Miami residents hike on Elliot Key in Biscayne National Park. Photo / Christopher Boykin

Visit Florida, the state’s tourism bureau, has launched a website that helps people plan paddling, hiking and horseback trails vacations in the Sunshine State.

With more than 8,000 miles of existing land trails and 4,000 miles of water trails, according to a Visit Florida report, the state won the inaugural award of “Best Trails State in the Nation” by American Trails in 2008. Additionally, according to the report, in 2009 more than 4 million visitors to the Cross Florida Greenway and eight state trails generated an estimated economic impact of $95 million. Two-thirds of visitors to Florida in 2009 participated in nature-based activities. Almost every Florida resident (80 percent) suggests nearby natural, cultural and historical sites to out-of-state friends and family when they visit Florida.

In other words, Florida’s trails are pretty damn cool. Even the animals like them.

VisitFlorida.com/trails has descriptions of trails, detailed maps and amazing photographs.

Friends hike on Elliot Key in Biscayne National Park. Photo / Christopher Boykin

On Oct. 4 Visit Florida, the state tourism bureau, is scheduled to launch a website that will help people plan paddling, hiking and horseback trails vacations in the Sunshine State.

With more than 8,000 miles of existing land trails and 4,000 miles of water trails, according to a Visit Florida report, the state won the inaugural award of “Best Trails State in the Nation” by American Trails in 2008. Additionally, according to the report, in 2009 more than 4 million visitors to the Cross Florida Greenway and eight state trails generated an estimated economic impact of $95 million. Two-thirds of visitors to Florida in 2009 participated in nature-based activities. Almost every Florida resident (80 percent) suggests nearby natural, cultural and historical sites to out-of-state friends and family when they visit Florida.

In other words, Florida’s trails are pretty damn cool. Even the animals like them.

The new trails website will be trails.VisitFlorida.com. It’s supposed to have detailed maps and photographs.

Mosaic Outdoor Club of South Florida, a Jewish club named after Moses, “the original outdoor Jew,” has announced upcoming events for members and nonmembers. Gentiles are welcome to participate.

On Sept. 19 club members will have a kayaking adventure off Key Biscayne, an island paradise connected by bridge to hectic Miami.

A naturalist will take participants on a journey along the shores of a land that has witnessed the comings and goings of human beings for thousands of years. According to a recent Mosaic newsletter, this ranges “from the Tequesta Indians who set-up their fishing villages in the summer to the pirates that shipwrecked off shore.”

The cost is $30 for members and $35 for nonmembers. RSVP through Rich Chesen: 954-449-3335 / richardchesen@gmail.com.

On Oct. 10 the club is offering a day hike at Savannas Preserve State Park. Stretching more than 10 miles from Fort Pierce to Jensen Beach, this preserve is the largest and most intact remnant of Florida’s east coast savannas.

Mosaic hikers will start at the Environmental Education Center, picnic about 10 minutes from the center, and then a park ranger will lead a tour of an area not open to the general public. After that the hikers can explore the park on their own.

The cost is $4 for Mosaic members and $9 for nonmembers. No RSVP is required. Contact Robert Blum:  561-289-2228 / rob@robphone.com.

To learn about more Mosaic activities, visit its website.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Backpacking and Hiking ($17) is now on sale. Idiots of Florida’s trails, rejoice!

Written by Jason Stevenson, the former skills editor at Backpacker magazine, the book offers advice to people ranging from hardcore trekkers to strolling honeymooners and seniors.

Specific subjects include how to choose a trip and location; ways to train for a hike; what gear is necessary; how to live, sleep and cook meals on trails; tips for female hikers; and first aid.

Click here to learn where to purchase the book.

Sunrise at Port Mayaca on the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has closed a 4.5-mile section of the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail until Aug. 31.

LOST is closed from Lake Harbor (Structure 354) to South Bay in order to accommodate the delivery of 40,000 tons of armor stone that will be used to reinforce the Herbert Hoover Dike in the event of a breach. The corps maintains 15 emergency stockpiles of rock near potentially vulnerable areas of the dike.

“Having this rock available will allow an almost instant response in the event of a breach,” Stephen Schneider, engineering technician who monitors the emergency stockpiles, said in a statement.

To see photos of LOST click here.

Hikers observe the mangrove ecosystem at Anne Kolb Nature Center.

A naturalist at Anne Kolb Nature Center at West Lake Park in Hollywood will lead a hike to observe native mangroves on March 4. Open to all ages, the cost is $3 per person. The hike down the Lake Observation Trail is from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

To learn more visit Broward.org/parks/wlpaknc or call 954-926-2480.

Swamp walking in the Everglades. Photo / Niki Butcher

From now until March, guided swamp walks are being offered off the Tamiami Trail, behind the Big Cypress Gallery of renowned Everglades photographer Clyde Butcher. Naturalist Rick Cruz guides a walk at 10 a.m. and another at 2 p.m. every Saturday. The cost is $75 per person, which includes a $25 credit in the gallery. Children under 18 are charged only $25 but get no credit in the gallery.

Reservations are required due to limited space. Visit ClydeButcher.com to sign up or contact jackie@clydebutcher.com

The Sierra Club of Miami is hosting a 3.4-mile hike off the Tamiami Trail on Feb. 13. Members and newcomers can participate.

Hikers will meet at the Oasis Ranger Station, off Tamiami Trail in the middle of the Everglades, then embark on the Robert’s Strand portion of the Florida Trail.

According to a club newsletter, “There we’ll hike south, wet or dry, about 3.4 miles, have lunch and backtrack to Oasis. We may get our feet wet and slosh through a pond on this section of the orange-blazed Florida Trail. This is Big Cypress Preserve in pristine condition. No swamp buggies allowed here, so bring hiking stuff and your own lunch for this potentially strenuous and varied walk amid cypress trees, slash pine, tall grass, saw palmetto, hammocks, wild flowers, orchids, air plants. We’ll look sharp for bald eagles and other natural sightings.”

The number of hikers is limited to eight and the cost is $10.

For details, contact Kaatje Bernabei at kaatjebernabei@bellsouth.net / 305-332-6551.

The Loxahatchee chapter of the Florida Trail Association is offering a daylong ocean to lake hike on Nov. 14. Throughout the day participants will trek on trails from Jonathan Dickinson State Park marina north of Jupiter to Riverbend Park west of Jupiter. The distance is 11 miles and is considered strenuous. The cost is $5 per person.

More details are available here. Or contact Donna Brown at 561-317-8288 / donnabrownintl@gmail.com.

Mosaic Outdoor Club of South Florida, a Jewish club named after Moses, “the original outdoor Jew,” hosted a Labor Day picnic on Sept. 6 at John U. Lloyd State Park in Dania Beach. It included hamburgers, kosher hot dogs, chips and watermelon. The park offered kayak, canoe and other water toys for rent.

On Aug. 30 the club hosted a kayak and snorkel trip at Key Biscayne. According to the club’s website, “On this naturalist-guided kayak trip along the Key Biscayne shoreline, you will explore and discover the abundant marine life that inhabits the sand flats and sea grass beds. Then snorkel over the fossilized rock reef formed from petrified black mangroves 1500 years ago. Swim alongside the tropical fish, spotted eagle rays, sea stars and coastal birds that share this rare and unique environment. All equipment is provided. After we return to shore we’ll gather for a picnic lunch on the beach where you can spend some time, hiking, swimming and relaxing.”

On Aug. 23 the club had its Big Cypress Swamp Hike, which included a picnic lunch, slide show and a trek through water up to people’s knees.

Other club events include campouts, bicycling and swimming. Sometimes adventures are accompanied by a Seder.