Top Backpacking Trails in Florida
16 routes. Each page shows when we last checked it. Updated October 2026.
Backpacking in Florida is mostly flat, sandy, and often wet, and most trips on this site follow sections of the Florida Trail. They cover South Florida’s swamps and prairies, such as Big Cypress and Myakka River State Park; Central Florida’s state forests and the Cross Florida Greenway; the scrub and springs of the Ocala National Forest; and the Panhandle and North Florida, where Torreya State Park’s ravines, the Suwannee River bluffs, and the coastal levees of St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge break the pattern.
The Florida Trail Association puts the hiking season at roughly late October through April. Summer brings heat, storms, and high water. Parts of the Big Cypress route can be under 3 to 4 feet of water, and Bradwell Bay involves miles of knee- to waist-deep wading. Elsewhere, Croom’s camp zones and the Ring Dike campsite at St. Marks have no fresh water, so carry it and treat everything.
Camping rules vary by managing agency. Big Cypress requires a free backcountry permit, St. Marks allows camping only for hikers crossing the whole refuge, and Myakka and Little Big Econ require campsite reservations, while much of the Ocala National Forest allows dispersed camping outside general gun season. Hunting seasons shape fall and winter trips on many public lands, and the national forests require bear-safe food storage.
Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin on October 9, 2026, and the state closed Torreya State Park and Blackwater River State Forest ahead of it. Check current conditions before any Panhandle trip.
Quick picks
- Beginner overnight: Florida Trail, Little Big Econ State Forest (Econlockhatchee River)
- Swamp wading trip: Florida Trail through Big Cypress National Preserve (Oasis to I-75)
- Hilly terrain: Torreya Hiking Trail: Rock Creek and Torreya Challenge Loops (Torreya State Park)
- Coastal refuge trek: Florida Trail through St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
- Loop overnight: Myakka Hiking Trail (Myakka River State Park)
Central Florida
- Citrus Hiking Trail (Withlacoochee State Forest) Citrus Tract, Withlacoochee State Forest, Florida Forest Service (near Inverness) 39.1 miles Hard Designated primitive camp zones (first come, first served) and reserved recreation-area campgrounds
- Croom Hiking Trail (Withlacoochee State Forest) Croom Tract, Withlacoochee State Forest, Florida Forest Service (near Brooksville) 7.8 miles Moderate Primitive camp zones (reserve in advance) and developed campgrounds
- Florida Trail on the Cross Florida Greenway (Ross Prairie to Santos and Beyond) Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, Florida State Parks Office of Greenways and Trails (south of Ocala) 43.8 miles Moderate Designated primitive campsites with a free permit; developed campgrounds at trailheads
- Florida Trail, Little Big Econ State Forest (Econlockhatchee River) Little Big Econ State Forest, Florida Forest Service (Oviedo, Chuluota, and Geneva, east of Orlando) 9.8 miles Moderate Reserved designated campsites at West Camp
- Florida Trail: Green Swamp West to Richloam Green Swamp West (Southwest Florida Water Management District) and Richloam Tract, Withlacoochee State Forest (near Dade City and Ridge Manor) 26 miles Moderate Designated campsites; free online registration (Green Swamp) and primitive camp zones (Richloam)
Florida Panhandle
- Florida Trail through St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Wakulla, Jefferson, and Taylor Counties, south of Tallahassee) 56 miles Hard Designated campsites by permit; only for hikers crossing the entire refuge
- Florida Trail through the Bradwell Bay Wilderness Bradwell Bay Wilderness, Apalachicola National Forest (south of Tallahassee, near Sopchoppy) 12 miles Hard Very few campsites; Bradwell Island is the only one in the bay
- Jackson Red Ground Trail (Blackwater River State Forest) Blackwater River State Forest, Florida Forest Service (Red Rock to Karick Lake, northeast of Milton) 21.2 miles Moderate Designated campsites and shelters along the trail; developed campground at Karick Lake
- Torreya Hiking Trail: Rock Creek and Torreya Challenge Loops (Torreya State Park) Torreya State Park, Florida State Parks (north of Bristol, Liberty County) 12.9 miles Hard Three primitive backpacking campsites; fee camping (confirm reservation process)
North Florida
Ocala National Forest
- Florida Trail: Alexander Springs to Juniper Springs (Ocala National Forest) Ocala National Forest, U.S. Forest Service (Alexander Springs to Juniper Springs) 16.9 miles Moderate Dispersed camping outside general gun season; developed campgrounds at both ends
- Florida Trail: Hopkins Prairie to Lake Delancy (Ocala National Forest) Ocala National Forest, U.S. Forest Service (north of SR 40, near Salt Springs) 20.4 miles Moderate Dispersed camping outside general gun season; Hopkins Prairie, Grassy Pond, and Lake Delancy campsites
