- Florida Trail
One of eight
National Scenic Trail s in theUnited States , the Florida Trail is a footpath spanning convert|1400|mi|km fromBig Cypress National Preserve (betweenMiami andNaples, Florida along theTamiami Trail ) toFort Pickens atGulf Islands National Seashore ,Pensacola Beach . Also known as the Florida National Scenic Trail (which applies only to its federally certified segments), the Florida Trail provideshiking and backpacking opportunities within an hour of most Floridians.With its first blaze marked at Clearwater Lake Recreation Area in the
Ocala National Forest , the Florida Trail began on October 29, 1966, established by members of theFlorida Trail Association . Working in partnership with the trail's federal manager, theUSDA Forest Service , and land managers throughout the state ofFlorida , the Florida Trail Association continues to provide the support of thousands of volunteers to build, maintain, and protect this recreational resource.History
In the early 1960s, Miami resident Jim Kern headed to
North Carolina with his brother for a hike on theAppalachian Trail . Returning to Florida and knowing there was nowhere near his home to go backpacking, he envisioned a 500-mile hiking trail across Florida. He founded theFlorida Trail Association and encouraged members to join him in the vision of creating a trail across the state. His initial hike, a media event for theMiami Herald , took him from the wilds ofBig Cypress toHighlands Hammock State Park nearSebring, FL . By October 1966, Jim talked to the managers of theOcala National Forest and received permission to start blazing a hiking 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.Segments
The 1,400-mile linear Florida Trail consists of the following segments:
* Big Cypress
* Seminole
* Okeechobee
* Ocean-to-Lake
* Kissimmee
* Eastern Corridor
* Western Corridor
* Ocala
* North Florida
* Suwannee
* Big Bend
* Apalachicola
* Central Panhandle
* Western Gate
* BlackwaterReferences
* [http://www.floridatrail.org Florida Trail Association]
* [http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/fnst.htm Florida Greenways & Trails Guide]
* [http://www.americantrails.org/resources/statetrails/FLstate.html American Trails: Florida]
* [http://gorp.away.com/gorp/resource/us_trail/fla.htm GORP.com: Florida National Scenic Trail]
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