Florida Hikes

Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

White sand beach with sea oats and no waves

Gulf of Mexico

Parks, trails, and communities along the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico in Florida, from Perdido Key to Marco Island.

Anclote Gulf Park

New Port Richey   1.1 miles

A place for spectacular sunsets, Anclote Gulf Park offers several observation decks along its coastal boardwalks overlooking Anclote Key and the Gulf of Mexico.

Anclote Key Preserve State Park

A place to play Robinson Crusoe for a day or overnight, Anclote Key Preserve State Park is an offshore gem in the Gulf of Mexico made up of four islands within sight of Tarpon Springs

Bald Point Maritime Hammock Trail

Alligator Point   2.0 miles

A remote beach, a sweep of estuary, a broad bay, and the Gulf of Mexico: the beauty that surrounds this 1.3 mile nature trail at Bald Point invites full exploration on a 2 mile hike.

Bald Point State Park

From its namesake point at the Gulf of Mexico to the sandy heights of St. Teresa Bluffs, Bald Point State Park protects miles of waterfront along Ochlockonee Bay while providing extensive trails to roam.

Barefoot Beach Preserve

In a hidden corner of Collier County, Barefoot Beach Preserve provides immersion in nature at a beauty spot along two miles of natural shoreline on the Gulf of Mexico just north of Wiggins Pass.

Bayport Park

Bayport   0.2 miles

Where the highway ends, Bayport Park begins. Perched on the edge of the estuary where the Weeki Wachee River meets the Gulf of Mexico, it offers spectacular sunset views along with its water access.

Bayport-Linda Pedersen Paddling Trail

Bayport   1.7 miles

Following the Bayport-Linda Pedersen Paddling Trail for 1.7 miles through mazes of needlerush along Florida's Adventure Coast, you're immersed in the sights and sounds of a coastal estuary.

Bradenton

Sitting between St. Petersburg and Sarasota, Bradenton is a coastal community on the Manatee River, home to a rich archaeological heritage and a national park, De Soto National Memorial.

Camp Helen State Park

Haunted by a sea monster sighted in one of the largest ancient coastal dune lakes on Florida's coast, Camp Helen State Park offers seaside relaxation and historic interpretation.

Carrabelle

A fishing village on the Big Bend Scenic Byway along the Gulf of Mexico, Carrabelle has a unique history as an Army base where amphibious landings for World War II were practiced on its beaches.

Caspersen Beach Park

Venice   3.6 miles

The southernmost beach in Venice, Caspersen Beach is best known for its bounty of fossil shark's teeth, which people scoop and stoop to dig out of the sand.