There's a lot more to Florida than the concrete jungles of Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville and Tampa / St. Petersburg. Getting into the wilderness and hiking even a few miles will give Florida a chance to reveal another side of itself to you.

Hiking in Florida owes a lot to the Florida Trail Association, a nonprofit organization whose member volunteers develop and maintain the Florida National Scenic Trail. This trail stretches from Pensacola in the Panhandle of Florida's northwest all the way to the Everglades in the south. Many sections of the trail are good for a day trip. Anyone can walk on the Florida National Scenic Trail, but you must be a Florida Trail Association member to walk on trail sections that go through private property. The trail is accessible at many state and national parks and forests; visit the Florida Trail Association Web site through the link above for more information on trail sections and to purchase maps of areas you'll be hiking through.

There are also miles of trails in state and national parks and forests, wildlife refuges, wildlife management areas and regional areas that aren't part of the Florida National Scenic Trail. But they can still be quite picturesque. When visiting a Florida natural area, ask a ranger or volunteer for a hiking trail map.

Florida Hiker Magazine published an eco-based magazine from January 2001 through spring 2002. See the Florida Hiker Magazine Web site to order back issues and read fall 2002 hiking and trail news by Florida region.

Florida's Division of Forestry offers a unique program for those who hike through state forests: Trailwalker. This rewards you with patches that show how far you have walked: 10 trails in a minimum of 5 state forests for the 1st level, 20 trails for the next level and 30 trails for the master level.

Here are a few tips about hiking in Florida and in general:

• When hiking, be sure to wear sturdy, comfortable footwear like hiking boots. The worst reminder of your hike is a crippling blister.
  
  
• Take plenty of water with you so you can stay hydrated. If you hike on a warm day, consider hiking in the morning before the temperature rises to avoid getting heatstroke. (In the summer in Florida, the temperature can rise to 90 degrees F and beyond by 11 a.m.) Rangers are sometimes called to rescue hikers hit by heatstroke even a few miles on the trail.
  
  
• Be aware that after hard rains and during the summer, many trails in Florida can get flooded.
  
  
• You may want to walk with a hiking stick -- handy for wiping away spider webs in front of you, among other things.
  
  
• Know the length of the trail and the amount of daylight you have so you don't get stuck on a trail in the darkness.
  
  
• In some natural areas, you'll be required to register at the ranger's office before hiking on trails; this is usually in the more remote areas of Florida.
  
  
• Be aware that some places, like wildlife management areas and conservation areas, are open to hunting during certain times.