Florida might be famous for its beaches and theme parks, but there’s a wilder, more adventurous side to explore—hitting the trails with your dog!!
Hiking in Florida with dogs is a unique experience. It’s a wild place, a land of sand, lakes, springs, sinkholes, underwater caves, beaches, and wildlife. There are also surprising areas with waterfalls, caverns, rocky coastlines, rapids, and coral reefs. And you can discover them all!
I’ve been hiking Florida trails with my family and dogs for 13 years. When we first brought our dogs from Georgia, they were used to mountain trails. I’ll never forget our first hike in Florida—our golden retriever looked utterly puzzled by the sandy path, and we quickly learned that hiking here was a whole new ballgame! During our years of exploring the trails, we’ve experienced hot, sweaty walks and cool, windy ones. I want to share what I’ve learned with you so you and your dog can enjoy wooded paths and stay safe.
Ready to explore Florida’s wilder side with your pup? Let’s dive into everything you need to know for a safe and fun adventure!
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Table of Contents
- Florida Fun Facts – Dog Edition
- Is Your Dog Healthy Enough for Hiking?
- How to Find Dog-Friendly Hiking Trails
- How to Keep Your Dog Hydrated on the Trails
- Avoid Bug Bites and Ticks
- Wildlife in Florida and How to Keep Dogs Safe
- Hiking vs. Nature Walks – Florida Edition
- Do you Prefer Sand or Mud?
- Hurricanes Can Impact Hiking Areas
- Summer Afternoons Mean Thunderstorms
- Safely Hiking in the Florida Summer with Dogs
- Hiking Gear for Your Dog
- Ready to Hit the Trails with Your Pup?
Florida Fun Facts – Dog Edition
Did you know that pups in the Sunshine State are the most pampered in the country? Yep!
Here are the stats:
Lianna Norman, “Florida dogs are the nation’s most spoiled: Strollers, perfume and 8 other reasons why.” The Palm Post, Dec. 19, 2019, https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/2023/12/19/forbes-ranks-florida-first-most-spoiled-dogs-pet-holiday-gifts/71969037007/. Accessed Aug. 9, 2024.
- Two-thirds of dog owners admit they spend more on their dog’s health and grooming than on their own.
- 63% of Florida dog owners are likely to spoil their pups with special treats when dining out.
- Nearly half of Florida dog owners are all about pampering, with 43.5% saying they’d push their pooches around in a stroller.
- 34% of dog lovers in Florida say they’re likely to spritz their dogs with perfume or cologne.
- Over half (54%) of Florida dog owners are all about the celebrations, throwing birthday parties or special events for their pups.
- A whopping 69% of dog owners whip up homemade food or treats for their furry friends.
- 57% of Florida dog owners love taking their pups to dog-friendly activities.57% of Florida dog owners said they take their dogs to dog-friendly activities.
If you’re reading this, you might think your pet is pampered but less with strollers and more with dog boots and backpacks.
Is Your Dog Healthy Enough for Hiking?
Even if your dog seems healthy and you have hiked with your dogs in other states, it is very important to consider their health and ability. Florida is not like any other state!!
The first thing you need to evaluate is if your dog is healthy enough to hit the trails. I suggest talking to your vet to make this determination. Find out what length and difficulty level of hikes your vet thinks are appropriate.
Once you get the all-clear from your vet, start out with easy and short hikes near home during cool weather conditions. If there are none close to home, just start increasing the length and difficulty of your regular dog walks.
If your dog isn’t up for long or tough hikes, that’s totally okay. Even easy walks are great for them. Head to a local park and enjoy some time together. The important thing is to get outside and enjoy nature, no matter the distance or difficulty. It’s all about finding joy in the moment, regardless of ability or age.
How to Find Dog-Friendly Hiking Trails
Don’t assume that all hiking trails allow dogs. Most places that don’t allow dogs have done so due to irresponsible owners who either don’t clean up after them, don’t follow the other rules, or take aggressive or out-of-control dogs on the trails.
This means you need to research your hiking location before you head out. Most Florida state parks allow dogs on trails but not other parts of the park, and the same goes for Florida National Parks.
It gets trickier for county and city parks.
Rules change quickly, so if there is a number you can call, I recommend calling and asking before getting there.
There are exceptions to these rules for service animals. You’ll want to know those, too, before roaming the woods.
Once you have found dog-friendly trails, make sure you follow basic rules:
- Keep your dog leashed.
- Have control of your dog at all times.
- Yield to other trail users, hikers, bikers, and equestrians.
- Stay on the trail.
- Pick up your dog’s poop!
How to Keep Your Dog Hydrated on the Trails
Carry enough water for you and your dog. I recommend a full hydration backpack (a backpack with a water bladder) and a portable/collapsible water bowl for your dog. A portable water filter is also good to have – if you run out of water on your trek, you can always filter the water you find along the way. I tested one and wrote about it here.
Avoid Bug Bites and Ticks
There are a lot of bugs and insects in Florida. I mean, a lot. Most are harmless and annoying, but it’s good to know which ones bite and how to protect yourself and your dog. You can get a complete list of biting bugs on the Wander Wisdom site.
Mosquitoes
If you visit during peak mosquito season from July to October, you’ll want some repellent.
For you, I recommend a natural repellent that is made locally, smells great, and actually works!
For your dog, though, consider a lemon juice spray (6 fresh squeezed lemons and 1 quart of water, boil, steep 60 minutes, allow to cool, put in a spray bottle). Or ask your vet for recommendations.
Ticks
Ticks are around all year long, but the peak tick season is spring and summer. Definitely read bug spray labels to make sure that they will keep ticks off of you.
