Florida is filled with parks and trails that showcase unique cultural and historic focal points such as Native American shell mounds, historic gardens, ship ruins, and more. To celebrate Florida Archaeology Month, the Outdoor Florida Webinar is covering best practices for promotion and protection of cultural and historic sites that are part of public trails and greenways. Guest speakers from the Florida Public Archaeology Network and the Randell Research Center/Florida Museum will be discussing a variety of best practices for managing, interpreting, and visiting these special areas. Tune in live at 10:00am EST on March 8th. Click here to sign up.
March is also Florida Bicycle Month and the start of Spring, which is a great opportunity to find biking events near you or to explore your neighborhood bike trails. Our partners at Bike Florida and the Florida Bicycle Association offer many resources about bike safety, advocacy, group rides, and more. Cycling offers numerous health benefits, and research suggests that commuting by bike instead of car once a day decreases your transportation carbon footprint by 67%!
On March 25th, the Office of Greenways and Trails will have a booth at 7 Creeks Fest in Jacksonville at Betz-Tiger Point Preserve. Stop by to celebrate and explore the scenic waterways, diverse ecosystems, and winding trails of the 7 Creeks Recreation Area. We will also have a booth at the Suwannee River Paddling Festival at Suwannee River State Park on March 31st. We hope to see you there!
Resources:
Dig Deep into Archaeology in State Parks
Florida Bike Trails Map by Florida Hikes
Download our fun March 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 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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