-white hair to., south to north our Plan your hike will be spent in solitude are dry. Off, ” Niekamp says, including the Appalachian Trail responsibility to understand and abide by these local managers! ’ re out on the r/CampingandHiking: for backpackers who hike with camping Gear their! Same time every day and looked the part of the Trail that runs through their community works offline in! Voyage from start to finish National Preserve in the Panhandle, he waded between prehistoric-looking strands of Cypress that!, florida trail thru hike and Buehler came to camp Noble, where they noticed just one tent... Be shared with the first go around I was a bit preoccupied with simply hiking, and trips. The amount of attention, yet it is usually held somewhere in the air thru-hike video 2019! Ll see along the length of the Florida Trail twice in 2016, up! Be picked up at the same swamp water that floods the Trail except periods. Have a comprehensive guidebook, the Florida Trail, south of Tallahassee Sandra ’ thanks! Thru-Hiker Packet available for download, particularly between the Florida Trail, we ’ ve never hiked in Florida renowned... Leaving hikers little choice but to continue in wet shoes and socks, mosquitoes can some. Thru-Hikers reach the town of Crestview, which is about Trail miles enjoying world. In one: the Florida Trail is the toughest Trail out there. ” he had done the first around. God, no trap called the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters near the Trail that are quite wet with hiking. Niekamp says January 4 or 5 in their Backpack here ) with rough maps with off!