Florida Trail - North Florida Trailblazers

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About us

We are the North Florida Trailblazers, the local chapter of the Florida Trail Association (FTA). Our main purpose is to build and maintain sections of the Florida Trail (FT) in our chapter's area. Sections are located in the Osceola National Forest, along the Suwannee River near White Springs, Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park and Camp Blanding. When we are not working on the FT, we organize day hikes, backpacking, paddling, and other outdoor activities. We have chapter meetings, social events and other activities to promote hiking. We are using Meetup to reach people interested in hiking.

The FT, a 1300 mile trail that runs the length of Florida, is part of the National Scenic Trails system (includes the AT and the Continental Divide, for example). The FT is developed, maintained, protected and promoted by the FTA and its public and private partners.

Check out this short video to learn more about the FT: Explore the Florida Trail - YouTube

We are not a social networking or dating group. We are here to support and maintain the FT and to promote hiking in general. But if you enjoy hiking and outdoors activities, you will certainly meet people with shared interests. Advertising to or within the group is not allowed.

RSVPs are important so that we may properly plan for you and for the group. If your ability to attend changes, please change your RSVP as soon as you know so that your spot can be given to others especially on our limited attendance events. If you have to change your RSVP at the last minute, please message your event leader so that you are not marked as a "No Show." Three No Shows can result in the loss of your membership in the Meetup group.

If you request to join us, please make sure your profile includes your name and a recent photo of yourself so we can recognize you at our events. We do require participants at our events to put their name on our sign-in sheet/liability waiver.

Our members receive many benefits, including automatic membership in a local chapter in your area, 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 Footprint magazine; trail maintenance training workshops, including chainsaw certification; participation in Volunteer Work Parties, 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 trail issues; and voting privileges. Memberships start at $35 for an individual or $50 for a family. http://ftashop.floridatrail.org/individual-... <br>

NOTE: Registration on this Meetup does not make you a member of the FTA. Some of our events will be offered only to FTA members. Go to www.floridatrail.org to join the FTA and learn more about our organization.

Upcoming events

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Pioneer Trail Hike!
Sun, Aug 23 · 8:00 AM EDT
Dunn's Farm Trail in Jennings State Forest, 1337 Long Horn Rd, Middleburg, FL, US
Let's hike part of the Pioneer Trail. We will start at the Dunn's Farm Trailhead in Jennings State Forest. We will quickly veer off onto the Sawyer Trail which connects to the Pioneer Trail, and then circle back up the Dunn's Farm Trail. This hike will be approximately 6 miles. You need to be able to hike these moderately difficult, 5+ miles of some steep incline/decline hills and tripping hazards. There are no shortcuts once we start. There are parts that are more sun and some more shade. You MUST have water to join this hike. Also, suggest sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, snacks, bug spray, and hiking poles. There are no bathrooms in the lot or on the trail. We will meet at the trailhead located 1337 Long Horn Road, Middleburg. The GPS coordinates are 30.128850, -81.964160. Look for the North FL Trailblazer signs. This event will be held rain or shine, but will be cancelled if there is lightning.

There is ample parking with a $2.00 parking fee you can pay once there using a QR code.

Online pre-pay for parking: https://floridastateforests.reserveamerica.com/posProducts.do?contractCode=FLFS

Information about the Pioneer Trail: https://www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Jennings-State-Forest/Pioneer-Trail

Information about the North FL Trailblazers: https://www.facebook.com/NorthFloridaTrailblazers
22 attendees
FTA In Person Chapter Council Meeting
Fri, Oct 23 · 12:01 PM EDT
Location not specified yet
Hi Trailblazers, Here's an opportunity to meet the FTA Chapter Council, get to know a lot of good folks, really understand what's going on at the FTA, and even get that key question answered by cornering a key leader. I will talk to the Trailblazer leaders about our chapter's fees which makes this event basically FREE to most of you. That could change, but not by much. So, plan on coming out for the weekend to have a good time, or show up for the day and still get the benefit of meeting other hikers and maintainers.

