Sharing the best of Florida hiking

Trailwalkers

Information

Earn your badges as you walk the trails listed in our State Forests. Become a Trailwalker, a Trail Blazer, and then a Trail Master by logging your hikes and submitting them to: The Florida State Forests Trailwalker Program.

Website: http://www.fl-dof.com/forest_recreation/trailwalker_index.html
Location: Florida
Members: 23
Latest Activity: 1 day ago

Become a Trail Walker by hiking in Florida's State Forests

Earn a badge and become a Trail Walker by hiking in Florida's State Forests and share your stories and photos of your adventures with us. If you are just getting stared, it is easy! Here are the rules:

1. Hike a total of 10 trails from the TRAIL LIST in at least 5 different Florida State Forests. Pick up a pre-paid postal survey card for that trail at each trailhead. Fill it out and mail it in after the hike is completed.

2. Log your hikes on the Trailwalker'sLog to record your progress. As you send in your survey cards, the State Forest will send you a sticker for that hike. Affix the sticker next to your log entry.

3. After you have hiked 10 trails in 5 different Forrests, send the completed Trailwalker log to recieve a Trailwalker patch.

Trailblazer
If you walk another ten trails in an additional five or more state forests, you will achieve the next level: Trailblazer. For your accomplishment, you get a new patch and certificate.

Trailmaster
If you walk thirty (30) trails from the Trail List, you will achieve the third and final level: Trailmaster. For this accomplishment, you will receive one last patch and certificate.

For the complete set of rules and the list of trails go to:
Florida State Forests Trailwalker Program

Trailwalkers Wall of Fame

Trailwalkers
Sandra Friend
Barbara Bowen
Brickman Way
Doug Jenkins
Peter Dulley
Laura Kocuba

Trailblazers
Sandra Friend
Doug Jenkins
Barbara Bowen

Trailmasters
Doug Jenkins

Discussion Forum

What have been your favorite Trailwalker Hikes? 8 Replies

Started by Barbara Bowen. Last reply by Laura Kocuba Mar 3.

Trailwalker Camp Out at Janie's Birdhouse on the Withlacoochee River North - Feb 20th 14 Replies

Started by Barbara Bowen. Last reply by Janie Hamilton Feb 19.

Comment Wall

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Comment by Janie Hamilton 1 day ago: Laura and Barbara, thanks for the birthday wishes. Laura, glad you got to spend some time here, look forward to next year and I will hold you to the drinks.

Comment by Barbara Bowen on March 9, 2010 at 1:24pm: Yes...and Happy B-day Janie! Laura is leaving tomorrow so we are going out for beers tonight. We will have a drink or two for you!

Comment by Barbara Bowen on March 9, 2010 at 1:23pm: Thx Brickman. I will definitely have to put that one on my list.

Comment by Bricky Way on March 9, 2010 at 12:47pm

Yesterday on the way back from visiting my family in SC I took a detour and visited Ralph E. Simmons S.F., just south of the FL/GA border near Folkston. I knew the 3 mile walk would be on woods roads so was prepared to be unimpressed but the trail definitely exceeded my expectations. After starting out on a dismal gravel road through young pine the trail doglegs into a beautiful sand hill habitat that was filled with golden wiregrass and lots of other interesting groundcover. The trail the descends through hardwood forest to the St. Mary's River, where it follows sandy bluffs with occasional views. The trail runs away from the river along a tremendous power line through more bottomland hardwoods before veering away into more sandhill. There is a surprising amount of elevation change, the trail climbs about 70 feet from the river up to the sandhill habitat on the return trip and about 100 feet total to the parking lot. A wild turkey ran down the road ahead of me as I neared my truck.

If they could move the trail off of the woods road, this would probably rank as one of the best mid-length hikes.

. As it is, its well worth a visit.

Comment by Laura Kocuba on March 9, 2010 at 11:43am: Janie, I just want to wish you a Happy Birthday today!!! I hope you have an awesome day and I hope to come to the Birdhouse next year!!! I'll buy you two Birthday drinks next year!!! :)

Comment by Laura Kocuba on March 2, 2010 at 9:05pm: Thanks Janie!!! I can't wait to come to the Birdhouse again next year!!!!

Comment by Janie Hamilton on March 2, 2010 at 7:17pm: Congratulations Laura! I still have a few more to go. I got 2 stickers yesterday. Maybe I will catch up after you go home.

Comment by Barbara Bowen on March 2, 2010 at 1:27pm: Congratulations to Laura for completing Trailwalker Boot Camp 2010!
She was such a trooper....luckily we only wore a few holes in her socks...=)
Laura is now officially added to our Wall of Fame as a Trailwalker.

Comment by Barbara Bowen on March 2, 2010 at 1:23pm: We have new comrade! Dana Collins from Lakeland. Thanks for joining us! We look forward to hearing about you adventures on the trail!

Comment by Laura Kocuba on March 2, 2010 at 10:38am: Saturday morning I was ripped from my cozy bed at 6:00am to go hiking in the rain. The only motivating factor was the anticipation of completing my Trailwalker status!!! The first hike, Lake McKethan was done in a drizzle and was a very pretty hike, luckily we saw a couple of deer. The second hike, Hog Island was one of my favorites with the giant Cypress knees and the flock of wild turkeys!! Finally the weather cleared for my third and fourth hikes of the day, Johnson's Pond and Oxbow which were unique in their own right. Johnson's Pond had giant Rosemary scrub areas which I had not seen before and the Oxbow had a great view of the river and TONS of deer moss which reminded me of the snow I am missing back home. All hikes were done in the Withlacoochee State Forest which is quite spectacular!! I would like to Thank my best friend, Barbara Bowen, not only for her hospitality for two months, but also for pushing me to get out and hike!!! Not only did I complete Trailwalker status, but I have one hike under my belt for next years quest to become a Trailblazer!!!!