Florida Gulf Coast Trail Logo Design Contest - Now Open!
Even though we celebrate trails year-round, the first Saturday in June is officially known as National Trails Day! This holiday celebrates trail advocacy and service with public events across the nation. To celebrate, we are partnering with the Trust for Public Land (TPL) to launch a logo design contest for the Florida Gulf Coast Trail (FGT). When complete, the FGT will be a 336-mile-long trail corridor stretching from Hillsborough to Collier County. This monumental pathway will connect millions of residents and tourists to the physical, mental, and economic benefits of a great trail. Providing space for a quick jog before work, improved connectivity to the store, or a multi-day bike ride end to end—the Florida Gulf Coast Trail is packed with potential.
Visit TPL’s official contest webpage for more information or to submit your design. Entries close July 22nd! A group of finalists will be selected from the submissions and presented to the public for a final vote later this year, so even if you are not submitting a design you can help us choose a winner. Aside from helping shape the identity of this up-and-coming trail, TPL will award the winning designer with a $5,000 prize!
On the Outdoor Florida Webinar this month, we are catching up with Wesley Trimble from the American Hiking Society to cover all things National Trails Day. Join us on June 14th at 10:00 am Eastern for a look at this year’s festivities, a history of how it started, and opportunities to get involved now and in the future. Sign up here.
Are you hosting an outdoor-focused event this summer? Let us know! The Office of Greenways and Trails is always looking for new outreach opportunities where we can share educational information about outdoor recreation and trails.
Resources:
National Trails Day – Find an Event
Download our fun June iPhone background!
The initial scouting and mapping of the 1,515-mile Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail (CT) was completed in 2007, but for a trail of this length and magnitude, periodic updates are needed. For our latest map upgrade, we changed the appearance and scope of the 26 segment maps to make them clearer and with more information. Check them out on the CT segments page.
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 (Ch. 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 OptionsNone available at this time.
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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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