Does Florida have good hiking trails?
Yes, the following will make you feel like you just stepped foot in the jungle.
Despite the lack of elevation for lookout point hikes, Florida boasts unique trails, unlike those of anywhere else in the country. The most wild and exotic adventure awaits you at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, promising a journey that will leave you in awe.
What is the largest Preserve in Florida?
The Big Cypress National Preserve
Big Cypress National Preserve contains over 700,000 acres. To its east is the Everglades National Park, and to the west is the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park. Fakahatchee Strand’s 85,000 acres are part of the Big Cypress Swamp drainage slough. The Fakahatchee Strand is a swamp forest, roughly twenty miles long and five miles wide, oriented from north to south.
What trail in Florida offers the most adventure?
For a genuinely unparalleled adventure that will transport you to what feels like the heart of the Amazon, the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park is a destination you can’t miss. Its trails and roads offer a journey into the depths of nature, promising encounters with awe-inspiring flora and fauna found nowhere else. This is a place where you can truly immerse yourself in the wild, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Imagine the thrill of spotting numerous and sometimes dozens of gators year round, a sight that even the Everglades National Park can’t match. The Fakahatchee, meaning “river with muddy banks” in Muskogee, a Seminole language, is a lush haven filled with unique vegetation and cypress trees, offering a stark contrast to the river of grass environment that characterizes the Everglades. And there are plenty of gators every time! This unique environment is home to forty-four native orchids and 14 native bromeliad species, a treasure trove for nature enthusiasts. Remember, everything in this and all Florida parks is protected; nothing should be removed or collected.
What is the history of Fakahatchee strand?
In 1913, the Lee-Tidewater Cypress Company purchased the land now Fakahatchee Strand Preserve to log the cypress.
As you traverse the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve, you’re not just exploring a park but stepping into a living piece of history. In 1913, the Lee-Tidewater Cypress Company purchased the land for logging, a pivotal event that has shaped the park’s landscape. Today, the miles of tram roads that were once used to remove this valuable timber are now utilized as trails, a testament to the park’s rich history and resilience. This is where nature and history intertwine, inviting you to be a part of its story.
What animals are in Fakahatchee Strand Preserve?
Many threatened, and even endangered and rare species can be spotted while exploring Fakahatchee Strand.
Imagine the thrill of encountering black bears, barred owls, alligators, the elusive Endangered Florida panthers, threatened Eastern indigo snakes, Everglades minks, diamondback terrapin turtles, and many more species in their natural habitat. This thrilling wildlife experience awaits you at the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park. It’s a place where you can get up close and personal with some of Florida’s most fascinating creatures, a truly unforgettable experience for any nature enthusiast.
Fakahatchee strand things to do
Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park has four main use areas: the Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk, East River, Jones Grade Lakes, and Janes Memorial Scenic Drive. You can enjoy hiking, fishing, wildlife spotting, picnicking, and scenic drives here!
Most of Fakahatchee Strand is north of Tamiami Trail and west of State Road 29.
Mosquitos are brutal throughout this region, do not make the regrettable mistake of forgetting bug spray!
Scenic drive
Janes Memorial Scenic Drive is the main access point to most hiking and biking trails in the park.
Janes Memorial Scenic Drive is a 6-mile dirt road off State Road 29 that offers numerous opportunities for hiking or biking at numbered gates along the drive. A further 4.5 miles open for exploration continues after the road is closed off for vehicle traffic, extending to the park’s border with Picayune Strand State Forest.
Fakahatchee Strand hiking trails
Multiple hiking opportunities exist off Jane’s Scenic Drive, State Road 29, and Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41).
If coming in from the north on State Road 29, Jones Grade lakes and trail will be your first trail opportunity, and there is a small, pretty lake only 10-15 minutes from the trailhead. The Jones Grade trail connects to the East Main tram trail, which holds many gators. We’ve hiked the East Main tram trail starting at the south entrance at the end of the Jane’s Scenic Drive, almost an hour drive into the park from the park entrance office. There are about 20 trails throughout the park’s boundaries of all different distances. There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy nature and have some exhilarating animal encounters!
The Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk, off the Tamiami Trail, is 2,500 feet long and winds through the Fakahatchee Strand swamp. It ends at an alligator pond and observation deck.
Fakahatchee Strand Paddling
The East River canoe launch off Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) allows one to get up close and personal with gators in their territory!
This brackish water paddling trail runs south of Tamiami Trail. It flows southwest to Fakahatchee Bay and the Ten Thousand Islands. If you are not already comfortable and have yet to experience up-close encounters with alligators, we recommend skipping this paddle and choosing a hiking trail or scenic drive to judge your fear level and build your gator smarts.
