About the Trail
What is the Florida National Scenic Trail?
The Florida National Scenic Trail (also known as the Florida Trail or FT for short) is a congressionally-designated, long-distance hiking trail that weaves its way across Florida from Big Cypress National Preserve in the south to Gulf Islands National Seashore in the western end of Florida’s panhandle.
The Florida Trail is a national treasure, being 1 of only 11 National Scenic Trails in the country, and 1 of 3 contained entirely within a single state. The Forest Service administers five other National Scenic Trails throughout the country as part of the National Trails System. National scenic and historic trails were established as part of the National Trail System to preserve the country’s scenic, historic, cultural and natural wonders. The Florida National Scenic Trail provides the opportunity to see unique features in each of these categories.
The Florida Trail is currently about 1,500 miles long. The USDA Forest Service has it divided into four main geographic regions: the Southern region, the Central region, the Northern region and the Panhandle region.
History
In the 1960s, the Florida National Scenic Trail was just a dream. A group of dedicated volunteers created the Florida Trail Association, whose member recognized the need for long distance hiking opportunities in Florida. These volunteers came together to create, improve, and steward what is now the Florida Trail. The first blaze of the Florida National Scenic Trail was marked in the Ocala National Forest in October of 1966, but the Trail was not officially designated as a National Scenic Trail until 1983.
Tribal Roots of the Trail
National scenic trails not only traverse through scenic land but also through history. Long before the Florida National Scenic Trail was established, the land it crosses was home to many Indigenous communities. The paths they traveled, through pine flatwoods and cypress swamps, laid the foundation for the modern FNST we now walk.
The trail continues to carry this legacy as it winds through Big Cypress, it traverses the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation. The Florida Trail is honored to be granted access through this land and encourages all hikers to move respectfully and with awareness of its cultural significance. Also hikers should be aware that permits are required to cross through the Reservation.
Throughout much of its length, the Florida Trail passes through land that was once originally home to the Seminole people before they were forcibly removed and pushed into the remote wilderness of the Everglades.
The Florida National Scenic Trail acknowledges this history and pays respect to the Seminole Tribe and all Indigenous peoples whose stewardship of these lands predates, and continues beyond, our modern trail system.
Learn more about the Big Cypress Reservation and Seminole Tribe history here. Additionally, learn more about how to get a Big Cypress Reservation permit here.