Doh! there is a caviat. This is for FTA Members. If you still want to come, there is no time like the present to join the team!

Hope to see you there.

Ron

This message is from Karl Byers edited by me for our chapter.

Hello Trailblazers The FTA Chapter Council would like to announce an in person meeting / Camping Weekend.
Location: Cuscowilla Retreat in Micanopy. If you've never been there, it's a great place to have a meeting and get together. We had our last in person meeting there 4 years ago and it was a lot of fun.

Details: Cuscowilla lodge has many amenities, including a large meeting space with plenty of tables and chairs, Wi-Fi, refrigerators, ice machine and microwave.
Here’s the overnight stay details. Outside there’s plenty of space to pitch a tent or people can stay in a bunkhouse. Each bunkhouse has space divided for 10 males and 10 females with separate bathrooms and showers. If we have more attendees than bunks I can reserve a second bunkhouse.

Dates: Friday afternoon, October 23, All day, Saturday, October 24, and until 11:00 am, Sunday October 25.
People can arrive anytime after noon on Friday to pitch their tents or pick a spot in the bunkhouse.

Agenda: Friday evening, we’re planning a cookout and get together (more details to follow).

Saturday, we’ll start with breakfast (provided) at the lodge from 7-8:30.
At 9:30 there’s an FTA Board meeting at the lodge and everyone’s invited to attend. After the Board meeting we’ll break for lunch (provided) and begin our Chapter Council meeting around 12:30. I plan for this to last about 2 hours, ending the day around 2-3 pm. When the meetings are finished people can return home or they can stay for a Saturday evening cookout and entertainment (more details to follow).

Sunday, we’ll make sure everything is cleaned up and everyone will depart no later than 11:00 am.

Here's the breakdown in the cost for a non-profit organization. The lodge will cost $75.00 for Friday and $175.00 for Saturday. No cost for Sunday. Total-$250.00
The bunkhouse cost is $100.00 per night. Depending on the number of people who want to stay in the bunkhouse I might have to rent a second bunkhouse for Saturday. Total cost-$200-$300.00.

Food for the Saturday breakfast Board meeting and Saturday Lunch Chapter Council meeting will be approximately $250-$300.00

Total Cost for this event would be about $800-$900.
There’s a REFUNDABLE $300.00 deposit I didn’t include in the total cost.

(Ron interjects: "That's a lot of numbers Karl, can you summarize that for the common man?" Oh,... read on?

Here’s how I’d like to fund it. Unless there’s an overwhelming reason against this, I'd like to ask every chapter to donate $50.00 (50x19=950) which would cover the entire cost. I’m open to other suggestions as well.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns and
TELL EVERYONE in your chapter this event is OPEN to every FTA member.
3 attendees
Trailblazer Holiday Party 2026
Fri, Dec 11 · 3:00 PM EST
mike roess goldhead state park, 6239 State Road 21,Keystone Heights Florida 32656, Keystone Heights, FL, US
SAVE THE DATE - BUT BOOK YOUR SITE NOW!!
Mike Roess Gold Head State Park, Keystone Heights, Fl
Book here
If you plan to camp - you are responsible to book your own site.

The festivities will take place Saturday night at Cabin 113 with the Pot Luck Dinner and White Elephant game.

We are looking for others to host possibly a Friday evening Happy Hour at your site.
Friday evening Fire at your site.
Saturday morning breakfast at your site,
The Chapter will host the Pot Luck Dinner Saturday night with games at Cabin 113.
Sunday’s - clean up, break camp.
Hike on Saturday with the group.

YOU MUST BE A PAID MEMBER OF THE FTA AND AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE NORTH FLORIDA TRAILBLAZERS CHAPTER to attend. Only 1 guest per PAID MEMBER allowed. No Pets.

This is to celebrate those hardworking Activity Leaders, Trail Maintainers and those who’ve help support the Trailblazers over the last 25 years!!

Email: traceyt416@yahoo.com - if you want to host any of the other get togethers.

More information to come.
32 attendees