50 Hikes in Central Florida: Hikes, Walks, and Backpacks in the Heart of the Peninsula (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A hiking guide to one of the most beautiful and diverse ecosystems in the country.

What Florida's landscape lacks in topography, it makes up for in diversity, ranging from temperate Appalachian-style forests to tangled tropical jungles. Here hikers enjoy a broad range of habitats and wildlife that only Hawaii and California surpass. Trails pass through desert-like scrub islands, jungle-like hydric hammocks, and deep, dark bayous where giant cypress trees rise out of inky water. Footpaths range through salt marshes, river floodplains, and along coastal dunes and beaches with sparkling white sand. Florida has the world's only Everglades, and the delightful landforms of karst—disappearing lakes and streams, yawning sinkholes lush with ferns, and the world's largest concentration of first-magnitude springs. More than 1,200 contiguous miles of the Florida National Scenic Trail stretch from the beaches of Pensacola, at the western edge of the Panhandle, to the Big Cypress Swamp in the Everglades.

The hikes in this new guide to the heart of the peninsula range in length from 1 mile to 43.3 miles. Each hike description includes a topographic map, mile-by-mile directions, and information on distance, difficulty, time, and terrain. 40 black & white photographs, 51 maps, index.

About the Author

Sandra Friend is a freelance writer and photographer who has written for newspapers and magazines including Blue Ridge Country, Appalachian Trailway News, Florida Hiker, and Backpacker. She is an active volunteer with the Florida Trail Association, working with partners such as the Office of Greenways and Trails to increase public knowledge of hiking trails within Florida. She is also the author of Florida in the Civil War: A State in Turmoil. She lives in Orlando.

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Countryman Press; 1st edition (October 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881505234
• ISBN-13: 978-0881505238
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #847,420 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Hiking Guide!, December 16, 2002

By	Diane (Montverde, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This is a hiking guide that has it all. Not only does it give clear directions on how to find the trails and precise information such as length and degree of difficulty, it includes lyrical narratives of the beautiful and interesting sights you will see as you hike.
For those who think of Central Florida as a land of theme parks and T-shirt shops, this book will open their eyes to the natural beauty that still exists, just minutes away from the tourist attractions.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "50 Hikes in Central Florida", January 9, 2003

By	Joan (Oviedo, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This book is a terrific guide to the real Florida. The directions (both to the trailheads and on the trails) are easy to follow and accurate. The descriptions include interesting bits about flora, fauna, and geography as well as the occasional snippet of Florida history. It's an outstanding book for someone wondering how to get into the woods in central Florida; even those who hike central Florida regularly will find some new gems to explore. This is a great guidebook!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, January 5, 2009

By	Linda (SW Forida, United States) - See all my reviews

The book provides excellent descriptions of various trails as well as clear directions on how to find them. My husband and I are enjoying the discovery of trails we never knew existed in our backyard!