Nature Trails

Dixie County invites nature-loving families to wander off the beaten path. The 32-mile Nature Coast State Trail winds through this rural county – starting in Cross City and stretching through small towns – perfect for a leisurely family bike ride​floridanaturecoast.org. For a shorter adventure, head to Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge and stroll the River Trail, an easy boardwalk leading to the Suwannee River’s edge​(keep an eye out for turtles and gators!). Shired Island offers a kid-friendly boardwalk along the Gulf coast through coastal hammocks to a quiet beach. If you’re up for more adventure, the remote Dixie Mainline trail lets you drive or bike nine miles through wild swamps and marshes – with a scenic overlook at Fishbone Creek where you can soak in endless saltmarsh views​. Dixie County’s trails are quiet, scenic, and full of surprises for all ages.

Gilchrist County may be small, but it’s packed with spring-fed adventures. At Hart Springs Park, you’ll find one of Florida’s longest boardwalks over a spring run – a half-mile wooden path that parallels the Suwannee River​. Strolling under the cypress trees, you can spot turtles and fish in the clear water before the boardwalk leads to the big spring itself, where kids can splash in the swimming area. A short drive away, Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park offers another family favorite: a loop trail through a pristine floodplain forest. It’s less than a mile long, but along the way you might discover a giant 350-year-old cypress tree and even a “hidden” spring nestled in the woods​. For a laid-back bike ride, jump on the Nature Coast State Trail in Trenton. This smooth, paved rail-trail crosses an old train trestle over the Suwannee River and connects Gilchrist County to neighboring towns​floridanaturecoast.org – a great chance to enjoy “Old Florida” scenery from your bicycle. With its blend of easy boardwalks, spring-side hikes, and rails-to-trails biking, Gilchrist County invites families to relax and explore natural Florida at their own pace.

Levy County is a paradise of springs and forests, offering casual adventures the whole family will love. At Manatee Springs State Park, an 800-foot boardwalk winds through a majestic cypress forest overlooking a first-magnitude spring– in winter, you might even spot gentle manatees in the water. Nearby Fanning Springs State Park features another sparkling spring with a short nature trail and a picnic area perfect for an afternoon outing. For cycling or strolling, hop on the paved Nature Coast State Trail, which runs through Levy County (connecting Chiefland to Fanning Springs and beyond) along an old railroad.  In the Gulf Hammock region of Levy, the Goethe State Forest offers over a hundred miles of trails among longleaf pines – check out the Black Prong, Apex, and Tidewater trailheads for hiking or horseback riding​. Don’t miss the Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve in Yankeetown, where a coastal boardwalk and an observation tower let your family watch wading birds and enjoy a panoramic view of the salt marsh at sunset. From cool spring runs to shady woodlands, Levy County’s trail spots promise a fun-filled natural escape.

Trail adventures in Taylor County are all about immersing yourself in Florida’s wild Big Bend coastline. Start at the Hickory Mound Unit of the Big Bend Wildlife Management Area – a coastal preserve where your family can wander along grassy levee roads and marsh boardwalks. An observation tower here offers a bird’s-eye view of expansive salt marsh dotted with palms​, and kids will love spotting shorebirds and tiny fiddler crabs scuttling in the mud flats below. For a change of scenery, venture inland to the Steinhatchee Falls Trail. This woodsy 3.3-mile path follows the Steinhatchee River and leads to Florida’s widest waterfall – Steinhatchee Falls – a gentle, broad cascade that’s an ideal picnic spot and photo. Taylor County’s public lands also feature hundreds of miles of forest roads and marked trails (part of the Big Bend WMA) waiting to be explored. Whether casting a line in a tidal creek, climbing a wildlife observation tower, or hiking to a hidden waterfall, Taylor County delivers a quiet, off-the-beaten-track experience that adventurous families will treasure.