One of my more interesting hikes in recent years was when I was working on 50 Hikes in South Florida. When I hike, a wooden hiking stick is my trusty companion, just in case. A recent exception was down in Shark Valley in Everglades National Park. But every time, the critter (no matter its size) turned tail and ran. I’ve nearly stumbled across alligators several times while hiking. Find a body of water, and there’s bound to be one in it. Will you see wildlife here? Most certainly. For years, I’ve heard that alligators have been one of the top reasons that out-of-state visitors and new residents (who wouldn’t think twice of hiking in black bear country in the Smokies or grizzly bear territory in the Rockies) get freaked out about hiking in Florida. With the recent rash of fatal alligator attacks, I’ve had quite a few folks talk to me this past week about their fears of the outdoors. Leslie Duncan Memorial Trail: At the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Big Cypress Swamp, just north of I-75 along SR 29.

PEF panther prowl