Jupiter Island offers a scenic two-lane beachfront road with well-kept landscaping, very little traffic and excellent biking. It goes on for mile after mile past the estates of the rich and famous. And you can build in a stop at a hidden beach.
Bike & Hike Trails
Best Florida trails
Stories about Florida trails, hiking trails, bicycle trails, rail trails, walking trails, equestrian trails, off-road vehicle trails, nature trails, mountain biking trails, boardwalk trails.
Stephen Foster State Park: Glorious Suwannee river; great cabins, odd old museum
This state park has superior cabins and is a great base for kayaking the Suwannee and hiking. It’s also home to an oddly dated museum on Stephen Foster. (We considered it a funky Florida find.)
Nature gone wild: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park
A 22,000-acre wilderness with 60 miles of trails for hiking, biking and equestrians through five thriving wildlife habitats. Six primitive camping areas, or try this secret campground with river access.
Off-the-beaten path in Marco Island: Go beyond your hotel pool
The beach town of Marco Island is all manicured and modern, but here are four adventures into the wild and authentic Florida that are within a quick drive. You can wade across a lagoon to a wild beach or have lunch in a funky fishing town or stroll on a boardwalk into a beautiful old growth cypress swamp.
Florida hiking trails: 5 favorites around the state
Fall is the start of Florida’s hiking season and here are five favorite hikes around the state to inspire you. Florida hiking trails are incredibly varied and can be full of all sorts of wildlife.
Top hiking trails near Orlando: Little Big Econ State Forest
Some of the best hiking near Orlando can be found at the Little Big Econ State Forest, where bluffs along a scenic river add interest. The forest is 5,000 acres preserved in a suburban area in the middle of the triangle formed by Orlando, Cocoa and Daytona Beach.
Great hiking, biking trails at Grassy Waters Preserve
Grassy Waters Preserve in West Palm Beach is a rare South Florida spot to hike or bike for miles in a wild area. It also offers a great family-friendly boardwalk through a lovely cypress swamp.
Exploring the St. Johns River: Springs, kayaking, hiking near Welaka
This out-of-the-way rural area on the St. Johns River offers good hiking, kayaking and springs. With Welaka as a base, we explored a place little changed by the years.
Biking Naples, Florida: The best way to sample Naples beaches
A bike ride along the Gulf of Mexico lets you ogle the garden-like estates of Naples mansion-owners and stop at pocket parks that give you access to their perfect beaches.
Wellington’s Peaceful Waters: Top birding spot, close to two good nature hikes
Peaceful Waters Sanctuary is an outstanding birding site and a particularly good destination for nature-starved folks from Broward and Palm Beach counties. It’s also close to two good places for 3-mile-long walks in natural settings.