James Kern, a wildlife photographer and real estate broker, envisioned the Florida Trail in 1964 while hiking the Appalachian Trail . To generate support for the project, Kern created the Florida Trail Association. The Association is a nonprofit group of trail enthusiasts who have dedicated themselves to building a trail stretching the length of the State. This Association can boast construction of more than 1,000 miles of trail, including the main Florida Trail and numerous side and loop trails. On weekends, Florida Trail Association members fan out to maintain trails.
Blazes are patches painted on trees or other landmarks to help hikers find their way.
Maintaining specific sections of the trail is the responsibility of section leaders. The Florida Trail Association and the USDA Forest Service develop and maintain this trail through cooperative agreements with various public and private authorities. Work Outdoors at GORP Jobs Click Here. All rights reserved. Privacy policy .