Permits

The following checklist outlines the permits and permissions that are necessary to hike all segments of the Florida Trail (FNST). Remember, you must be a Florida Trail Association Member to cross any section that includes private property, regardless of the need for a permit. Some permits must be purchased in advance of your hike. All other permits and fees have been imposed by the local land managers. It is the hiker’s responsibility to understand and abide by these local land management requests.

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Big Cypress  

Hiking permit for Big Cypress National Preserve – Free, available online at the Oasis Visitor Center.

Permission to cross through I-75 construction zone – Contact the NPS to coordinate passage, via special permit. Phone: 239-695-1107

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Seminole

Permission to cross Big Cypress Seminole Reservation- Contact the Florida Trail Association at 877-HIKE-FLA to secure this permit (permit & instructions also included in LDH info packet).  Check out the Big Cypress Seminole Tribe website.

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Kissimmee

Camping permit for South Florida WMD Yates Marsh, Chandler Slough, Hickory Hammock, Boney Marsh & KICCO campsites – Free permit from South Florida Water Mgmt District.

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Kissimmee

Check whether Avon Park Air Force Range is open to hikers – Closures are posted on kiosks at either end but to avoid being held up, call on Wednesday afternoon for weekly bombing schedule- access The Avon Park Air Force website.

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Eastern Corridor

Camping permit from FWC for Prairie Lakes Unit – FWC Three Lakes website.

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Eastern Corridor

Reservation for primitive camping in Tosohatchee Reserve WMA – Tosohatchee WMA website.

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Western Corridor

Camping permit from Southwest Florida WMD for Green Swamp West.- SWFWMD Green Swamp West website.

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Western Corridor

Permission by phone for camping along the Cross Florida Greenway. Call (850) 245-2052- Cross Florida Greenway website.

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Ocala

Rodman Dam crossing only on certain days during certain hours.- For more information go to the Ocala National Forest Ocklawaha River website.

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Ocala

Buckman Lock crossing only during lock tender’s work hours.

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North Florida

Reservation for primitive camping in Gold Head Branch State Park – contact the park at (352) 473-4701 or go to Gold Head Branch website.

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North Florida

Camp Blanding – Closures are posted on kiosks at either end. If closed use white-blazed alternate route.  For more information, check out the Camp Blanding website.

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Big Bend

The trail is closed on Foley Timber Co land during archery, muzzle loading and general gun hunting seasons.

Hiking and camping permit for St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge – contact the Refuge at (850) 925-6121 or go to the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge website.

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Western Gate

Pinelog State Forest – the established (fee) campground is the only camping allowed on Pinelog during hunting dates.

Permit for crossing Eglin Air Force Base*

For current information check out the Eglin Air Force Base website.

From Eglin’s Permit website:

“All trail users on the Eglin portions of the FNST are required to have an Eglin permit (if camping a special camping permit also).  If your hike originates 50 + miles outside the Eglin boundary please contact the Eglin Natural Resources Office (Jackson Guard) for special permiting instructions.”

– Eglin Natural Resources Office (Jackson Guard) Phone #: (850) 882-4165

* Land manager contact information and a summary of land manager rules and regulations for hikers can be found on the FTA hiking maps.