The arrival of May means summer is almost upon the Sunshine State! Warming temperatures and humidity often keep people inside, but there’s still so much to explore outdoors. Consider visiting a spring to keep cool, or focus your outdoor exercising to early morning and evening to avoid midday heat waves. Looking to hit the trails? Enjoy a hike or bike ride under the shaded canopy of a Florida State Forest.
This month on the Outdoor Florida Webinar we are featuring guests from American Trails and the FDEP Land and Recreation Grants Department to talk about funding opportunities for trail and recreation projects. American Trails will be discussing their Trail Fund and Legacy Trail Programs, while our FDEP guests will cover a range of grant opportunities including the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) and the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). Attend the webinar live for a chance to ask your grant questions to our experts. Click here to sign up.
The five-year updates to the Florida Greenways and Trails System priority and opportunity maps were presented to and approved by the Florida Greenways and Trails Council in mid-April. The Council also endorsed the designation of four new Trail Towns: Brooksville, Mount Dora, Tallahassee’s Capital Cascades Corridor, and Milton. Be sure to add them to your summer road trip list!
Resources:
Office of Greenways and Trails Trail Town Program
Download our fun May 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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