Girls Who Hike Florida

01/14/2026

Good Afternoon we have had 36 ladies interested in being hike leaders/ambassadors or just helping with hikes/events.

We are now gonna break it down to 3 video chats with 12 ladies each as the admin and moderator team want to get to know you and ensure the rules and hike template are understood along with safety being our number one priority and that everyone has a good time.

Without further ado if you are free next Wednesday January 21st, 2026 at 7:30pm please message this page yes.

Rachel Samson
Ali Flowers
Nicole Burke
Victoria Peterson

We realized you are on our public page but not in our private Facebook group please make sure to join it.
link >> Girls Who Hike FL

If you weren't tagged no worries we will have 2 other video chats as there is no way of having 36 ladies on one video chat without people talking over each other or not being able to hear etc.

11/11/2025

Happy Veterans Day! Thank you for your service.

07/03/2025

04/20/2025

Back in early January of this year we enjoyed some time at Orlando Wetlands Park and saw many birds and gators. Definitely a chilly morning but mother nature sure showed off.

03/28/2025

For Women's History Month, we're featuring our GWHFL members. Follow along as they tell us a little about themselves and what challenges they face as women in the outdoors.

Meet Belinda Leverock

I live in Palatka - Northeast Fl

I'm a Family Service Coordinator/Developmental Specialist at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital

I get out 3 to 5x a week

The Florida Trail is my favorite, as well as all the Florida State Parks and trails.

Other than hiking I enjoy Kayaking, scuba, snorkeling, biking, roller skating, walking our 2 dogs

My Advice: join a local group and start with low mileage/short walks- then increase your miles and walks as you feel comfortable. Always let someone know where you’re going, pack plenty of water, carry a flashlight, bug spray, sunscreen, small first aid kit. Most of all, have fun and enjoy!

My Bucket list: hike more of the Florida Trail of course! Also would like to do sections of the AT and more trails at Mount Zion.

Thank you so much Belinda it has been awesome hiking with you and thank you for recently leading the Paynes Praire Preserve State Park Hike and being apart GWHFL and the outdoor community 😊

We can't wait to see more of your adventures!

03/26/2025

For Women's History Month, we're featuring our GWHFL members. Follow along as they tell us a little about themselves and what challenges they face as women in the outdoors.

Meet: Radoslava Trendafilova
I go by Radi for short
I live in Tampa Bay , Valrico .
I am a registered nurse .
I am originally from Bulgaria. But have been in the US for more than 20 years.

Q: how often do you get outside?
A: I am out every week. No matter the season! I call Friday my hiking day , but also do most Saturdays. I try to explore a new for me place at least a couple of times a month! So much to see!

Q: what is your favorite trail?
A: All the trails are my favorite!! 😂
I go hiking pretty often in the area and every new trail becomes my favorite! Seriously though, I do enjoy state parks and Croom/ citrus part of the Withlacoochee state forest. Parts of the Florida trail that I have hiked are also amazing!
Locally Morris Bridge wilderness park loop.

Q: What other outdoor activities do you enjoy?
A: Definitely photography! Wherever I go I have to take tons of pictures! I also enjoy kayaking.. but only in a group since I don’t feel confident enough to do it on my own.

Q: What advice would you give other ladies interested in getting in the outdoors or any other advice for ladies already in the outdoors ?
A: My best advice would be don’t be scared to go exploring! I started with small organized hikes by the Hillsborough county parks. What I learned on those hikes gave me the confidence to go and explore on my own. First the local parks that I had already had visited , then I started venturing farther away .
Also always research the park where you will go its trails, conditions, closures. Bring plenty of water and extra battery for your phone !

Q. Name a bucket list adventure you want to have ?
A. I would definitely would love to hike as much of the Florida trail and especially Big Cypress .
Internationally would love to check Camino trails , and climb the 2nd highest peak in Bulgaria Vihren .

Hiking gives me peace and it’s my go to activity for physical and mental health.

Thank you Radi and so glad to have you apart of GWHFL and the outdoor community ^_^

03/25/2025

For Women's History Month, we're featuring our GWHFL members. Follow along as they tell us a little about themselves and what challenges they face as women in the outdoors.

Linda Stoughton
She/Her

Linda Stoughton lives in St Augustine, FL, with her husband Kurt and dog, Coogen. Linda retired from St. John’s County Emergency Management after 35 years of service.

I get outside three times a week to enjoy nature.

My favorite local trail is the Savannah Trail in Guana Wildlife Management Area and my favorite trail in Colorado is Music Pass in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. We spend summers is Colorado and enjoy exploring trails in the mountains.

I love kayaking, adventure travel, camping and scuba diving.

I would encourage new hikers to find an experienced group to hike with to learn about local trails, equipment, leave no trace practices and of course the best places to eat afterwards.

A trip high on my bucket list is exploring Iceland.

03/25/2025

For Women's History Month, we're featuring our GWHFL members. Follow along as they tell us a little about themselves and what challenges they face as women in the outdoors.

Wrapping up talking with our event organizers.

Meet Stephanie Carroll
Pronouns: she/her

Stephanie lives in Palm Beach County and her occupational field is in Real Estate.

Q: How often do you get outside?
A: In the winter months I am out every week. Then in the summer months I try to do outdoor activities when visiting cooler climates or enjoying water activities.

Q: What is your favorite trail?
A: The Ocean to lake Hiking Trail of course!!! This 62 mile trail is an official spur of the Florida National Scenic Trail aka The Florida Trail. The Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail is a 63-mile route in Florida, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to Lake Okeechobee. It offers diverse landscapes, including coastal dunes, forests, and wetlands, and my most favorite sections the cypress swamps!!

Q: What other outdoor activities do you enjoy?
A: I absolutely love snorkeling and swimming in the ocean. I also love deep sea fishing, kayaking and canoeing especially on the Loxahatchee River.

Q: What advice would you give other ladies interested in getting in the outdoors or any advice for ladies already in the outdoors?
A: Well if you’re reading this you have already taken my best advice, join a social group of likeminded individuals!!! When I first started dreaming of hiking I found the local chapter of the Florida Trail Association and joined in on some group hikes, once you get out there a few times it no longer feels so scary. Making friends and planning adventures together is more than half the fun!

Q: Name a bucket list adventure you want to have?
A: I have so many like thru hiking the AT or doing the Camino de Santiago but the most reachable bucket list adventure at the moment for me would to do the West Highland Way in Scotland. Just over 90 miles and you get to stop for Scottish beer and whiskey along the way!

Thank you so much Stephanie for leading hikes on the Ocean to Lake Trail section of the Florida Trail and for being apart of Girls Who Hike FL and all you do for the outdoor community :D

03/23/2025

For Women's History Month, we're featuring our GWHFL members. Follow along as they tell us a little about themselves and what challenges they face as women in the outdoors.

This week, we're talking with our event organizers. They help to get our members outside on the trail and in the water.

Meet Darby Calm
Pronouns: she/her/hers

Darby is native to SE FL (Stuart/Martin County). She teaches math online and coaches women around using self care to prevent and reduce trauma and conflict.

Q: How often do you get outside?
A: I make a point to hike or visit a park every time I have to drive somewhere. I walk/ruck around Downtown Stuart everyday. I am also a trail angel and help shuttle hikers for the Ocean to Lake Trail on on the East side of Lake Okeechobee.

Q: What is your favorite trail?
A: Favorite local trails: Ocean to Lake Trail, JDSP, Hawks Bluff, Halpatiokee, Riverbend, Seabranch
Favorite (nonlocal) State Parks: Fakahatchee, Goldhead, Torreya

Q: What other outdoor activities do you enjoy?
A: Kayak and paddle board�the occasional surf, snorkel, and skate (if conditions are right)

Q: What advice would you give other ladies interested in getting in the outdoors or any advice for ladies already in the outdoors?
A: Start with where you are and what you already have. �Drink lots of water and electrolytes.
Know your limits and stretch them gently.
I have a lot of disabilities, and have found day hikes to be really beneficial to my physical and mental health. I like to stay under 10 miles, and prefer sunset hikes.

