As temperatures continue to cool off this month, it is a great time to plan a trip to one of Florida’s Trail Towns and enjoy a hiking, cycling, equestrian, or paddling adventure. Many Trail Towns are near one or more state parks, so make it a weekend trip and explore somewhere new. Don’t forget, state park annual passes remain half off through January 13th as part of the Great Outdoors Initiative.
Join us for the Outdoor Florida webinar on December 13th at 10:00am. Our guest speakers from Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare will be discussing how the benefits of outdoor recreation are multiplied when combined with a healthy diet and exercise, including which foods best support an active lifestyle and the overlap between outdoor recreation and outdoor exercise. Get to know our featured speakers Afaf Qasem and Christine Morse here, and fill out the online sign-up form to tune into the livestream.
Thank you to everyone who submitted a vote in the Trust for Public Land’s Florida Gulf Coast Trail logo contest! Kelly Lure from Sarasota was the winning artist who drew inspiration for her logo design from vintage travel posters. View Kelly’s design and learn about the Florida Gulf Coast Trail on the Trust for Public Land website.
The DEP Land and Recreation Grants Section will be hosting an application webinar for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) next month on January 17th. RTP provides financial assistance for the development of recreational trails, trailheads, and trailside facilities. The fiscal year 2024-2025 RTP application cycle will open on Feb. 1, 2024.
The Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) is the state’s official document regarding outdoor recreation planning. The Office of Greenways and Trails is getting ready to kick off the next 5-year cycle for the 2027-2031 SCORP and needs your input. Please take a minute to share your thoughts by completing our SCORP survey. To review the previous SCORP, click here.
The Office of Greenways and Trails will have a booth set up at the City of Tallahassee’s Holiday Stroll at Cascades Park on December 9th. Stop by for some information about outdoor recreation and test your knowledge on our trivia wheel. Interested in having OGT set up a booth at your community event? Submit a request here or contact us.
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 Mexico 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 the Office of Greenways and Trails. Visit the website for more information on the C2C Alliance.
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.
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. Check them out on the CT segments page. We have also created a CT Story Map and a Suwannee River Wilderness State Trail Story Map.
With our sunny skies and active lifestyles, Florida’s residents and visitors enjoy exploring our many 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:
The Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection'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 |
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| Trail Safety Poster |
| Trail Safety at Crossings |
For even more information on trail safety, please visit our assistance and resources section.
Do you enjoy hiking, biking, paddling or horseback riding? The Office of Greenways and Trails (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 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 Doug Alderson.
Featured Publications: 2019-2023 Florida Greenways and Trails System Plan; Unpaved Non-Motorized Trail Guidelines; Trail Design Standards Infogram; 2023 Outdoor Recreation Economic Infographic; Establishing and Promoting a Paddling Trail or Blueways System.
Florida trails 500-plus miles in length:
Florida Bike Touring and State Trail Public Camping Options
Florida Bike Touring and State Trail Public Camping OptionsInterested in subscribing to DEP newsletters or receiving DEP updates through email?
Sign UpThe Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s lead agency for environmental management and stewardship – protecting our air, water and land. The vision of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is to create strong community partnerships, safeguard Florida’s natural resources and enhance its ecosystems.
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