- Florida Trail: Juniper Springs to Hidden Pond (Juniper Prairie Wilderness) Juniper Prairie Wilderness, Ocala National Forest (Juniper Springs Recreation Area, east of Silver Springs) 12 miles Moderate Dispersed wilderness camping year-round; Hidden Pond is the popular site
South Florida
- Florida Trail through Big Cypress National Preserve (Oasis to I-75) Big Cypress National Preserve, National Park Service (Oasis Visitor Center, Ochopee) 30.7 miles Hard Designated backcountry campsites; free backcountry permit required
- Myakka Hiking Trail (Myakka River State Park) Myakka River State Park, Florida State Parks (near Sarasota) 39 miles Moderate Six designated primitive campsites; reservations required
- Ocean to Lake Trail: Luckey Hammock to Kitching Creek (Jonathan Dickinson State Park) Loxahatchee Slough Natural Area, Riverbend Park, and Jonathan Dickinson State Park (Jupiter area) 10.7 miles Hard Designated campsites only (Luckey Hammock, Cypress Creek East, Kitching Creek)
Backpacking in Florida: common questions
Do you need a permit to backpack in Florida?
It depends on who manages the land. Big Cypress National Preserve requires a free backcountry permit, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge allows camping only for hikers crossing the whole refuge with a permit reserved through the refuge office at least 15 days ahead, and the Cross Florida Greenway asks for a free primitive camping permit. Myakka River State Park and Little Big Econ State Forest require campsite reservations, while no permit requirement was found for dispersed camping in the Ocala National Forest, so confirm with the managing agency before you go.
When is the best time to backpack in Florida?
The Florida Trail Association says the hiking season runs roughly from late October through April, which falls in the winter dry season and avoids most general gun hunting restrictions. Summer brings heat, storms, insects, and high water, and the National Park Service says parts of the Big Cypress route can be under 3 to 4 feet of water. Hurricane season can also close parks and forests on short notice.
Can you camp during hunting season in Florida?
Often, but with limits. The Florida Trail Association says that during hunting seasons on certain public lands you must use designated campsites, and in the Ocala National Forest dispersed camping is prohibited during general gun season except in designated campgrounds and the Juniper Prairie Wilderness. The Florida Forest Service's Croom brochure says its wildlife management area is open to hunting from September through April and does not recommend trail use during the muzzleloading and general gun seasons. Check season dates with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and wear bright orange.
Are there bears on Florida backpacking trails?
Yes, black bears live in parts of the state, and the Ocala National Forest and the Cross Florida Greenway are both described as bear areas on this site's trail pages. The Forest Service has a food storage order for the National Forests in Florida that calls for bear-resistant containers, a hard-topped vehicle, or a food hang at least 10 feet up and 4 feet from any support, and says never to store food in your tent. Food storage rules vary by managing agency, so check before you go.
Where do you find water on Florida backpacking trips?
It varies a lot by trip. Swamp routes like Bradwell Bay have plenty of water, while the primitive camp zones at Croom and the Ring Dike campsite at St. Marks have none, and the Park Service says Big Cypress may have little to no water in the dry season. The Florida Trail Association says all water in Florida should be treated unless signs identify it as potable.
Are Panhandle trails open after Hurricane Isaias?
Check before you go. Isaias made landfall near Destin as a Category 2 hurricane on October 9, 2026, according to the Associated Press, and the state closed Torreya State Park and Blackwater River State Forest ahead of the storm. The Florida Trail Association expects widespread impacts to the Florida Trail throughout the Panhandle, so confirm current status with the park, forest, or refuge before planning a trip there.
Where this comes from
- Florida Trail Association: Closures and notices to hikers
- Florida Trail Association: FAQs
- Florida Trail Association: Permits and reservations
- Florida Trail Association: Juniper Prairie Wilderness closure notice (Nov. 2024)
- USFWS: Florida Trail information, St. Marks NWR
- USFS National Forests in Florida: Bear safety
- USFS: Juniper Prairie Wilderness
- Florida Forest Service: Croom Hiking Trail brochure
- Action News Jax: Florida state parks and forests closed for Hurricane Isaias
- AP via ABC 33/40: Isaias slams the Florida Panhandle and Alabama