Dr. Erik Webb (Pharm D)
Contributor
On Saturday, Feb. 8, join the Madison County Chamber of Commerce's outdoor adventure committee for a guided hike along a recently inaccessible section of the Florida National Scenic Trail (FSNT) The hike will begin at 9:30 a.m., starting at the intersection of NE Myrrh Street and NE Ellaville Central Avenue, and will cover a total 5.3 miles (out-and-back so choose your own distance). The trail begins in Madison County, then crosses into Hamilton County where hikers will travel along the Withlacoochee to the awesome meeting point of the Suwannee and Withlacoochee Rivers.
The FNST, also known as the Florida Trail, is one of only eleven designated national scenic trails in the United States. From the southern terminus in Big Cypress National Preserve – approximately 80 miles east of Naples – this trail travels 1,300 miles across the state to the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Pensacola. This scenic trail winds through swampland, pine flat woods, hardwoods, oak hammocks and salt marshes, giving way to an ever-changing array of Floridian ecosystems. The northern region takes hikers west to the beautiful limestone out-cropped banks of the Suwannee River from White Springs to the Twin Rivers State Forest. The panhandle region travels further west across the Aucilla WMA towards the breathtaking white beaches of the Gulf Islands.
Currently, only 1,000 miles of the envisioned 1,300 miles put forth by the 1986 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) comprehensive plan, has been completed due to a lack of connecting trail systems. One of the major gaps is a 55-mile section across Madison County known as the Twin Rivers State Forest to Aucilla River gap. The route takes hikers for a road walk up State Road 53, then past Ragan's campground onto County Road 360 towards Sirmans. The trail continues on minor dirt roads to County Road 150 towards Taylor County and the Middle Aucilla Conservation Area. This section has not been eligible for national scenic trail certification since it does not meet the non-motorized standards of national scenic trails.
A 2016 corridor review proposed two new alternate routes to the current road walk. The first alternative would bring the FNST along the multi-use US Hwy. 90 route through the historic downtowns of Madison and Greenville then travel south on US Hwy. 221. The second alternative continues existing trail south along the Suwannee River to Mayo then through downtown Steinhatchee. The purposed alternative, also known as the Big Bend reroute, then travels northwest through Econfina River State Park and ends at the junction between the Aucilla River and US Hwy. 98.
The review concludes that although the Big Bend reroute option requires the most land acquisition, cost and adds an additional 160 miles to the gap, it remains the only current viable option for national scenic trail eligibility. The original document drafted in the mid 1980s clearly shows they intended the route to travel through the rolling hills of Madison County so it is unfortunate to see a re-route traveling south as opposed to west from Twin Rivers. The good news is this route requires additional trail construction within the county along the Suwannee River. This may serve as a great opportunity for the community, especially the youth, to get involved in partnerships with the USDA Forest Service on a project that has lasting impacts to Madison and surrounding counties.
The FNST can be accessed in Madison County by traveling west on 90 to the Twin Rivers State Park. Trailheads can be found on both sides of US Hwy. 90, but some of the best with scenic river views are along NE Ellaville Central Avenue and from the parking area at the end of NE Drew Way.
An interactive trail map is available on the USDA Forest Service website at www.fs.usda.gov/fnst, but sometimes the most fun is just exploring the route with a friend or family members. If all this talk of beautiful views along the river has got you motivated to explore the outdoors, you are invited to join the adventure. All in the community are invited and are asked to wear appropriate walking shoes. Water will be provided.