Located just south of downtown Marianna, Hinson Conservation Area protects karst uplands along the scenic Chipola River. An existing greenway follows the river basin; the newly constructed trails showcase additional portions of the preserve, including titi swamps, a cave, and the remains of the historic Marianna & Blountstown railroad.

For details on the project, please see this story in the Jackson County Times: http://www.jacksoncountytimes.net/component/k2/item/1846-volunteers-put-finishing-touches-on-trails-at-hinson-conservation-and-recreation-area.html

Trailheads
Parking areas
Interpretive kiosks
Mileage markers

… in essence, anywhere. I know FTA did their best to rally against this commercialization of our public lands but the precedent will now be set, and it’s a terrible one. It’s one thing to thank a corporate partner for contributing to rebuilding a bridge or restoring habitat; quite another to put up signs for rent along our trails, where it seems far more appropriate to place signs thanking the volunteer efforts of those who labor to keep our trails open.

Here’s the full story in the Chicago Tribune: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-mct-florida-gov.-scott-signs-bill-to-allow-sponsorship-20120508,0,6070176.story

The EEL Program will be conducting tours of Fox Lake Sanctuary Scrub Restoration Project on May 17, May 20, May 24 and May 26. May 17 and May 26 will be 3 mile hikes through the area and May 20 and May 24 will be partial ride and a short walk.

Please contact 321-264-5185 to make a reservation or if you would like more information.

With Mother’s Day coming up, the good folks at Clif Bar have reached out to me to sponsor a contest. They’d like you to share some of their protein-packed chocolate-flavored energy bars with your active Mom.

It’s simple: before April 21, in the comments of this blog post, leave a short memory of your best hike ever with your Mom. One post per person. I’ll choose three great stories and Clif Bar will send you a prize pack in plenty of time for Mother’s Day so you can reward her for her active life…or just say thanks!

Be sure to include your email address (not in the body of the post, but when posting) so I can connect the prize winners with the folks from Clif Bar.

Do be sure to post your comments on the blog, not Facebook, so I can read them as I’m hiking the AT. Thanks, and I look forward to learning about your great hikes with Mom!

One of my favorite short walks in the Keys is at Bahia Honda State Park, The Silver Palm Trail showcases the largest stand of silver palms in America.

On April 18, the Travel Channel has a program called Park Secrets that will show off Bahia Honda in its glory. It airs at 8:30 pm that eve if you want to catch a sneak peek! Bonus: best beaches in the Keys. Enjoy!

This weekend festival celebrates the beginning of thru-hiker season on the Appalachian Trail, and that’s where we’re headed after I give two talks over the weekend!  When we return, hiking the Florida Trail – revisiting places I’ve been and filling in gaps I’ve missed – will be a priority.

Meanwhile, it’s farewell for now for the next six months. You’ll hear from me now and again on this blog, or you can follow occasional tidbits from my adventures on the home page until we return. Knowledgeable fellow hikers will be sharing Florida hiking information with you while we’re away.

Learn more about Dahlonega Trail Fest

My talks:
Sat Mar 17,  4 PM – Hiking the Florida Trail
Sun Mar 18, 2 PM – Hiking Florida State Parks

Follow our AT blog

The Florida Trail is only the tip of the iceberg, however, of hiking through this relatively young state forest. Members of the Central Chapter of the Florida Trail Association have been busy at work building loop trails through the forest as well, including one that connects to the Econlockhatchee River. This spring, a special effort will be underway by the “CCC” – Central Chapter Crew – to build a new section of trail along the river, connecting with Little-Big Econ State Forest. Volunteers are welcome to come out and be a part of this effort to open yet another new hiking trail in the Orlando area!

Connect with the “CCC” on Meetup

Hikes at Bronson State Forest
From Wheeler Rd via Seminole Ranch to Joshua Creek trailhead
From Chuluota Wilderness to Joshua Creek trailhead
Do an out-and-back hike from Joshua Creek trailhead

Read the bills here:  SB 268 and HB 181

The bill would permit advertising anywhere along Florida’s trails and Greenways. If you’re opposed to this action – it’s been couched in the guise of “raising funds for public lands” by allowing commercial sponsorship ON our public lands – please ACT NOW and contact your representative via phone or email immediately.

Here are the details:
A damaged Senate Bill that affects signs on state Greenways and trails is headed to the House. Please urge your Representative to reject SB 268 and only enact HB 181 without the amendment to expand the number of locations of these advertizing signs. Stakeholders negotiated in good faith to remove many potential sign locations from the bill and their agreement should be upheld.

SB 268 and HB 181 originally would have allowed a proliferation of advertising signs on state owned Greenways and trails. They were amended in committees (thanks to the efforts of trail, conservation, and scenic Florida groups) to limit signage to trail sponsorship signs on 7 named rail-trails in parking lots, at trailheads, and designated public access areas.

The Senate broke faith with the above agreement. On the floor they amended SB 268 to allow such signage on other state owned Greenway and trail properties.

Please urge your Representative to reject SB 268 and enact HB 181 without amendment.

Find your Representative

Formerly a Florida State Park until a land swap with Florida Fish & Wildlife less than a decade ago, Tosohatchee is a botanical wonderland in the bottomlands along the St. Johns River. Ancient trees – including a virgin cypress forest – plus expansive pine flatwoods filled with wildflowers and palm hammocks dense with ferns and bromeliads make this a “wow” destination for day hiking or backpacking.

This winter, we took on two of Tosohatchee’s trails to scout them for my next book.  Creating a nearly 12-mile rugged loop, the White Loop encompasses a large segment of the Florida Trail as it passes through the reserve. There is a fee to hike within this part of Tosohatchee if you enter off Taylor Creek Road south of Christmas.

A separate loop – the Taylor Creek Loop – sits very close to Lone Cabbage Fish Camp on the way towards Cocoa along SR 520. There is no charge at this entrance. The 4.7-mile loop includes a primitive campsite but is an excellent day hike through old-growth palm hammocks.

Hike the White Loop
Hike the Taylor Creek Loop
Learn more about Tosohatchee WMA from FWC

I received this follow-up email after the family’s trip:

Thanks for your wonderful suggestions, we managed to do the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve walk (my kids and I) and we had a wonderful time. We were very fortunate to get in touch with a wildlife volunteer and thanks to her, saw some good birds and an alligator and learnt a lot about nature. My sons (10 and 8) loved it so much that when asked to rate their favorites of an action-packed vacation, they ranked this walk #2. Just to get an idea of how huge this is, here is their list

Pretty cool, eh?

Photo courtesy of Venkat Iyengar
Learn more about Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve