The Best Section of the Trail - Florida Trail Thru Hike ep2

Part 2 of 3, the thru hike across the Florida Trail continues! Entering the best sections and hiking anywhere in the entire state.

We start today along the Aucilla River, in the Aucilla Sinks Section. Surrounded by sinkholes, hiking along a river that disappears into underground caves, only to appear again further down the trail. This is one of my favorite sections, lush and green in a jurassic kind of way. As if you'll see dinosaurs while in this area, it is actually known for giant armadillo much further back in time.

After the Aucilla we begin the longest roadwalk on the florida trail, but it's not so bad! 48 miles, but they're all farm roads, back roads, dirt, without many cars, or traffic. We breeze on through the Madison City area. Excitement is high as soon we will enter what many say is the best section on the entire Florida Trail.

The suwannee river is a favorite of many. I've personally hiked this section 4 or 5 times, and it never seems to get old. Hiking along this ancient river that many like to kayak or canoe. Underneath old growth oak trees, high up on the banks of the river. Through the sugar sand beaches on the waters banks and edges. This section is 60 something miles long and is just incredible. There are even multiple shelters for hikers to stay at and get out of bad weather! Holton Creek River camp, and the Randy Madison Shelter. Most of the river is pretty slow moving, you probably won't see any alligators in the winter, but there are some pretty cool rapids at one point, and of course the rivers banks just have the most incredible limestone walls. Could be good for some rock climbing over the water!

After the suwannee we enter osceola national forest. It isn't my favorite section but it is a great are fr bird watching, and is pretty cool to see the endless matrix of slash pine trees. Home to the oldest shelter on the Florida Trail as well! In this section we were hearing of a nasty storm coming our way, we decided to stay out there in it, and in the end I sure was glad we did! It was awesome to be in the tent during such a storm, high winds, heavy rain. Sometimes it's experiences like that which make the journey what it is.

We pass through Camp Blanding, gold head branch state park, etoniah creek, and then enter rice creek conservation area! Home of a two story shelter. It was here lotus got attacked by a bat, owl, flying mouse? We still don't know but she hasn't turned into a vampire yet, so think we're safe.

Leading into Ocala National Forest, for the longest time this section was known as the area to come and do. The area to come and section hike. The best section hike on the Florida Trail. I personally dont agree with this, though it is an awesome 100 mile section of single track hiking trails. Just off trail on short blue blazes you can visit all sorts of springs. Silver Glen springs, Salt Springs, Juniper Springs, and Alexander springs so that really is a huge plus. Florida actually has more natural springs than any other state in the country! And the Florida Trail just happens to go right by a few of them.

This is part two of three. The hike continues!

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Видео The Best Section of the Trail - Florida Trail Thru Hike ep2 канала JupiterHikes