The Short Hikes
Date Hiked: March 1, 2020
Location: Seminole State Forest, FL
Trail: Lower Wekiva & Sulphur Island
Distance: 19 miles
Lesson(s):
1. Pack more food for a long day hike
2. 19 miles is a long day hike
Links:
https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Seminole-State-Forest
Date Hiked: February 17, 2020
Location: Big Shoals State Forest, FL
Trail: Big Shoals Trail and Palmetto Trail
Distance: 4? miles
Lesson(s):
1. I need an all-wheel drive vehicle for Florida.
Links:
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/big-shoals-state-park
Date Hiked: February 16, 2020
Location: Etoniah Creek State Forest, FL
Trail: Longleaf Pine & Florida National Scenic
Distance: 8.8 miles
Lesson(s):
1. Sometimes you don’t mind the rain and other times you’re happy to beat it to the car.
Links:
https://floridahikes.com/ftetoniahwest
Date Hiked: January 20, 2020
Location: Jennings State Forest FL
Trail: North Fork Black Creek & Fire and Water
Distance: 6.7 miles
Lesson(s):
1. I really don’t like hiking sandy trails.
Links:
https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Jennings-State-Forest
Date Hiked: January 20, 2020
Location: Jennings State Forest FL
Trail: Dunn’s Farm
Distance: 2.7 miles
Lesson(s):
1. A hike with friends is always delightful!
Links:
https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Jennings-State-Forest
Date Hiked: January 12, 2020
Location: Cary State Forest, FL
Trail: Nature Trail
Distance: 1.2 miles
Lesson(s):
1. ???
Links:
https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Cary-State-Forest
Date Hiked: January 5, 2020
Location: Tillie K. Fowler Regional Park, FL
Trail: Island Trail & Tower Trail
Distance: 3.5 miles
Lesson(s):
1. Trails close to home can still be a great getaway
Links:
https://www.coj.net/departments/parks-and-recreation/recreation-and-community-programming/parks/tillie-k–fowler-regional-park.aspx
Date Hiked: December 13, 2019
Location: Ralph E. Simmons State Forest, FL
Trail: Yellow-Red
Distance: 3 miles
Lesson(s):
1. Rainy Fridays are a good guarantee for a quiet hike void of humans.
Links:
https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Ralph-E-Simmons-State-Forest
Date Hiked: December 8, 2019
Location: Welaka State Forest, FL
Trail: Mud Spring & Johns Landing
Distance: 5.7 miles
Lesson(s):
1. ???
Links:
https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Welaka-State-Forest
Date Hiked: November 30, 2019
Location: Withlacoochee State Forest, FL
Trail: Croom Tract A
Distance: 7.7 miles
Lesson(s):
1. Hills exist south of Orlando, FL
Links:
https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Withlacoochee-State-Forest
Date Hiked: November 24, 2019
Location: Seaton Creek Historic Preserve, FL
Trail: Earthworks, American Forest, & Trail Road
Distance: 2.4 miles
Lesson(s):
1. ???
Links:
https://floridahikes.com/camp-milton
Date Hiked: November 24, 2019
Location: Seaton Creek Historic Preserve, FL
Trail: Houston Creek & Legacy Loop
Distance: 4 miles
Lesson(s):
1. A hot coffee on a cool autumn hike is a perfect start to a beautiful day.
2. The American Revolutionary War made it all the way into Florida for the Battle of Thomas Creek.
Links:
https://www.timucuanparks.org/seaton-creek-historic-preserve/
Date Hiked: November 17, 2019
Location: San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park, FL
Trail: Moonshine Creek & Creek Sink
Distance: 5 miles
Lesson(s):
1. ???
Links:
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/san-felasco-hammock-preserve-state-park
Date Hiked: October 26, 2019
Location: Jennings State Park, FL
Trail: Pioneer
Distance: 10 miles
Lesson(s):
1. Go slow and watch for spider webs across the trail.
Links:
https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Jennings-State-Forest/Pioneer-Trail
Date Hiked: August 11, 2019
Location: Welaka State Park, FL
Trail: Johns Landing
Distance: 4 miles
Lesson(s):
1. Taking breaks and staying quiet is the best way to see wildlife.
Links:
https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Welaka-State-Forest
Date Hiked: August 3, 2019
Location: O’Leno State Park, FL
Trail: River Sink & Paraner’s Branch
Distance: 5.9 miles
Lesson(s):
1. ???
Links:
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/oleno-state-park
Date Hiked: July 21, 2019
Location: Alligator Lake Park, Lake City, FL
Trail: Possum Trot, Capybara, Bobcat, & Deer
Distance: 4 miles
Lesson(s):
1. Florida flies don’t care about your bug spray.
Links:
https://www.naturalnorthflorida.com/things-to-do/alligator-lake-park/
Date Hiked: July 13, 2019
Location: Black Bear Wilderness Area, Sanford, FL
Trail: Black Bear Loop
Distance: 7 miles
Lesson(s):
1. It is possible to hike comfortably in Florida in July.
Links:
https://floridahikes.com/black-bear-wilderness
Date Hiked: June 16, 2019
Location: Little Talbot Island State Park, FL
Trail: Dune Ridge
Distance: 4 miles
Lesson(s):
1. Walk in the woods, cool. Walk on the beach, not so much.
Links:
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/little-talbot-island-state-park
Date Hiked: May 26-28, 2019
Location: Three Ridges Wilderness, Blue Ridge Mountains, Tyro, Virginia
Trail: Three Ridges Wilderness Loop
Distance: 14.5 miles
Lesson(s):
1. Pack less food
2. When you gotta go, you gotta go.
3. I really need to learn how to manage water intake.
Links:
https://www.hikingupward.com/GWNF/ThreeRidges/
Date Hiked: May 5, 2019
Location: Etoniah Creek State Park, Palatka, FL
Trails: Florida National Scenic Trail
Distance: 7 miles total
Lesson(s):
1. Sometimes a change in plans leads to an exciting adventure
2. Check the weather more closely for severe storms.
Links:
https://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Etoniah-Creek-State-Forest
Date Hiked: April 21, 2019
Location: Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, Palm Coast, FL
Trails: Bella Vista system and Mala Compra
Distance: 2 milesLesson(s):
1. Put aside the worries of the present, the past and the future. Take the time to step away from everything, to be in the moment and take it in in all its wonder.
