Florida Trail Association
Central Florida Chapter
Embedded Files
Serving Orange, Seminole and Osceola Counties
Serving Orange, Seminole and Osceola Counties
The Central Florida Chapter of the Florida Trail Association was chartered in 1981 and is one of FTA’s largest chapters with more than 500 members. We maintain over 60 miles of the Florida National Scenic Trail, along with trails in Wekiwa Springs State Park, and Little Big Econ and Charles Bronson State Forests.
Our active members lead and participate in many hiking, biking, paddling, camping and trail maintenance activities. Each Thanksgiving we have a group camping event at a state park or forest and each New Years we “retreat” to the Ocala National Forest for a fun-filled camp out and celebration.
Featured Guest Speaker Kristin Anderson will present Protecting Wild Florida: A Look at Conservation Florida’s Impact.
Florida’s landscapes are changing fast—but so are the efforts to protect them.
Conservation Florida is a statewide land trust working to conserve critical lands that protect wildlife, water, and natural heritage from the Everglades to the Panhandle.
Programs & Community Engagement Lead Kristin Anderson will walk us through the story of Conservation Florida, their mission to preserve working lands and wild places, and the local impact of recent projects like the newly opened D Ranch Preserve. She’ll also share how hikers and volunteers can get involved with stewardship and restoration efforts across the state.
Bring a snack to share and join us for an evening of community, stories, and planning for the trail year ahead!
While not obvious at first glance, Rock Springs Run State Reserve was once home to a railroad stop on the historic Sanford – Lake Eustis Railway. Known as Ethel, this pioneer settlement had a store, school, and a post office. Established in the 1860’s, the town started to drift into obscurity by the 1920’s, until remnants of the cemetery were accidentally discovered by a park service volunteer in 2008.
With the help of researchers and volunteers, the park now features a 1.4-mile loop trail with dozens of interpretive signs describing the long-gone community and people who lived there. The trail follows wide access roads for the most part, passing the cemetery and picnic benches along the way.
Upcoming Trail Maintenance:
October 15th @ Wekiwa Springs State Park
The Central Florida Chapter will be maintaining the trails at Wekiwa Springs State Park this Wednesday. Unlike our other maintenance events that are open to anyone, this state park requires attendees to be registered as volunteers with the Florida State Park system. If you are a registered volunteer and would like to join us, please send an email to: cfccouncil@floridatrail.org
The Florida Trail Association develops, maintains, protects, and promotes a network of hiking trails throughout the state, including the unique Florida National Scenic Trail.
Together with our partners we provide opportunities for the public to hike, engage in outdoor recreation, participate in environmental education, and contribute to meaningful volunteer work.
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