Check the FTA website for Notices to Hikers under Trail Descriptions and subscribe to the internet FT-L mailing list to keep current. Since many Florida state agencies and private landowners either prohibit dogs or place severe restrictions on them, the Florida Trail Association cannot recommend taking your dog on any portion of the Florida Trail outside of the boundaries of the three National Forests Apalachicola, Ocala and Osceola. Always check with the local land managing agencies about their regulations on dogs before entering their property. Several short portions of the Florida Trail occur on shared, multi-use trails but the vast majority of the trail is designated for foot traffic only. Volunteers from our member chapters perform trail maintenance, build new trail, represent hiker interests at governmental and community meetings and serve on the FTA Board of Directors which formulates policy.
Chapters also sponsor hikes both maintenance and for fun - for members and the general public.
Active members within the chapters can provide valuable information about their sections of trail to hikers. The hiking season in Florida runs basically from November through April. Because of unpredictable weather and hunting seasons in the fall, we recommend thru-hikes start in the south in early January and end in the north by April. This schedule will avoid most general gun hunting restrictions and place your hike during the winter dry season. While Florida winters are very moderate compared to the rest of the United States, we do get fronts coming through during the winter than can cause the temperature to drop below freezing in a matter of hours.