Office of Greenways and Trails

September on the Trails: Observe, Explore, Discover

While September in Florida can still bring the heat, it also offers unique outdoor experiences you won’t want to miss before summer fades. If you’re in Southwest Florida, try spotting the ghost orchid and look for its striking white blossoms dancing in the wind, typically blooming during the humid summer months. Or visit one of the largest and deepest freshwater springs in Florida at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park and watch for wildlife such as the Anhinga or Gallinule. Use the Online Trail Guide to locate trails near you.

Get Involved

Have an upcoming community event? Share your regional or statewide conferences, summits or non-motorized trail activities with us and we’ll help spread the word through our Community Trails Calendar.

Free Resources

Request a hard copy of our Unpaved Trail Guidelines by emailing: OfficeofGreenwaysandTrails@FloridaDEP.Gov. These guidelines can be downloaded here: (pages 1-22, pages 23-44).

Free Informational Webinar: September 9 at 10 am

Join us for an engaging webinar led by Invasive Species Survey Coordinator Christian Wanamaker. If you’re curious about invasive species and how Floridians can help protect natural areas, this session is a great opportunity to learn something new and get inspired.

Click here to learn more and sign up for Outdoor Florida Webinar.

Florida Trail Town Spotlight: Titusville

Titusville sits at the crossroads of several long‑distance multi‑use trails and offers abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation. Located along the Indian River Lagoon and near Florida’s Space Coast, the town provides access to hiking, biking, paddling, wildlife viewing and scenic waterfront experiences. Visitors can explore local museums, parks and natural areas, enjoy community events and take advantage of amenities that support trail users.

The city has invested in improving trail connectivity, enhancing bicyclist and pedestrian safety, and creating welcoming spaces for residents and visitors. Titusville continues to grow as a vibrant hub for eco‑tourism and outdoor exploration.

While Titusville is known for its proximity to the Kennedy Space Center, there is much more to discover in this Trail Town. The surrounding area offers rich natural and cultural experiences, from exploring conservation lands and scenic waterways to enjoying the diverse ecosystems of the Indian River Lagoon. Visitors can immerse themselves in the region’s history, outdoor recreation and coastal landscapes through local museums, protected natural areas and miles of multi‑use trails. With its blend of space‑age heritage and expansive natural beauty, Titusville provides endless opportunities for discovery.

Don’t miss the Florida Greenways and Trails Summit

Taking place in St Petersburg, Florida November 9-10, this event, hosted by the Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation is a premier gathering for trail and greenway leaders. Join the event for two high energy days packed with expert presentations, hands‑on insights, networking and events highlighting design, planning, community engagement and the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

Future Events

Looking ahead, October is Greenways and Trails Month and preparations are underway. Join us for our annual First Day Bikes event on Saturday October 3 in Tallahassee. We will be at the Capital Circle Trailhead on the Tallahassee St. Marks Trail from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, welcoming riders of all ages to enjoy a morning on the trail.

If your community would also like to host a First Day Bike event, CLICK HERE for the template to help spread the word and invite others to participate.

Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail Story Map Guide

The Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail (C2C) was conceived as an ambitious effort to create a continuous paved multi-use trail across the state of Florida from the Gulf of America to the Atlantic Ocean, the first state trail of its kind in the United States. It will span approximately 250 miles and is currently 88 percent complete. The trail will link communities between St. Petersburg and Titusville along its entire length, allowing residents and visitors to explore Central Florida by bicycle or foot. The trail is linking all or part of several existing multi-use trails and will be managed by a broad range of communities and agencies. The Coast-to-Coast Trail Alliance is coordinated by OGT. For more information, visit OGT's C2C Alliance webpage.

The Coast-to-Coast Story Map Guide is the culmination of efforts to create a practical, adaptable, accessible mode for communicating information about the trail including wayfinding, alternate routes for large gaps, amenities and local information.

Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail Mapping Update

The initial scouting and mapping of the 1,515-mile Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail (CT) was completed in 2007, but periodic updates are needed for a trail of this length and magnitude. For our latest map upgrade, we changed the appearance and scope of the 26 segment maps to make them clearer and more informative. For more information, visit OGT's CT segments webpage. We have also created a CT Story Map and a Suwannee River Wilderness State Trail Story Map.

Outdoor Florida Webinar Series

For more information, visit the Outdoor Florida Webinar Series webpage.

Trail Safety Video

With our sunny skies and active lifestyles, Florida’s residents and visitors enjoy exploring our numerous miles of trails. Trail safety is important, particularly where trails and roadways cross. We all need to do our part to protect one another and prevent accidents. Whether as a motorist or trail user, we have a shared responsibility to:

Look and listen.
Obey signs and markings.
Take responsibility for our own safety.

The Florida Department of Transportation and the DEP's Division of Recreation and Parks joined together to put the spotlight on this important topic by developing a Trail Safety Video.

Feel free to share or download the video along with the extra information found below ... and remember to Always Put Safety First.

More Trail Safety Information
Trail Safety Poster
Trail Safety at Crossings

For even more information on trail safety, please visit our Assistance and Resources webpage.

For more information on requesting a speaker, visit the Contact Us webpage.

Do you enjoy hiking, biking, paddling or horseback riding? OGT, within the Division of Recreation and Parks, provides statewide leadership and coordination to establish, expand and promote non-motorized trails that make up the Florida Greenways and Trails System, pursuant to the Florida Greenways and Trails Act (Chapter 260, Florida Statutes). More can be found in the OGT office overview and historical timeline.

"Florida's Growing Trail System" article in the March/April 2019 issue of Quality Cities Magazine provides an overview of Florida's trail system and Trail Town program.

To be included in OGT's online calendar, send regional and state event announcements to OGT's inbox.

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