June 13, 2025

Welcome to the Friday Waypoint where you'll find the latest updates about opportunities & activities with the Florida Trail Association.

On Saturday, June 7, 2025, Florida Trail Association chapters across the state came together to celebrate National Trails Day® with hikes, community events, and a shared love for the outdoors. From sunrise strolls around Lake Okeechobee to family-friendly greenway walks and festive gatherings in the Panhandle, our chapters showcased the best of what the Florida Trail community has to offer.

Here’s a look at how three of our chapters, Fisheating Creek, Apalachee, and Panhandle, marked the occasion with heart, dedication, and a whole lot of trail spirit.

The Apalachee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association hosted a lively and welcoming celebration for National Trails Day® bringing together over 50 enthusiastic participants for a day of hiking and community fun.

The festivities kicked off at The Hub at Feather Oaks with two hike options along the scenic Miccosukee Greenway. Families with young children enjoyed a stroller-friendly 1.5-mile loop, while more adventurous hikers tackled a 5-mile route under the canopy of old oaks and sweeping greenway views.

Despite the humid weather, the cheerful spirit of the day carried through. About 10 children joined the celebration, adding extra energy and joy to the event.

After the hikes, the group gathered back at The Hub, where the celebration continued with games, food trucks, and plenty of space to relax and connect. 

FTA Activity Leaders Ron and Judi Harrison shared,

“National Trails Day® was a fantastic success. We were especially thrilled to welcome several families, including about 10 children, adding to the vibrant energy of the day. Despite the weather, two well-attended hikes and a joyful social gathering made the event truly memorable.”

Many thanks to all the volunteers, families, and trail lovers who came out to celebrate and make this day so special. Whether you joined for a hike or stopped by to socialize, we’re grateful to share the trail with you.

We can’t wait to do it again next year!

Recap and photos by Darryl Updegrove

We often say June is just too hot for Floridians to really be able to celebrate National Trails Day effectively–but this year, the Panhandle Chapter proved otherwise with a full and successful National Trails Day gathering at Pine Log State Forest.

The day began with a short hike around the campground at Pine Log State Forest, followed by a hands-on tool maintenance session where volunteers tuned up motors, sharpened blades, and prepped equipment to ensure our trail tools are ready for the seasons ahead.

After all that hard work, our chapter hosted a hot dog lunch for all in attendance, with Executive Director Tisha McCombs chipping in on the grill! Throughout the day, Lynn Cherry shared copies of The Forgotten Coast: Florida Wildlife Corridor Glades to Gulf Expedition, a stunning 256-page hardcover book celebrating wild Florida through vivid photography and first-person expedition essays.

In the afternoon, attendees chose between paddling the East River/Pine Log Creek or cooling off with a swim at Pitts Spring on Econfina Creek. The group reunited for an evening cookout with 25–30 attendees representing the Panhandle, Choctawhatchee, and Western Gate Chapters, plus a special visit from the FTA Board Chair and Executive Director Tisha McCombs, who shared her vision for the future of the FTA.

After this year, I don’t know if we’ll ever automatically assume it’s too hot to enjoy the Florida Trail and National Trails day in June!

Lake O’ Sunrise Strolls with the Fisheating Creek Chapter

On National Trails Day, FTA Activity Leader Tammy Morton celebrated a major milestone: completing all 110 miles of the Lake Okeechobee section of the Florida National Scenic Trail through the Lake O’ Sunrise Strolls series, part of the Gradie Jean Walking Club hosted by the Fisheating Creek Chapter of the Florida Trail Association.

Tammy wasn’t alone on the journey. Trail legend Gradie Jean herself joined in and completed the full loop for the second time (she turns 77 this October!). Chapter Activity Leader Garnett Ahern also walked nearly the entire trail and is on track to finish the last few sections later this year.

This spring’s twice-weekly walk series was intentionally designed to end on National Trails Day. It required some long days (several 10-mile sections!) but future offerings may feature shorter distances and different configurations to welcome more hikers each season.

Along the trail, hikers took a moment to honor longtime chapter member Kate Adams, who was recognized with the Florida Trail Admin of the Year award. Though Kate couldn’t attend the celebration, Kate’s contributions to the Fisheating Creek Chapter and the broader FTA community are countless: from leading walks and bike rides to organizing social gatherings, trail maintenance efforts, and public outreach at festivals.

The Lake O’ Sunrise Strolls series was originally inspired by Gradie Jean’s first 110-mile trek to celebrate her 75th birthday, a feat that sparked an ongoing tradition.

If you’re planning your own hike on the Lake O’ Trail, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Fisheating Creek Chapter for tips on parking, nearby facilities, food, and where you can camp for free in accordance with USACE rules.

Join us next time for sunrise, trail miles, and community on the big loop around the lake!

Photos by Jean Prowant.

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