Foundational Documents

The National Trails Systems Act (PDF)

• This 1968 Act of Congress established our nation's network of National Scenic, Historic and Recreation trails. It has been amended several times since 1968 with the addition of more National Trails.

FNST Comprehensive Plan (PDF)

• The 1986 Comprehensive Plan established guidelines for administering the Trail. A 1978 Amendment to the National Trails System Act required a comprehensive plan to be submitted to Congress defining the planning, development, management, and use of the Florida Trail. The Plan was developed by an interdisciplinary planning team comprised of members from USDI, National Park Service, US Forest Service, National Forests in Florida, State Division of Recreation and Parks, Office of the Governor, and the Florida Trail Association.

FNST Study and Environmental Assessment

• The USDI, National Park Service completed the Florida National Scenic Trail Study and Environmental Assessment in 1982. Thus combined study and assessment investigated the general feasibility and desirability of the proposed Florida National Scenic Trail as well as its potential environmental impacts.

Management Toolbox

Strategic Plan

Connecting Florida's Public Lands: The FT 5-Year Strategic Plan 2023

• In January 2018, the Florida National Scenic Trail Coalition adopted an updated Florida National Scenic Trail 5 Year Strategic Plan. This plan builds on the foundational goals and strategies identified in the 2012 Strategic Plan developed collaboratively by the Florida National Scenic Trail Coalition.

Strategic Plan Implementation Guide: Companion to Connecting Florida's Public Lands 2023

• In order to meet the goals of the 2018 Strategic Plan update, the USDA Forest Service Florida National Scenic Trail (FNST) Program created this Implementation Guide as a companion to the 2018 Strategic Plan. This document outlines each of the objectives and actions the FNST Program will take to accomplish the four goals identified by the FNST Coalition: Promote Connections, Complete the Trail, Sustainable Management and Strategic Partnerships.

2012 FNST 5-Year Strategic Plan

• "This is a landmark document for the Florida National Scenic Trail. For the first time since the original Comprehensive Plan of 1986 we have sat as a team of landowners to thoughtfully, and deliberately, set goals for the Trail. These goals provide an overall strategic direction by which we can focus collaborative efforts and allocate resources to achieve specific results that benefit both the Trail and trail user. This document is also significant in that it represents a new partnership model which more fully engages a diverse group of land managers who are connected to the Trail. With this Plan, we build a vision of the Florida National Scenic Trail that is much greater than the sum of its parts and that more fully appreciates the Trail for its distinct and unique scenic, historic, natural and cultural values."

~ Susan Jeheber-Matthews, Forest Supervisor, National Forests in Florida

Strategic Plan Reports

Florida Trail Strategic Plan Progress Report - 2019 & 2020 (PDF)

• This document provides an official update on the goals laid forth in the current version of the Florida National Scenic Trail 5-Year Strategic Plan for 2019 & 2020.

Florida Trail Strategic Plan Progress Report - Fiscal Years 2018 & 2019

• This document provides an official update on the goals laid forth in the current version of the Florida National Scenic Trail 5-Year Strategic Plan for 2018 & 2019.

2015 State of the Trail Report

• The updated SOT Report divides the state into four regions and further divides each region by Trail segment. Each FNST segment page contains a description and photo typical of that portion of the trail as well as information regarding the segment's ownership, mileage, volunteer support, trail class, infrastructure, condition, management priorities and roadwalks on each property.

Standards and Best Management Practices

Florida Trail Minimum Standards and Guidelines (PDF) and the Abbreviated Florida Trail Minimum Standards and Guidelines (PDF)

• These standards and guidelines, derived from the FNST specific National Trail System Act legislation (1983), the FNST Advisory Council meeting minutes, and the FNST Comprehensive Plan (1986), are meant to serve as criteria for trail certification, use, and management of the Florida National Scenic Trail.
• These documents reflect the minimum standards for Florida National Scenic Trail designation and management as described in the 1983 Florida National Scenic Trail Comprehensive Plan. 
• The Florida National Scenic Trail has segments representing each of the five trail classes which encompass diverse recreational and environmental experiences. The Florida Trail Interactive Map includes a layer of trail classes that can be turned on or off.  The map’s depiction of trail classes represents the class management objective for each segment and does not necessarily reflect conditions on the ground. 

