About us
*Please consider paid membership to FTA*
Membership on Meetup does not mean you are an FTA member
Founded in 1964, the Florida Trail Association is a private non-profit organization that oversees the volunteer effort to build, maintain, protect and promote the Florida Trail, one of eleven National Scenic Trails in the United States. Based in Gainesville, FL, the Florida Trail Association's mission also includes:
- Building and maintaining hiking trails on other public lands.
Providing educational opportunities for people to learn to appreciate and conserve the natural beauty of Florida.
Providing recreational opportunities for hiking and camping.
With 19 local chapters dispersed geographically throughout Florida, the Florida Trail Association draws on local support to build and maintain hiking trails, to provide guided outdoor recreation opportunities for the public, and to work with landowners to acquire protected natural lands to ensure a quality hiking experience for hikers on the Florida Trail corridor.
The Florida Trail Association works directly in concert with the federal land manager of the Florida Trail, the USDA Forest Service, to facilitate the acquisition of land, to direct volunteer efforts, and to provide public outreach.
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One must understand that joining this Meetup site does not automatically make you a member of the Florida Trail Association. "Real" membership requires becoming a paid member of the FTA. Please consider joining by clicking the Florida Trail link below.
We are the Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association. Our Chapter is located in the Palm Beach County area. If you enjoy hiking, backpacking, camping, eco-volunteering, this is the group for you!
FTA membership is not mandatory to hike our trails, but it is encouraged. To join the Florida Trail Association (includes membership in the Loxahatchee Chapter) go to http://www.floridatrail.org. Members receive many benefits, including automatic membership in the Loxahatchee Chapter, which holds its own meetings and activities and sends out a newsletter pertinent to what's going on in your area; a subscription to the Florida Trail Footprint newsletter; free trail maintenance training workshops, including chainsaw certification; free participation in F-Troop, our team-building volunteer trail crews that tackle large projects like building bridges and boardwalks; a window decal and logo patch; opportunity to participate on decision-making committees covering major hiking issues; and voting privileges.
Activities are organized by authorized activity leaders. Participants in activities must sign an Assumption of Risk form and agree to accept personal responsibility for their safety and the safety of accompanying minors. Always contact (phone call) the activity leader in advance for more information, to let them know you are attending, and to find out about any special requirements for a trip.
Upcoming events
27
National Trails Day - Dayhike in Corbett WMA
Hungryland Boardwalk, 12100 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, West Palm Beach, FL, USWant to see a portion of the Ocean To Lake Hiking Trail that most never experience? Have you done this section during the recent drought and wished it was way more wet and green?
Well, lets take a dayhike through the heart of the swamp in JW Corbett WMA to celebrate National Trails Day.National Trails Day Hike of a remote and hopefully very wet portion of the OTLHT in JW Corbett WMA.
Total hike will be about 9.5 miles, but these miles will likely be a mix of deep water, mud, and open sun.We will start by meeting and parking some vehicles at the Hungryland Boardwalk parking lot (please plan to be there by 8:00am, our goal is to leave for the second parking lot by 8:20am). From there we will group up into fewer vehicles and drive out together to Campsite N along South Grade Road. We will then hike up the road to the intersection of the OTLHT and proceed from there on the OTLHT back to the Hungryland Boardwalk Parking lot. (Some drivers will need to give folks a ride back to pick up their cars, we will sort that out once we are there.)
It is June in South Florida. Expect that it will be hot, sunny, rainy, and all the things that entails. No one will start the hike with less than 2 liters of water on them. Hats, sun block, and trekking poles recommended.
This hike won't be fast, but won't be too slow or easy. It will be through what is normally the deepest and wettest parts of the trail. So bring a camera and a way to keep it dry.
This doesn't sound like fun, why are we doing this again? Well, along this section are trail landmarks like Hole-in-the-Wall, Bowman Island, and a cool Eagle's nest. Some of these areas are truly unique and worth seeing with a group and a guide, especially if they are underwater. Most people only see these areas as they are hiking the full OTLHT and this section is rarely done as a dayhike.
Pro Tip:
When mapping your route to a location in Corbett WMA, it should direct you through the South Gate of Corbett WMA. If it does not, it is a good idea to add a pin for the South Gate at the end of Pratt Whiney Rd and go to that location first.South Gate
11735 Seminole Pratt Whitney Rd, West Palm Beach, FL 33412Must bring:
*min 2 Liters of clean drinking water
*Sun and rain protection
*Footwear you fully expect to sink deeply into mud
*A great attitude and sense of humorThis event:
Public/ Difficult
Activity Leaders: Wayne Vassello
If you have any questions please let me know.
Wayne Vassello - wvassello@hotmail.com29 attendees
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