Make sure that your dog is taking vet-approved tick-preventative medication. At the end of the hike, do a body scan on yourself and your pup to make sure you don’t have any sticking to you.
Wildlife in Florida and How to Keep Dogs Safe
Florida has a variety of wildlife. Some are cute squirrels, deer, and majestic herons, but others are large predators such as black bears and alligators.
In general, if there are woods, there are black bears; if there is water, there are alligators. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), there are about 4,050 black bears in Florida. The FWC also estimates there are 1.3 million alligators in Florida.
Florida is also home to 269 wildlife species that are only found here, such as the Florida scrub jay, the Key deer, and the Florida wild turkey.
Dog and wildlife encounters can absolutely happen while on the trails. Although larger dogs are less susceptible to wildlife attacks, they are not immune, and smaller dogs can get in serious danger.
In all our years of hiking in Florida, we have only seen snakes, turtles, tortoises, birds, and, when near water, alligators. All of them preferred to flee rather than come near us and our dog.
Please research the wildlife before exploring trails. The National Forests in Florida website has some general and simple wildlife safety tips.
My Wildlife Safety Suggestions for Dogs on the Trails:
- Keep your dog on a 6-foot leash.
- Do not let your dog approach wildlife.
- Keep dogs away from the edge of lakes, ponds, rivers, etc.
- Stay on the trail.
- Remain alert – wildlife can be found everywhere, and many have great camouflage.
Safety Gear for Hiking
Whenever my family and I explore the woods, we wear bells and carry walking sticks and bear spray.
Bear bells will ensure that wild predators hear you. You don’t want to startle animals in the wild. Some bells, like the ones we use, have velcro and can attach to shoes, collars, and backpacks. They are pretty inexpensive too.
A walking stick and bear spray are both weapons that can be used on various animals if you find yourself in danger. We have never had to use them, but they are good to have in case we encounter dangerous wildlife.
It’s also a good idea to have a first aid kit. We have had several and used them a few times while on the road. The trickiest thing about a kit is remembering to check the contents for expiration dates.
Hiking vs. Nature Walks – Florida Edition
Florida’s highest elevation is 345 feet (Britton Hill), and some areas of the state are below sea level.
While routes are mostly flat, they offer a variety of habitats and different vista opportunities.
Florida has more than 5,000 hiking trails, so there are plenty to choose from for you and your pup.
A nice flat trail with tons of birding.
Do you Prefer Sand or Mud?
A lot of walking paths in Florida are sandy. Sometimes, it’s hard-packed, but other times, it’s like walking on the beach.
The soft sand often has sand spurs that like to get stuck to paws, shoes, socks, and pant legs. Small kids and dogs can be injured (though not seriously) by sand spurs. You can consider getting your pup little shoes to protect them. We have been hiking with our dogs in Florida for years and never used them, but you know what your dog needs.
Muddy trails or trail sections are fairly common. It can take months for a trail to dry out. If possible, I recommend researching before you go, but sometimes, you will just hit a trail and find part of it unpassable. I often look at AllTrails to check trail conditions. If you are hiking in a state park or national park/forest, I recommend checking conditions on those respective websites.
Hurricanes Can Impact Hiking Areas
Hurricane season runs from June to November. Florida is well-versed in hurricane preparation, warnings, and emergency response.
After a hurricane passes, hiking locations are sometimes closed due to hurricane damage, even when it seems like the storm was long, long ago.
Damage is often due to habitat loss, structural damage, and flooding.
Summer Afternoons Mean Thunderstorms
Nearly every summer afternoon, the Sunshine State becomes the Thunderstorm State. The good news is that storms typically roll through and are gone a few hours later.
Because these storms are relatively predictable, you can plan your hikes for summer mornings and avoid dangerous thunderstorms later in the day.
Whenever you hear thunder, take cover inside (not under trees!) and stay away from water. Getting struck by lightning is a real danger. My friend’s dad has been hit twice!
Safely Hiking in the Florida Summer with Dogs
Once you’ve determined you can take your dog, you’ll want to take them out when the weather is cool.
Florida’s summers are hot and humid, and even shady paths can get warm. Remember, your dog is wearing a coat all year long. Dog paws are also sensitive to hot surfaces, whether paved or sandy.
The best time of day to hike in Florida in the summer is either very early in the day or around sunset. You’ll want to monitor weather conditions closely to avoid severe weather or days with extremely hot temperatures. Keep in mind that wildlife will often be most active at dawn and dusk, so be prepared.
You’ll want to take even more water than usual.
Instead of hiking a really long and secluded trail, opt for one closer to home or a popular one where you can get help if you encounter extreme heat or other factors that could be dangerous for you and your dog.
In general, I say skip summer hiking with your dog. We are lucky that Florida has many months during fall, winter, and spring that are perfect for hiking.
Hiking Gear for Your Dog
I’m only going to cover basic gear for short day hikes.
- Well-fitting collar with identification tags.
- Sturdy 6-foot leash with multiple handles
- Collapsible water bowl
- Poop bags and dispenser that attaches to leash
- Dog treats
When we take our dog out hiking with us, we have a fanny pack that is specifically made to hold and dispense poop bags and has a section for treats and space for a wallet/phone/keys. We don’t typically take her for hikes that are 3.5 miles or less.
You’ll need other gear if you decide to do extremely long or multi-day hikes, and I will cover that in another post.
Ready to Hit the Trails with Your Pup?
I hope this post gave you a good idea of what it’s like to hike with dogs in Florida. If you have follow-up questions, leave them in the comments, and I’ll answer them for you!
Looking to hike with the kids? Check out my Guide to Hiking in Florida with Kids post.
Nice baby. Hiking with Desde is fun.
Thank you! I know she loves to hike with you. 🙂