Florida · Hiking

Purple Trail

2.7 mi
round trip
149 ft
climb
16 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Oct–May
best months

The Purple Trail is a 5.3-mile out-and-back hike in Florida's Guana River Site, part of the GTMNERR managed by the State Department of Conservation. The route is rated moderate, and it is a flat walk with no elevation gain, so the challenge comes from the distance rather than the climb. The trail's high point is 16 feet, and the low point is 3 feet, with the steepest stretch at about 2.2 miles in, where the grade reaches 2 percent. That makes it a steady, low-impact route for a longer outing. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from the nearby St Augustine Lighthouse weather station show March highs around 74°F and November highs around 75°F, while July and August average highs near 90°F with more frequent wet days. The Red Trail lies about a mile away, and the Orange Trail is roughly 1.3 miles off, so it's easy to pair this hike with another.

  • Best time to go · Oct–May

    Best time to visit Purple Trail

    Best months: October–May. 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.

    1. Jan

      67° / 48°

      9 wet

    2. Feb

      70° / 50°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      74° / 55°

      8 wet

    4. Apr

      80° / 61°

      7 wet

    5. May

      85° / 67°

      8 wet

    6. Jun

      89° / 72°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      91° / 74°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      90° / 74°

      14 wet

    9. Sep

      87° / 73°

      13 wet

    10. Oct

      82° / 67°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      75° / 58°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      69° / 51°

      9 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at St Augustine Lighthouse, FL, 8.6 mi away at 12 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors