Paisley in Lake County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Birth of the Florida Trail
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, February 17, 2017
1. Birth of the Florida Trail Marker
Inscription.
Birth of the Florida Trail. . On October 29, 1966, Jim Kern, founder of the Florida Trail Association, and like-minded hiking enthusiasts began building the Florida Trail at the entrance to Clearwater Lake Recreation Area in the Ocala National Forest. The first 26-mile section, completed in 1969, extended northwest through the forest from here to State Road 40. In 1983, the Florida Trail earned Congressional recognition, and was designated the Florida National Scenic Trail under the National Trails System Act of 1968. The Florida Trail is one of eleven National Scenic Trails and one of three contained within a single state. As of the 50th anniversary of the trail in 2016, more than 1000 miles of continuous trail have been completed through the efforts of many volunteers. The trail spans the length of the state from Big Cypress National Preserve in South Florida to Gulf Islands National Seashore in the Panhandle, with a spur trail into Alabama, connecting it to a national trail network from Florida to the Canadian border. Each year many thousands of Floridians and visitors from around the world discover the "real Florida" while walking this footpath that passes through the state's varied ecosystems.
On October 29, 1966, Jim Kern, founder of the Florida Trail Association, and like-minded hiking enthusiasts began building the Florida Trail at the entrance to Clearwater Lake Recreation Area in the Ocala National Forest. The first 26-mile section, completed in 1969, extended northwest through the forest from here to State Road 40. In 1983, the Florida Trail earned Congressional recognition, and was designated the Florida National Scenic Trail under the National Trails System Act of 1968. The Florida Trail is one of eleven National Scenic Trails and one of three contained within a single state. As of the 50th anniversary of the trail in 2016, more than 1000 miles of continuous trail have been completed through the efforts of many volunteers. The trail spans the length of the state from Big Cypress National Preserve in South Florida to Gulf Islands National Seashore in the Panhandle, with a spur trail into Alabama, connecting it to a national trail network from Florida to the Canadian border. Each year many thousands of Floridians and visitors from around the world discover the "real Florida" while walking this footpath that passes through the state's varied ecosystems.
Erected 2016 by The Florida Trail Association and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-883.)
Topics. This historical
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marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Horticulture & Forestry. A significant historical date for this entry is October 29, 1966.
Location. 28° 58.601′ N, 81° 33.01′ W. Marker is in Paisley, Florida, in Lake County. Marker can be reached from Forest Road 536, 0.1 miles north of Lake King Road (Road 42), on the right when traveling north. Marker is located at the trail head of the Florida Trail in the Clearwater Lake Recreation Site in the Ocala National Forest. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 24511 County Road 42, Paisley FL 32767, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. Birth of the Florida Trail Marker and trail on left
. U.S. Forest Service (Submitted on February 21, 2017.)
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, February 17, 2017
3. Clearwater Lake Recreation Site entrance sign
Credits. This page was last revised on February 21, 2017. It was originally submitted on February 19, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 442 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on February 19, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
