Land and Resources Management

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.

The national trails system was established in the National Trails System Act of 1968 (as amended) to promote and provide opportunities for the public. The Forest Service manages and cares for many National Scenic, Historic, and Recreation Trails with the help of countless volunteers and partners.

For additional information, visit the America's National Trails webpage.

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.

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. 

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

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

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

We are excited to provide our land managers and partners with the resources to consistently brand the Florida Trail across the state. Kiosk panels can be requested via your local Florida Trail Association Regional Program Manager. Panels come in two standard sizes: 33x33 and 48x36 inches. Custom sizes are available upon request.

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.

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.

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.