12 Scenic Trails To Explore In Florida, One For Each Month Of The Year

As you kick off this new year in Florida, you might start taking inventory of your resolutions, or at the very least your goals for the upcoming 12 months. One of your goals may be to get outside more, or perhaps it’s to explore different parts of nature within your home state that you haven’t yet gotten to explore. If this is the case, we recommend checking out these 12 scenic trails in Florida, one for each month of the year. Even if you’re busy and your calendar is already chock full of things to do this year, we hope you can at least carve out one day a month for these delightful trails.

TripAdvisor TryppAdams

We’ll start this one off with an easy hike, perhaps one that the whole family can enjoy together! This easy one-mile hike at Falling Waters State Park is great for all skill levels and even has a surprise along the way - the tallest waterfall in the entire state! Talk about the perfect way to kick off this year-long adventure. Click here to find out more about this scenic trail in Florida.

AllTrails Rob User

Next up for the month of February, we’ll be tackling the Jacksonville Baldwin Rail Trail. This trail clocks in at 14.5 miles, and while you don’t need to tackle the entire thing in one shot, you can still hike a chunk of it and get the experience. Once a part of the CSX railway line, come enjoy a little slice of history.  Click here to find out more about this scenic trail in Florida.

AllTrails AllTrails Josie Espada-Hartselle

Now that February is behind us, it’s time to find a trail that offers the chance to take a dip. The trail in Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park will take hikers through the maritime hammock, past streams and bogs, and end up at a stunning hidden beach. It doesn’t get much better than that. Click here to find out more about this scenic trail in Florida.

Google Jeff Jarem

When the weather starts picking up in April, it’s time to head to Sanford for the Black Bear Wilderness Trail. This 7.1-mile loop offers a ton of wildlife throughout, not just the namesake Black Bear. Come hike through forests, marshes, and canals along this beautiful trail. Click here to find out more about this scenic trail in Florida.

AllTrails Scott Simmons

Savage Christmas Creek Preserve in Florida is over a thousand acres of pure natural wonderland. For May when the sun is shining and wildflowers are in bloom, this trail is absolute heaven. At just 1.5-miles in length, this short and sweet loop is exactly what you would hope for. Click here to find out more about this scenic trail in Florida.

TripAdvisor VISIT FLORIDA

During the summer, one of the most coveted places to be is Rainbow Springs State Park. Hiking the Rainbow Springs Trail allows guests to enjoy a two mile out-and-back hike, plus a chance to see one of the most beautiful natural springs in the area. Click here to find out more about this scenic trail in Florida.

TripAdvisor Mike R.

Myakka River State Park is one of the oldest state parks in the state. But what really makes this historic natural gem shine is the giant canopy walk trail tucked-away inside. Walk the Myakka Canopy Walkway and see all of the best this park has to offer from high above the treetops. Did we mention this was the first public treetop trail in North America? Click here to find out more about this scenic trail in Florida.

AllTrails Jessica Crolts

The Juniper Springs Trail is perfect for August because while the temps will be high, this hike is short and sweet and will take you to an incredible spring. This trail is less than a mile in length and offers a trek through a dense subtropical forest landscape. Click here to find out more about this scenic trail in Florida.

Flickr Matthew Paulson

Just 30 minutes east of Naples, Florida sits Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, 13,000 acres of pure natural space. Hiking the 2.25-mile boardwalk trail is a true highlight of visiting this sanctuary. Wander your way through the gigantic, old-growth Cypress trees. Click here to find out more about this scenic trail in Florida.

TripAdvisor FlaHarlock

Because it’s October, we might as well tackle a hiking trail with a little bit of fright, right? The Yearling Trail in Florida is located in Fort McCoy and has been a historic trail since the 1930s thanks to writer Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. This hike will take you past homestead sites, pockets of nature, and even to an old family cemetery! Click here to find out more about this scenic trail in Florida.

TripAdvisor FLAHarlock

The second-to-last trail of the year will give hikers an epic slice of history thanks to the gargantuan fire tower. The Richloam Fire Tower Trailhead in Webster has been voted one of the best trailheads in the state due to its unique features and incredible views. While there once was a time where hikers could climb atop the fire tower at their own risk, this has since been shut down. But that doesn’t mean this isn’t a coveted hike nonetheless. Click here to find out more about this scenic trail in Florida.

TripAdvisor ClCline83

Let’s end the year with a bang, right? In December, hike the Pine Island Trail through Blue Spring State Park for a 5-mile trek through the wilderness. Walk under the pine canopies until you reach the spring, which during the winter months might just be home to a few hibernating manatees. Click here to find out more about this scenic trail in Florida.

So, what do you think of these 12 scenic trails in Florida? Have you already hiked any of them? Make sure to shout them out in the comments section! Or if you have more trails that you think we should check out, make sure to let us know, too!