Imagine drifting along the coffee-colored waters of the Suwannee River. Trees arc out over the water, clinging to the steep limestone cliffs, and the calls of mockingbirds and red-shouldered hawks echo off the calm river surface. November is Florida Paddlesports Month, and the weather is perfect for a relaxing trip on the water.

Every park needs a friend! Staff at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park are happy to announce that the parks have a new friends group.

Florida Park Service biologists have a fascinating and challenging job studying and protecting imperiled species, vast tracts of wildland and the dynamic interface between natural and urban areas. Discover what our scientists are doing to protect Florida's best places.

Placed end to end, the trails in Florida State Parks would stretch from Tallahassee to Seattle. There are more than 2200 miles of trails for walkers, hikers, bicyclists and equestrians. How did so many miles of trails come to be?

February is Florida Hiking Trails Month, so to celebrate we put together this list of Florida State Parks that are home to scenic and unique trail systems. Check out any of these parks for a memorable time exploring Florida’s landscapes.

Recently, about 70 visitors gathered in the front of the Lodge to learn about the Chimney Swifts and watch their aerial dance as they entered the chimney to roost for the evening.

The Florida pompano, part of the jack family, is a species of marine fish with a compressed body, short snout and deeply forked tail. Pompano fish often have a color variation of blue, green and yellow on their dorsal areas and silver and yellow on their body and fins.

Battling exotic and invasive plants on 14,000 acres at Lake Kissimmee and Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek state parks in Central Florida requires constant attention. The Lake Wales Ridge and surrounding areas provide vital habitat for endemic species such as the scrub blazing star and pygmy fringe-tree.

Just as the landscape is recovering from Hurricane Michael, so is the wildlife. At Three Rivers State Park, you can see the fox squirrel bouncing around the landscape once again.

Restoring 7,000 acres from industrial timberland back to an ecosystem of longleaf pine and wiregrass has been an 18-year project at Torreya State Park. The restoration work is not yet complete.

In Florida, experts have verified 170 native butterfly species with an additional 30 considered to be either non-native or vagrant strays. Learn where to see them in North Florida from biologist Rick Owen.

As one of the most important agents for natural change, fire plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem.

Saving the endangered Savannas mint has been a challenge at Savannas Preserve State Park. A partnership with the Bok Tower Gardens’ Rare Plant Conservation Program has made all the difference in saving this plant that blooms with beautiful purple flowers in the fall. Biologist Douglas Rogers tells the story.

In 2022, 70 Florida State Parks staff joined Department of Environmental Protection water quality experts to find new ways to tell the story of Florida's springs.

Healthy seagrass communities are the most productive ecosystems the world. Biologist Becky Collins tells the story of how mooring buoys and channel markers help boaters protect the seagrass communities.

Whether you are exploring the park by foot or bike, you have a very good chance to run across one of our favorite park inhabitants, the gopher tortoise.