If you’re visiting Florida to hike, then you’re in luck as the Sunshine State contains dozens of great trails. Hiking in Florida is a great opportunity to enjoy scenic views and for wildlife spotting – all across the state.
Florida is one of the best states to visit or live in if you enjoy the outdoors. It’s an extremely biodiverse area containing beaches, hardwood forests, unique places like the Everglades and is home to all sorts of incredible plant life and wildlife.
In addition, there are all sorts of hiking trails in the Sunshine State, so wherever your skill level is at, there are sufficient trails for everybody.
There are an insane amount of hiking trails in the state, but here are some of the best hikes in Florida spread across different locations for convenience.
Table of Contents
- 1 Things to know about hiking in Florida
- 2 9 Best Hikes In Florida
- 2.1 Shark Valley Trail, Everglades National Park
- 2.2 Myakka Hiking Trail Loop, Myakka River River State Park
- 2.3 Bulow Woods Trail, Bulow Creek State Park
- 2.4 Wekiwa Springs Orange Trail, Apopka
- 2.5 Big Shoals Trail, White Springs
- 2.6 Little Manatee River Short Loop, Little Manatee River State Park
- 2.7 Balm Boyette Nature Preserve Trail, Hillsborough County
- 2.8 Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park
- 2.9 Apoxee and Owahee Trail Loop, West Palm Beach
- 2.10 Chassahowitza Salt Marsh Trails, Homosassa – Crystal River
- 3 Essentials for hiking in Florida
- 4 Ready to go hiking in Florida?
Things to know about hiking in Florida
Best time to go hiking in Florida
Unlike pretty much the rest of the country, the best time to go hiking in Florida is not in the middle of the summer. The heat is the most intense during this time of year, and biting insects are also particularly active around this time. The best time to go hiking in Florida is from October to April.
Watch out for poisonous trees
Florida is home to two types of poisonous trees — poisonwood and manchineel trees. Be aware of what these trees look like so you don’t come into contact with them accidentally.
Hiking in Florida is not always free
Many of the trails on this list are located within state parks, which sometimes charge an entry fee to hikers. These entry fees aren’t usually that expensive, but just be prepared because, in a lot of places, hiking isn’t free.
Keep your distance from the gators
There’s no need to be afraid of the alligators — most of them are wary of humans and actively avoid them when they can. Nonetheless, gators can be dangerous, so if you spot a gator on one of your hikes, do your best to maintain a minimum distance of about 20 feet away.
9 Best Hikes In Florida
Shark Valley Trail, Everglades National Park
Distance: 15.8 miles
Approx. Time: 5-7 hours
Starting Point: Shark Valley Visitor Center
Finishing Point: Shark Valley Visitor Center
Type: Loop
Shark Valley Trail is a 15.8-mile loop trail located in the Everglades National Park near the city of Homestead. This is a paved, mostly flat trail that is suitable for hikers of all skill levels.
Shark Valley Trail is one of the best hikes in Florida for wildlife enthusiasts, as it gives hikers an opportunity to spot animals of all kinds. Most notably, Shark Valley Trail is a great place to spot alligators, particularly when the weather starts getting warmer after the end of winter.
The trail also features an observation tower halfway, where hikers have access to restrooms and a picnic area. Unfortunately, there is very little to no shade on this trail, so be sure to bring enough water and sunscreen if you plan on hiking this one.
Myakka Hiking Trail Loop, Myakka River River State Park
Distance: 29.7 miles
Approx. Time: 2-3 days
Starting Point: Intersection between North Drive and Fox’s Low Road
Finishing Point: Multiple finishing points
Type: Loop
The Myakka Hiking Trail Loop is a 29.7-mile long loop located in Myakka River State Park near Sarasota. This is a moderately easy trail that is mostly flat but also entirely unpaved.
The Myakka Hiking Trail Loop is best suited for camping, and indeed there are several points along the trail where campers can set up their tents. Make sure to bring a spacious tent if you plan on camping with multiple people.
There are pumps at a few of these points where campers can access well water, although these pumps don’t always work, so it’s a good idea to bring your own water.
The area is home to some notable wildlife, and you might spot gators or wild boars, which tend to live around the trail. Most of the path is surrounded by prairie, though, which is not always the best for wildlife spotting.
