While Miami, Florida, is best known for its many beaches and all the
recreational prospects they offer, southern Florida has an abundance of hiking and backpacking opportunities. The Big Cypress National Preserve and hiking trails in Miami-Dade County parks provide hikers with just a few of the options for exercise and nature discovery in southern Florida.
Sierra Club Miami Group
Sierra Club Miami Group, the local branch of the environmental organization, offers outdoor education and events throughout the Miami area. The Outings program, staffed by volunteers, offers many types of outdoor activities--biking, canoeing, backpacking and hiking. The Sierra Club's Trails Miami chapter organizes hikes to Cross Seminole Trail, Bear Lake Trail and other trails chosen by group members. Each hike has its own leader and itinerary, with different difficulty. ratings and equipment needs. Some hikes are free, while others require a deposit or fee.
Florida Trail Association Big Cypress Chapter
Big Cypress, the Miami-Dade chapter of the Florida Trail Association, sponsors hikes along some of Florida's most rugged trails. The chapter maintains the far south portion of the Florida Trail in the Big Cypress National Preserve. It holds an annual backpacking trip in the South Florida wildlands in January. Nature and animal experts talk at the club's monthly meetings. The association provides members with the latest information about trail closures, global positioning system data and details about area trails.
Mosaic Outdoor Club of South Florida
A nonprofit organization for Jewish families, singles and couples, the Mosaic Outdoor club hosts sporting and recreational events in the Miami and South Florida area. The club began in 1993 and (as of August 2010) has chapters throughout South Florida, including one in the Miami-Dade area. Recent hiking trips were scheduled in the Northern Big Cypress preserve. Camping and kayaking trips that may feature occasional hiking are also offered.
Social Organizations
Organization that offer various networking activities in social and recreational settings occasionally offer opportunities for hiking in South Florida's parks or wilderness areas. Recreational organizations associated with singles clubs and social networking sites like Meetup.com occasionally host hiking treks for members. Local newspapers often list these activities in the outdoors section.
Get Outdoors, Florida
In 2007, a coalition of groups from all over Florida formed Get Outdoors, Florida to encourage healthy outdoor activities for the entire family. It sponsors various events in South Florida and Miami, including Take a Child Outdoors days and river cleanups. The organization encourages hiking and provides tips and events geared to working and walking on Florida's many trails, as well as other outdoor activities.
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