Florida Trail Association - Loxahatchee Chapter
History
Chartered in 1982, the Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association (FTA) began with a core group of 36 outdoors enthusiasts, some of whom had participated in blazing a new trail through the Corbett Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Soon after members took on the task of blazing the Florida Trail around Lake Okeechobee and took over care of the major hiking trail in Jonathan Dickinson State Park to create a loop trail for backpackers and day hikers.
The chapter has many well established activities, including the Annual Ocean to Lake Backpacking Trip & Day hikes around President’s Day. Over the past decade, members have been instrumental in creating the Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail from Hobe Sound Beach on the Atlantic Ocean to Lake Okeechobee. Other hikes include the Mothers Day wildflower walk, first-weekend walks in John Prince Park and at Jonathan Dickinson State Park and, most famous of all, the annual “Big O” Hike around Lake Okeechobee each Thanksgiving week, a major event held every year since 1992.
The Loxahatchee Chapter maintains the Florida National Scenic Trail around Lake Okeechobee, the Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail from Hobe Sound to Port Mayaca, and loop trails in Jonathan Dickinson State Park and DuPuis Reserve.
Our chapter is a small part of the Florida Trail Association, a 501(c)3 non-profit. Please visit the links to the left about our parent group, the FTA.