5 Perfect Florida Trails for a Holiday Hike

The holidays are a time of indulgence, right? It’s okay to eat a little more, drink a little more (responsibly, of course). And if you’re not accustomed to it (who is?), it gets to feel a bit…too much. One of the best ways to stay active and get outdoors is to enjoy one of many Florida trails for a holiday hike.

Wherever you find yourself in Florida, there’s likely a fun trail nearby, and there’s likely a trail at a distance you want, whether that’s long or short. The following are some of my favorites, and trails I think are great for a holiday hike, offering the opportunity to get out for hours or just a few minutes. 

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Alaqua Trailhead South, Defuniak Springs

For hardcore hikers, the Florida Trail is a challenge which provides a unique experience even to hikers who have completed other long hikes like the Appalachian Trail. The great news is that many people section the Trail or just hike small pieces of it, and this is the case with the Alaqua Trailhead, whether you go north or south.

Heading south, you can hike over creeks and marshes (on narrow boardwalks) and through forests. The out and back hike is 10 miles, but choose your own hike and make it as short as you’d like.

Black Bear Wilderness Loop, Sanford

A short drive from Orlando, Black Bear Wilderness Loop offers one of the best experiences for nature lovers. The 1,600 acre site features a variety of wetland habitats within the floodplain of the St Johns River. A variety of wildlife call the various ecosystems home, from white-tailed deer and black bear to swallow-tailed kite and wild hogs.

This trail is an ideal one to see nature during the holidays as it’s best experienced during cooler weather. You’ll have a better chance to see wildlife when the weather isn’t stifling hot, and the drier conditions found during cooler weather also means the trails will be mostly dry. The loop is 7 miles, and there’s no intermediate point from which to exit so once you’re committed, you’re committed. Of course, you could also just do a mile or so out and back rather than the entire loop.

Myakka Hiking Trail, Sarasota

Myakka River State Park is one of the largest state parks in Florida and offers miles of trails for a holiday hike. The Myakka Hiking Trail is one of the best trails for hiking in Florida, and one of the longest. Four loops total 39 miles which pass through hydric hammocks, prairies, and wetlands.

Along the hike, you might encounter a wide range of wildlife and native plant life, most notably a huge concentration of alligators at Deep Hole. If you plan to hike to Deep Hole, though, you’ll need to get a first-come, first-serve permit at the ranger station. While at the park, you might also enjoy the canopy walkway, a 100-foot long walkway through the treetops 25 feet off the ground.

Pine Island Trails, Homestead

The Pine Island trails are in Everglades National Park, generally at or near Ernest Coe Visitor Center. Many of these trails are short, paved or on boardwalks, making them accessible to a lot of people who want to find trails for a holiday hike. This is also one of the factors which make these some of the best nature trails in Florida. The most popular are the Anhinga Trail (0.8 miles), Gumbo Limbo Trail (0.4 miles), and Payahokee Overlook (0.16 miles).

The super convenient thing about the Pine Island Trails is that you can jump in your car and head to another trailhead right down the road, adding up the length as you go without it being one long stretch of hiking. However, if you crave something longer, the Long Pine Key Trails are a group of connecting trails which add up to more than 22 miles.

Timucuan Preserve Trails, Jacksonville

The Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve in Jacksonville is an area which includes many smaller parks and preserves, protecting the ecological and historical importance of this area. It stretches from Fort Caroline to the south along the southern bank of the Nassau River past I-95. It includes places like Big Talbot Island State Park, Kingsley Plantation, Fort George Island Cultural State Park, and others.

The most popular trails in the Timucuan Preserve enable visitors to walk in the footsteps of history while enjoying nature. For example, Fort Caroline National Monument offers several hikes at or less than 1 mile which pass through shady hammocks in areas where the Timucua tribe lived. At Kingsley Plantation, visitors can see the slave cabins and plantation house overlooking the marsh as well as take an interpretive hike through the nearby forest. And at Big Talbot and Little Talbot Islands, walk a couple of miles of beaches, including Boneyard Beach where the petrified and sun-bleached remains of fallen trees create amazing photo ops.

Wrapping It Up: Trails for a Holiday Hike

During the holidays, we don’t necessarily need to be out on the trails all day (though that’s perfectly acceptable, too!), but it’s great to have some options nearby to get out for a couple of hours and get your nature fix in. If you’re visiting Florida for the first time, it’s also a great way to learn more about the nature and history of the Sunshine State.

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Hiking Resources:

Hiking Boots: My go-to hiking boot is Merrell’s Waterproof Hiking Boot. It’s extremely comfortable, lightweight, and water-resistant – perfect for Florida!

Hiking Day Pack: This daypack from Waterfly has been the best addition to my outdoor gear this year. I often take my camera and phone as well as the water we have to have in Florida’s heat. This pack is lightweight and has tons of pockets for storing everything I need to take with me.

Swell Water Bottle: I most often take my Swell bottles with me because they keep water cold, a must for me when hiking in Florida’s heat.

Collapsible Water Bottle: This is a great water bottle to keep in a hiking pack and fill at home or keep in the car in case you forget your Swell bottle at home.

Walking Poles: Though Florida’s mostly flat, there are places and times when walking poles are useful. I love these for their durability and because they’re collapsible so are easy to carry and store.

Hotels: We use Booking.com for lodging when we’re ready to compare and book hotels.