October is Florida Greenways and Trails Month

Take a Hike

~Take a hike, bike, horseback ride or paddle at a state park or trail for Florida Greenways and Trails Month.~

October is Florida Greenways and Trails Month. Cooler temperatures outside make it perfect for a visit to a state park or state trail for outdoor fun.

Trail-related activities throughout the state include bird-watching, nature hikes, medicinal plant walks, bike rides, paddling tours, kayak lessons and more.

If you are unable to make it to a specific event, think about coordinating your own event. Invite family and friends to join you on an outdoor adventure. Check out this trail guide for a map of trails across Florida.

Hiking

There are planned hikes at many state parks in October. Of special note is the Incredible Autumn Wildflower walk at Ichetucknee Springs State Park on Oct. 10 at 9 a.m. You’ll see lots of colorful blooms on this walk.

Biking

Biking is another great way to stay in shape and discover the beauty of Florida’s state parks. The Santos Trails near Ocala on the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway offer more than 80 miles of off-road bike trails for mountain biking enthusiasts.

On October 4, the 21^st Annual Rails to Trails Bike Ride on the Withlacoochee State Trail will begin at 7 a.m. You can choose your own distance on the 46-mile long trail or you can choose the Century Ride to ride for 100 miles. $30 per rider.

Equestrian Trails

Equestrians can also enjoy a good trail ride this time of year. Find a trail near you or even pack up for a weekend away at one our parks that have facilities for camping with your horse.

Paddling

Canoeing and kayaking is especially good this time of year. Many state parks offer paddling tours, guided and self-guided. Park rangers at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound will offer a Guided River Tour each Friday in October at 10 a.m. Canoe rentals are available.

On Friday, Oct. 23, park staff will offer a guided kayak tour at Lake Kissimmee State Park at 9 a.m. for a 90-minute paddle down the Zipper Canal to Lake Rosalie. Call ahead to reserve a space.

There are several ways to find events near you:

Visit floridastateparks.org, click on Things to Do and then Events. In the search bar, select the region, then Oct. 2015 for the date. For event theme, select bicycling, birding, equestrian, garden tour, hiking, mountain biking and paddling. Select Apply for the list.
The Office of Greenways and Trails also has a list of trail events in October.
The Florida Trail Association also maintains a calendar of events.