Book Description

"A comprehensive presentation of the hiking trails on [Florida's] federal lands."--Kent L. Wimmer, Florida National Scenic Trail Liaison "A well-written guide to Florida's wild places [and] to the real side of Florida. . . . It would make any outdoor enthusiast want to get out and hike."--Joan Hobson, vice president of trail maintenance, Florida Trail Association For hikers, vacationers, outdoor enthusiasts, and wildlife watchers who want to plan and execute their own adventures, Johnny Molloy's latest guidebook will be indispensable. Experienced outdoorsman Molloy explores the trails of Florida to provide readers with an easy-to-use, accurate, and thorough guide to hiking in more than 2 million acres of federally owned wilderness. These areas contain some of the Sunshine State's most spectacular scenery--from pristine beaches and emerald oceans to towering pine forests and sparkling spring-fed lakes. Illustrated with photographs by the author, this guide describes every marked and maintained trail in Florida's national forests, parks, and preserves. Each description contains a profile of the path, detailing and rating its condition, length, and difficulty and describing the highlights and hazards of the trail. Profiles also give trailhead directions, trail connections, and hiking season information, followed by a running narrative describing what hikers can expect to see and experience on the trails. The book includes vignettes of natural and human history along the trails. Many of the areas border sinkholes and other geologic formations, wind through fascinating ecosystems such as the Everglades, and pass by historic sites like old roadways, mail routes, battlefields, and military forts, and Molloy highlights these throughout the book in fascinating anecdotes. He also provides information on what to wear and bring on hiking expeditions to maximize safety and comfort. Johnny Molloy is an outdoor writer and adventurer based in Knoxville, Tennessee. He has written ten outdoor hiking and paddling books, including Beach and Coastal Camping in Florida (UPF, 1999) and A Paddler's Guide to Everglades National Park (UPF, 2000).