Bulow Woods Trail, Bulow Creek State Park
Distance: 6.8 miles
Approx. Time: 2-3 hours
Starting Point: South Edge of Bulow Plantation Ruins State Park
Finishing Point: Parking Area at the Fairchild Oak
Type: Linear
Bulow Woods Trail is a 6.8-mile linear hike near Flagler Beach. The starting point is at the edge of Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park, one of Florida’s hidden gems.
Like many Florida hiking trails, the Bulow Woods Trail is home to diverse animal life. You can observe wild boars, black snakes, armadillos, all sorts of birds, and much more on the path.
The trail is well kept and easy to traverse across. Some parts of the course can get a bit muddy though, so be sure to bring adequate footwear.
Most of the time, it’s open to the public, but sometimes it gets closed due to weather conditions, like flooding. You can quickly check for closures on the Florida State Parks website.
Wekiwa Springs Orange Trail, Apopka
Distance: 6.3 miles
Approx. Time: 2 hours
Starting Point: Main Entrance Wekiwa Springs Road
Finishing Point: Main Entrance Wekiwa Springs Road
Type: Loop
Wekiwa Springs Orange Trail is a 6.3-mile loop trail in Wekiwa Springs State Park near the town of Apopka. This is a pretty popular trail accessible to hikers of any skill level, which makes it one of the best hiking trails in Central Florida, however you may encounter a lot of other traffic on the trail, depending on when you go.
It’s in a beautiful location and is generally quite well cared for by the staff and visitors. It also offers guests the chance to see several types of animals, including the deer that live in the surrounding forest.
The springs also feature a swimming area, which is the most popular part of the trail, but you can expect it to be pretty busy in most cases.
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Big Shoals Trail, White Springs
Distance: 4.5 miles
Approx. Time: 1 – 2 hours
Starting Point: Go along county road 135 and then turn into SE 94th Street, then keep driving until you reach a parking lot.
Finishing Point: Same as above
Type: Out and back
Big Shoals Trail is a 4.5-mile trail in Big Shoals State Park near White Springs. This semi-busy trail gives hikers the chance to spot gators, gopher tortoises, birds, and more.
This trail is suitable for both hikers and bikers and is pretty easy to navigate. The path offers views of the nearby Suwannee River, including a few rapids.
Depending on when you visit, the deer flies can be pretty overwhelming, so consider bringing along some bug spray to deal with this annoyance.
Little Manatee River Short Loop, Little Manatee River State Park
Distance: 2.9 miles
Approx. Time: 1 – 1.5 hours
Starting Point: On US 301 right before the Little Manatee River
Finishing Point: Same as above
Type: Loop
The Little Manatee River Short Loop is a short 2.9-mile trail close by Wimauma. You can bring dogs on the trail as long as they remain leashed.
You get beautiful views on the nearby river, and some parts of the path have a cool shade. There is also a campground close to it if you want to camp overnight, so don’t forget a warm weather sleeping bag or tent.
It’s great for young kids, as the track contains a few small hills but is overall a simple one. There’s also a spot along the route where you can go wading in a nearby river if you want to cool off a little.
Overall, this is a welcoming, relaxed trail that pretty much anyone can enjoy.
Balm Boyette Nature Preserve Trail, Hillsborough County
Distance: 12.3 miles
Approx. Time: 3-5 hours
Starting Point: Balm Boyette Nature Preserve Parking Area
Finishing Point: Balm Boyette Nature Preserve Parking Area
Type: Loop
Balm Boyette Nature Preserve Trail is a 12.3-mile loop trail near Wimauma. This trail is located on the remains of an old golf course, and like several of the other hikes in Florida, it offers the chance for hikers to see some incredible wildlife like gators and birds.
This trail is primarily used by mountain bikers since not all of it is open to hikers. However, there are still areas that hikers can use. While there is some signage along the trail, the signs don’t always indicate what parts of the trail are for bikers and what parts are for hikers, so just be aware of that.
Located a few miles from Tampa, the Balm Boyette Nature Preserve Trail is suitable for hikers of all skill levels, but it does get tricky at certain times.
So if you’re hiking with young children or your mobility is limited, you might want to consider giving this one a pass and check out alternative hiking trails in Florida.