Florida Trail Class Matrix (PDF)

• This document describes the general attributes that reflect trail development along a continuum of five trail classes. 

Trail Class Design Parameters (PDF)

• Design Parameters are technical guidelines for the survey, design, construction, maintenance, and assessment of the FNST.

FNST Trail Class PowerPoint (PDF)

• This presentation describes and displays photos of the five trail classes along the FNST and examples of the infrastructure associated with each class.

Kiosk Panels

We are excited to provide our land managers and partners with the resources to consistently brand the Florida Trail across the state. Our newly designed kiosk panels can be requested via your local Florida Trail Association Regional Program Manager. Panels come in two standard sizes: 33x33 and 48x36 inches. Please contact the Florida Trail Administrator for custom sizes. Kiosks can be updated with localized maps, images, symbols, graphics, and text. There are three types of panels that can be requested, including the standardized state panel, the gateway community panel, and the local trail panel. Find example panels below.

 

Example Kiosk Panel PDFs
Local Trail Panel	Gateway Community Panel	Standardized State Panels
33x33	33x33	33x33
48x36	48x36	48x36

 

Visitor Use Assessments and Other Trail Publications

The US Forest Service has partnered with the University of Florida to conduct visitor assessments on the Florida Trail for more than a decade. These assessments are available to the public in addition to visitor assessment highlights by land manager.

Florida National Scenic Trail Gap Analysis

FNST Optimal Location Review Guidelines (PDF)

• This document outlines the format, process, and location criteria for an Optimal Location Review (OLR) on the Florida National Scenic Trail (FNST).  The OLR process helps ensure that the trail is located in the setting that best meets the congressional intent for a National Scenic Trail: to provide outstanding recreation opportunities, and promote and protect access to the natural, scenic, historic, and cultural resources along the Trail.

Twin Rivers to Aucilla River Corridor Location Review

• The Florida National Scenic Trail, or Florida Trail, uses Corridor Location Reviews (CLR) to analyze and resolve gaps in the trail. If a gap is considered 'major,' meaning over 25 miles in length or with more than two landowners, a CLR will be used as the tool for analysis. The purpose of this Corridor Location Review is to document the process, criteria and evidence utilized to complete the trail routing recommendation for the Twin River State Forest to Aucilla River gap of the Florida Trail. The CLR process may recommend a combination of land acquisition, conservation easements, trail relocations and partnerships to close the Twin Rivers State Forest to Aucilla River gap and preserve the established intent of the Florida Trail. This process is designed to ensure that the most optimal corridor is chosen to achieve consistency within the criteria outlined in the FNST Comprehensive Plan. 

Twin Rivers State Forest to Aucilla River "Big Bend" Reroute Overview Map

• Companion to reccomended routing in Corridor Location Review

Other National Scenic Trails

The Florida Trail is part of the National Trail System established in 1968 by Congress. The NTS established a series of National Scenic, Historic, and Recreation Trails throughout the United States. The Forest Service manages and cares for many of these National Scenic, Historic, and Recreation Trails with the help of countless volunteers and partners. Read more about the six trails managed by the Forest Service.

National Trails System Training Video

• The USDA Forest Service is proud to share the National Trail System Training video, intended for USFS Line officers and Program Managers who have management responsibilities on a National Scenic or Historic Trail. For casual watchers, this NTS Training video offers an important insider's look into the behind-the scenes work of the Forest Service within the National Trail System. This video covers what the National Trail System is and why it's important, what the National Trails System Act requires, how we manage National Scenic and Historic Trails, and where to go for more information and tools.