Florida Hikes! blog

Swimming closed at Blue Spring State Park

info@floridahikes.com (Sandra Friend) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 04:44:38 PDT

High bacteria levels have forced closure of one of the state’s most beautiful springs, Blue Spring in Orange City, to swimmers this weekend, according to a story in the Daytona Beach News-Journal. While manatee season is what usually chases swimmers out of the water, in this case, it’s a combination of high temperatures and low rainfall [...]

Upgrades affect access to Lake Eaton Trails

info@floridahikes.com (Sandra Friend) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 04:24:43 PDT

New observation decks on the Lake Eaton Trail for overlooks on the lake, plus new stairs, decks, and kiosks on the Lake Eaton Sinkhole Trail are some of the improvements planned for this summer to this pair of popular day hiking trails in the Ocala National Forest. The short loop to the sinkhole on the Lake [...]

Free parking at rec areas in Fort Myers-Sanibel this weekend

info@floridahikes.com (Sandra Friend) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 04:17:53 PDT

To celebrate Florida Parks & Recreation Month, Lee County … aka Fort Myers, Sanibel, and the Beaches … is offering free parking at all of their lots this weekend. This includes all beaches with the exception of Bowman’s Beach and the beaches at the far north end of Captiva Island. Parks and preserves that charge parking fees, [...]

Yearling Trail closed temporarily

info@floridahikes.com (Sandra Friend) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 07:16:23 PDT

A military plane crash in the vicinity of Pat’s Island on Sunday evening has forced closure of FR 10, the Pat’s Island Trailhead, and the Yearling Trail while crews work on cleanup in the Juniper Prairie Wilderness. Portions of SR 19 may be closed during cleanup operations. Consider alternate routes through the area. The Florida [...]

Possible FT closures near Clearwater Lake

info@floridahikes.com (Sandra Friend) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 07:13:21 PDT

Ongoing restoration of longleaf pine habitat between Alexander Springs and Clearwater Lake may lead to closures of the Florida Trail near Paisley. Signage will be placed during closure periods. Please check ahead before hiking this section. See the USFS website for details.

Ponce Preserve a cool summer hike

info@floridahikes.com (Sandra Friend) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:29:47 PDT

Just south of Daytona Beach, Ponce Preserve straddles the island from the Halifax River to the Atlantic Ocean, which means access to both kinds of watery fun! The best part - there’s a hike in-between. Check out a preview of what’s along the trail … the details are headed out to Hike-A-Week readers this afternoon.

July is Florida Parks & Recreation Month

info@floridahikes.com (Sandra Friend) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:10:32 PDT

Governor Crist again dubbed July as Florida Parks & Rec month to keep in synch with National Parks & Recreation Month. Honestly, most other states can only celebrate it in the summer months … we can celebrate year-round! While mid-summer is not the ideal time to take long hike, these are the days - when storms [...]

Where the mosquitos are

info@floridahikes.com (Sandra Friend) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:43:23 PDT

The fragile nature of Florida Bay - especially in the impending danger of the oil spill - has me pondering the various access points where hikers can see the bay from a trail. The Keys have a handful of hikes out to the bay, but the mainland only a few. Here’s one where mosquitoes are [...]

Oil washing ashore on Fort Pickens Road

info@floridahikes.com (Sandra Friend) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:42:02 PDT

The onslaught of oil escalated in earnest along Gulf Islands National Seashore’s Fort Pickens Road and Pensacola Beach, forcing closure of the beach for public safety. According to the official statement on the Gulf Islands National Seashore website: ” There is an advisory in effect by the Escambia County Health Department from Walkover 23 on Pensacola [...]

Silver Springs Conservation Area now open

info@floridahikes.com (Sandra Friend) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 09:06:30 PDT

Marion County’s first conservation area opened with a whisper in May, 330 acres of upland recharge area just to the southwest of the famed Silver Springs. Located at 5415 N.E. 7th St just west of Baseline Road, the trailhead has interpretive maps to guide you along the triple-loop trail system. From a Google Earth view, it’s [...]