Florida Hiking Trails
Florida Hiking Trails
1. Eglin Air Force Base (AFB)
Preserved as Choctawhatchee National Forest in 1908, the rolling hills
of Eglin AFB provide one of the most beautiful venues for backpacking
in Florida. The Florida Trail meanders between Crestview and
DeFuniak Springs through dense forests where old-growth oaks and
pines stand sentinel above rushing creeks, and pitcher plants grow on
steep slopes. Primitive campsites with benches, fire rings, and nearby
water sources are spaced 8-12 miles apart. Use the trailheads off SR
85, SR 287, and US 331 to enjoy round-trip day hikes. To hike the
trail, an annual Eglin Recreational Permit is required. Contact the Eglin
Natural Resources Branch for a permit.
Length: 49 miles total
Eglin Natural Resources Branch
(850) 882-4164, 7:00-4:30 M-TH, 7:00-6:00 FR, 7:30-12:30 Sat.;
All times CST
www.floridatrail.org
2. Pine Log State Forest
Inside Pine Log State Forest,
established north of Panama City
in 1936 as Florida’s first state forest,
hikers enjoy several options to explore
rolling sandhills topped with longleaf
pine and wiregrass, pine plantations,
and hardwood forests along burbling
creeks. A hiking-only segment of the
Florida Trail crosses the entire length
of the forest, converging with the
Campground Loop and the Dutch
& Faye Trail, at the trailhead kiosk at
beautiful Sand Pond, located off SR 79.
Length: 6 miles (Florida Trail); 2 miles (Campground Loop);
5 miles (Dutch & Faye)
Pine Log State Forest
(850) 872-4175, 7:00-4:00 CST M-F
www.fl-dof.com
www.floridatrail.org
Sand Pond
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3. Florida Caverns State Park
Nowhere else in Florida does a hiking trail go straight through a
cave—the long skinny Tunnel Cave on the Floodplain Trail at
Florida Caverns State Park, north of Marianna. Best known as the
location of the only public cave tour in Florida, the park’s hiking-
only Cavern Trail System circles a paved walk