With a whopping 83 kinds of habitats to explore, Florida is one of the most diverse states in terms of landscape and biodiversity all across the USA. The state offers a truly exciting experience and some incredibly unique and adventure-filled terrains.
If you are planning a vacation in Florida anytime soon, then hiking is one of the must-do activities you must keep on your list. And if you already have it on your list, then as an adventure-lover or hiking enthusiast, you would be looking for some exciting hiking trails in the state.
If you indeed need to know about the best hiking trails in Florida, then we have got you covered. In the next part of this article, we have listed the five best hiking trails in Florida that every person who wants to hike in Florida must know about.
The Top Five Hiking Trails In Florida
Want to explore some new trails in the Sunshine State on your next vacation? Here are the five most popular and exciting hiking trails in Florida that are truly worth exploring. These five places will bring you truly close to the natural and scenic beauty that the state of Florida offers.
Ocala National Forest
This place is one of the most extensive and versatile hiking trails in Florida, which makes it the first name on this list and a very popular trail among hikers visiting the Sunshine state. With more than 360,000 acres of hiking area, the place is scattered with pine forests, gum swamps, and cypress.
People who love exploring new terrains will find a wide range of opportunities to explore over 100 miles of natural habitats and course, the largest scrub forest in the entire world. The Juniper and Alexander Springs is another key highlight of this hiking destination, which is perfect for expert hikers as well as beginners.
Florida Trail, Aucilla Sinks
Simple, exciting, and perfect for regular hiking enthusiasts, this trail offers a 4.4-mile linear stretch of trail that extends as a narrow footpath. The trail spreads across natural bridges and stone arches. It is said that the natural voids and deep sinkholes seen at this place were used by ancient Florida residents to trap mastodons.
The Aucilla Sinks is also considered to be one of the most fascinating and geologically weird parts of the Florida Trail. The unique terrain is primarily because of the limestone bedrock of Florida which got particularly porous in this area and made the Aucilla River sink into it. The river is seen in bits and parts here, flowing in sinkholes.
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
A 2.3-mile-long boardwalk loop through the Audubon preserve makes for a very scenic and exciting hiking trail. The place features a cathedral of years-old cypress trees located at the heart of Corkscrew Strand, which is said to be the realm of the Florida panther and ghost orchids in the Florida tales.
Highlands Hammock State Park
This hiking trail features narrow catwalks and trails and is said to have been built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. This is also one of the oldest state parks in Florida. The palm-shaded landscape is truly a sight to witness.
Prairie Lake Loops
Known to be the “land between the lakes”, this trail is located in the Kissimmee River basin. You see prairies scattered with dense oak and palm hammocks situated on a figure-8 route along the Florida Trail. The lakefront views are something that you can carry from this trail for a lifetime.
Ending Note
That brings us to the end of this exciting list of hiking trails that every tourist and hiker vacationing in Florida must visit to witness the true beauty and diversity of Florida’s terrain.