Links:
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/washington-oaks-gardens-state-park
Date Hiked: April 14, 2019
Location: Princess Place Preserve, Palm Coast, FL, and Fort Matanzas National Monument, St Augustine, FL
Trail: Legacy, Artesian, Oak; Nature Trail
Distance: 6 miles total between trails and road walking
Lesson(s):
1. No matter how well you think you’ve treated to prevent ticks, check, check, and CHECK AGAIN.
Links:
http://www.flaglercounty.org/departments/princess_place_preserve/index.php
https://www.nps.gov/foma/index.htm -Fort Matanzas
Date Hiked: April 7, 2019
Location: Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park, Jacksonville, FL
Trails: Red Square, Blue Circle, Hiking
Distance: 6 miles
Lesson(s):
1. Take all the water you think you’ll need and then take even more
2. Take a second form of sun protection besides sunblock; sun hat, umbrella, something, just not a pinecone.
Links:
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/pumpkin-hill-creek-preserve-state-park
Date Hiked: March 16, 2019
Location: Seminole State Forest, FL
Trail: Lower Wekiva Loop
Distance: 10 miles
Lesson(s):
1. WATER WATER WATER; put up the trek poles and carry water in your hand if needed.
2. The higher the temperature, the shorter the hikes
Links:
https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7044895/seminole-state-forest-southern-loop
Date Hiked: March 10, 2019
Location: Ravine Gardens, Palatka, FL
Trail: Azalea Trail
Distance: 2.5 miles
Lesson(s):
1. If a trail says strenuous, it might actually be strenuous
2. Bring your trekking poles even for the short hikes
Links:
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/ravine-gardens-state-park
Date Hiked: March 2, 2019
Location: Suwannee, FL
Trail: Florida National Scenic Trail
Distance: 10 miles
Lesson(s):
1. For day trips, pack a spare set of clothes to change into after the hike.
2. Hiking in thunderstorms isn’t the worst thing ever.
Links:
https://www.floridatrail.org/ididahike2019/
Date Hiked: February 16, 2019
Location: Bayard Conservation Area
Trail: White Blaze
Distance: 7 miles
Lesson(s):
1. Hiking barefoot is sometimes the way to go.
Links:
https://www.sjrwmd.com/lands/recreation/bayard/
Date Hiked: January 21, 2019
Location: Rice Creek Conservation Area
Trail: Florida National Scenic Trail, white blaze
Distance: 11 miles
Lesson(s):
1. When hiking in a swamp, choose your footwear wisely.
Links:
https://www.sjrwmd.com/lands/recreation/rice-creek/
Date Hiked: January 5, 2019
Location: Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve
Trail: Yellow, Purple, and Red
Distance: 11.3 miles
Lesson(s):
1. Take time to pause, to breathe, and to let the mind wander while the body remains still.
Links:
https://gtmnerr.org/
Date Hiked: November 24, 2018
Location: Ocala National Forest
Trail: Yearling, Salt Springs Observation, & St. Francis
Distance: 15.2 miles
Lesson(s):
1. ???
Links:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/ocala
Date Hiked: September 1-2, 201
Location: Joyce Kilmer Slickrock Creek Wilderness
Trail: Slickrock Loop (Stiffknee Trail, Slickrock Creek Trail, Big Stack Gap Branch Trail and the Fodderstack Trail)
Distance: 12? miles
Lesson(s):
1. For a first time backpacking trip, don’t pick one of the toughest trails
2. Don’t pack all the water you think you will need for two days (learned second hand)
3. GPS is great but paper maps are superior.
Links:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/recarea/?recid=70827
https://rootsrated.com/knoxville-tn/backpacking-camping/joyce-kilmer-slickrock-wilderness-loop
Date Hiked: April 14, 2018
Location: Bulow Creek State Park
Trail: Bulow Woods
Distance: 13.6 miles
Lesson(s):
1. Coral snakes are beautiful nope ropes.
Links:
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/bulow-creek-state-park
Date Hiked: February 19, 2018
Location: Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park
Trail: Battlefield & Florida National Scenic Trail
Distance: 10 miles
Lesson(s):
1. Hiking solo is wonderful!
Links:
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/olustee-battlefield-historic-state-park
Date Hiked: January 27, 2018
Location: Suwannee River State Park
Trail: Balanced Rock, Lime Sink Run, Suwannee River, Big Oak
Distance: 18 miles
Lesson(s):
1. You can eat all the pizza you want, after hiking 18 miles.
Links:
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/suwannee-river-state-park
Date Hiked: August 20, 2017
Location: Blood Mountain, GA
Trail: Blood Mountain Loop (Appalachian Trail, Freeman Trail, & Byron Reece)
Distance: 6 miles
Lesson(s):
1. I need trekking poles
2. I am out of shape for the shape I’m in.
Links:
https://www.atlantatrails.com/blood-mountain/
The Hiking Blueberry 