Do you have a favorite place to walk?

While there are a handful of picturesque trails scattered throughout Florida, only one is revered as the best place to hike.

Be it beautiful lake views, a glimpse at a glowing sunset sinking below a distant mountain range, or a birds-eye view of the sunrise making the dew painted on the leaves of a hundred trees sparkle around you, something about this trail sets it apart from the rest, so much so, that it's become a Florida recommendation.

Some trails are traversed for their history, while others are admired for their peaceful lack of crowds. Regardless of why you choose to hike a trail, there is one glorious Florida gem you must add to your list!

According to a list compiled by Backpacker Magazine, the best hike in Florida is the 2.4-mile stretch of the Florida Trail through the Rice Creek Conservation Area.

Here's what Backpacker Magazine (via hiker Chelsea Collinson) had to say about the absolute best place to hike in the state:

"As soon as I stepped out of the car, two bald eagles flew overhead. Wildlife sightings of everything from otters to alligators aren’t unusual on this trail, but this felt like an especially good omen. Rice Creek is mostly swampland, and the hike took me over narrow boardwalks and bridges through cypress groves and mixed forest. When the boardwalks disappeared, I hopped between large palmetto leaves like stepping stones over the marshy ground. Just off the trail sits the seventh-largest cypress tree in the state; knobby cypress “knees” protrude from the ground near its base, creating a mystical effect. I thought to myself that it looks like somewhere you might find a gnome living. Rice Creek makes for a good dayhike-loop, but the Florida Trail stretches hundreds of miles in either direction, making it a perfect section on a longer trek, too."

For a continued list of the best hikes in all 50 states, check out backpacker.com!

Michael Berry