Gum Swamp Trail
- 3.6 mi
- round trip
- 212 ft
- climb
- 26 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Oct–Apr
- best months
Is Gum Swamp Trail open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in National Forests in Florida. It doesn't name Gum Swamp Trail, so check the source for the area it covers.
Travel Management & Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Program
Agency closure covering National Forests in Florida · USFS · National Forests in Florida
Fire Restrictions in Effect for Ocala National Forest
Agency alert covering National Forests in Florida · USFS · National Forests in Florida
As of · Source: USFS · National Forests in Florida. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Gum Swamp Trail is a 3.6-mile out-and-back hike in the Wakulla Ranger District of the National Forests in Florida, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is rated moderate, with a total elevation gain of 20 feet, and it sits on natural ground rather than a developed surface. It is not an accessible trail, and neither horses nor bikes are allowed. The route is mostly flat, with the steepest stretch at about 1.4 miles in, where the grade reaches 6 percent. The high point is 26 feet, and the low point is 10 feet, so the climb is minimal. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Tallahassee show April highs around 81°F and October highs around 83°F, while July and August average highs near 92°F with more frequent wet days. The trail is open year-round. The Sinkhole Trail starts just 0.1 mile away, and the Crossover Trail is about 0.4 mile off. The Equestrian Trail - Connector and the Apalachicola National Forest Trail are within about 5 miles.
Best time to go · Oct–Apr
Best time to visit Gum Swamp Trail
Best months: October–April. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
64° / 38°
9 wet
Feb
68° / 41°
9 wet
Mar
74° / 46°
8 wet
Apr
81° / 53°
7 wet
May
88° / 62°
8 wet
Jun
92° / 70°
13 wet
Jul
93° / 73°
16 wet
Aug
92° / 72°
15 wet
Sep
90° / 69°
10 wet
Oct
83° / 57°
6 wet
Nov
73° / 46°
7 wet
Dec
66° / 41°
9 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tallahassee Ap, FL, 6 mi away at 55 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Gf&a
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4.80-mile out-and-back trail in Florida with 164 ft gain.
Lake Munson Slough Trail
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EQUESTRIAN TRAIL - MAIN LOOP
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Sally Ward Trail
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3.47-mile out-and-back trail in Florida with 199 ft elevation gain.
Photo: fincher69, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Capital Circle Office Center Nature Trail
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Florida Trail
~19 min drive
9.62-mile point-to-point trail in Florida with 509 ft gain.
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Crossover Trail
Next door
1.00-mile out-and-back trail in Florida with 58 ft elevation gain.
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Apalachicola National Forest Trail
~20 min drive
6.46-mile out-and-back hike in Florida's Apalachicola National Forest.
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Equestrian Trail - Connector
~3 min drive
1.48-mile out-and-back equestrian trail in Florida with 33 ft gain.
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Equestrian Trail - Trout Pond
~5 min drive
0.9-mile out-and-back equestrian trail in Florida with 25 ft of elevation gain.
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