Although you won't be climbing any mountains in this relatively flat state, there are thousands of beautiful hiking trails in Florida. The ideal hiking months are October through April, when the weather is cool and dry and mosquitoes are less prominent. Like anywhere else, you'll find trails that are gentle and short, and others that are challenging -- some trails in the Everglades require you to wade waist-deep in water!
Most Florida snakes are harmless, but a few have deadly bites, so it's a good idea to avoid them all. If you're venturing into the backcountry, watch out for gators, and don't ever try to feed them (or any wild animal). You risk getting bitten (they can't tell the difference between the food and your hand). You're also upsetting the balance of nature, as animals fed by humans lose their ability to find their own food.
The Florida Trail Association, 5415 SW 13th St., Gainesville, FL 32608 (tel. 877/HIKE-FLA or 352/378-8823; www.florida-trail.org), maintains a large percentage of the public trails in the state and puts out an excellent book packed with maps, details, and color photos.
For a copy of Florida Trails, which outlines the many options, contact Visit Florida. Another resource is A Guide to Your National Scenic Trails, from the Office of Greenways and Trails, Department of Environmental Protection, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32399 (tel. 850/245-2118; www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt). You can also contact the office of National Forests in Florida, Woodcrest Office Park, 325 John Knox Rd., Suite F-100, Tallahassee, FL 32303 (tel. 850/523-8500; www.southernregion.fs.fed.us/florida). Finally, Hiking Florida, by M. Timothy O'Keefe (Falcon Press; www.falcbooks.com), details 132 hikes throughout the state, with maps and photos.