For bikers, keep in mind that helmets are mandatory, and you might catch some flack from other riders if you show up without a helmet.
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Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park
Distance: 1.5 miles
Approx. Time: 0.5 hours
Starting Point: Royal Palm Visitor Center
Finishing Point: Royal Palm Visitor Center
Type: Loop
Anhinga Trail is a very short 1.5-mile loop in the Everglades National Park near Homestead. This is a very easygoing trail that is mainly used to observe wildlife.
Most of the trail consists of a boardwalk that takes you through part of the Everglades. The boardwalk gives visitors the chance to see animals like alligators, turtles, fish, and tons of bird species. Keep your eyes out for any anhingas, a type of waterfowl from which it gets its name.
There’s no shade on this trail, so be sure to bring along sunscreen and plenty of water. Because this trail is short, easy, and includes great opportunities to see animals, it’s often quite busy.
Apoxee and Owahee Trail Loop, West Palm Beach
Distance: 4.2 miles
Approx. Time: 1 – 1.5 hours
Starting Point: 3125 Jog Rd
Finishing Point: 3125 Jog Rd
Type: Loop
The Apoxee and Owahee Trail Loop is a 4.2-mile loop unchallenging hike near Royal Palm Beach.
Like so many of the other hiking trails in Florida, the Apoxee and Owahee Trail is a great place to see all kinds of animal species, including turtles, birds, and ubiquitous alligators. It’s mostly flat and consists of a boardwalk and a trail made up of stone.
A lot of parts of the trail are in the shade, so if you go on a particularly hot day, you can still get some relief from the heat at specific points. However, one thing to note is that not all of the trail is currently open due to flooding.
Chassahowitza Salt Marsh Trails, Homosassa – Crystal River
Distance: 1.5 miles
Approx. Time: 0.5 hours
Starting Point: 6112 S Mason Creek Rd, Homosassa
Finishing Point: 6112 S Mason Creek Rd, Homosassa
Type: Loop
Although a very short hike, the Chassahowitza Salt Marsh Trails are a great opportunity to watch wildlife in their element, and one of the best things to do in Crystal River.
Located about a mile south of the centre of Old Homosassa, this network of trails has an observation tower at the end. Lastinger Tower which provides a sweeping view of a vast span of Salt Marsh.
Wildlife abounds in the early morning and late evening, and you will have a high chance of seeing otters and a lot of birds too. I saw a family of three otters crushing and eating clams while I was there.
Don’t forget the bug spray. You may need it, especially in the warmer months.
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Essentials for hiking in Florida
Many of the best hiking trails in Florida are pretty easygoing and don’t require you to have any advanced hiking knowledge or experience to explore them. However, there are a few hiking essentials you will want to have with you to make things easier:
Mosquito Repellent – The mosquito season in Florida doesn’t ever really end. Although mosquitoes are the most active in the summer, you will still need some mosquito repellent at any point throughout the year for hiking.
Breathable hiking shoes – Florida is almost always a pretty humid place, so dress appropriately. Breathable waterproof footwear is essential for many hiking spots across the state.
Sunscreen – They don’t call it the Sunshine State for nothing. While a lot of hikes in Florida have parts covered by the shade, not all of them are. Sunscreen is crucial to keeping your skin safe during hikes, especially in sunny states like this one.
Water Bottles – While some hikes might have water stations before starting, it’s crucial to bring your own water even if you’re going on a short hike. You never know when you’re going to get thirsty, and the Florida high temperatures certainly don’t help with that. A hydration pack is a very convenient way to carry up to 3 litres.
Hiking Backpack – Apart from sunscreen, water bottles, and mosquito repellent, you might want to bring some other goodies along. It’s essential to get a comfortable hiking backpack that you can use to carry things easily.
Ready to go hiking in Florida?
Equipped with all this information, you should be ready to set off on the best hikes in Florida. You’ll be enchanted by the landscapes, see incredible wildlife, and admire mesmerizing views when choosing any hiking trails in Florida.
To continue your journey discovering the Sunshine State, why not tick off these hidden gems off your list or spend a day in St Pete? Or why not explore more of the US on foot by hiking in Northern California and Southern California?
Have you done any hiking in Florida?
Share the highlights of your journey in the comments below!
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