Q: Name a bucket list adventure you want to have?
A: I have been to over 150 of Florida State Parks, so getting close to seeing them all!�Section hike the OTL trail in all of the different seasons�Continue to day hike on the Florida Trail
See native plants and wildlife (iSeek, iNaturalist, and the Merlin Bird app are all great resources)

Thank you Darby for not only helping Girls Who Hike FL but helping the outdoor community especially the Florida Trail community.

03/22/2025

For Women’s History Month, we're featuring our GWHFL members. Follow along as they tell us a little about themselves and what challenges they may have faced being a woman in the outdoors.

This week, we're talking with our event organizers. They help to get our members outside on the trail and in the water.

Meet Cara (‘RC’)
Pronouns: she/her/hers

Cara lives in Ocala, and her occupational field is Outdoor Recreation. She holds a BS in Entomology & Nematology, a minor in Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, and a Master’s of Forest Resources and Conservation – all from UF.

Q: How often do you get outside?
A: Pretty often. I work in outdoor recreation, so sometimes I get lucky and spend a whole day just wandering and photographing our sites.

Q: What is your favorite trail?
A: The FNST holds a special place for me, as my graduate thesis addressed multiple use section interactions between user groups.

Q: What other outdoor activities do you enjoy?
A: I love kayaking and archery. I was a certified instructor for both when I worked for Girl Scouts.

Q: What advice would you give other ladies interested in getting in the outdoors or any advice for ladies already in the outdoors?
A: SSDGM – from one of my favorite podcasts. But do take your safety seriously, especially in your preparedness and ID of plants and critters that can harm you!

Q: Name a bucket list adventure you want to have?
A: I have been lucky to travel some, but the Grand Canyon and hiking a glacier in Alaska are at the top of my domestic list. Internationally, I want to see lava on a hike, I want to see polar bears on a trip (hopefully I’m in a vehicle for that encounter!), and I want to visit the Galapagos!

Thank you so much Cara for helping Girls Who Hike FL and the outdoor community :D

03/21/2025

For Women’s History Month, we're featuring our GWHFL members. Follow along as they tell us a little about themselves and what challenges they face as a women in the outdoors.

This week, we're talking with our event organizers.

They help to get our members outside on the trail and in the water.

Meet Eva “MacGyver” Algermissen
Pronouns: she/they

Eva currently lives in Orlando and works in education and entertainment.

Q: How often do you get outside?
A: Not as much as I would like to these days. I am recovering from a hysterectomy back in November 2025 so I am easing back into hiking. Daily walks around the neighborhood definitely helps! I am fortunate to have a couple of ponds in my neighborhood where local birds love to hang out. I get to see plenty of ibis, ducks, osprey and other water birds every day. Occasionally we get turkey and deer wandering down the street!

Q: What is your favorite trail?
A: Two places are my favorite! First, I love the trails system at the Enchanted Forest in Titusville in Brevard County. There are several different ecosystems in the park and trails go all thru them. It’s easy to do a couple of miles or keep going and do more. There is a nature center, bathrooms, water fountains, and tables to have lunch after your hike.
Second is the Orlando Wetlands. January thru early March is the best time to go as it’s when the migratory birds are there. It’s also cold enough that the gators aren’t too active. There’s also a large bat house with an active population. On the weekends, volunteers provide informational tours and drive you around the land. The Orlando Wetlands has bathrooms and a large pavilion with picnic tables great for after hike socialization.

Q: What other outdoor activities do you enjoy?
A: There are a couple of springs and coastal beaches I enjoy and go swimming at but a true Floridian doesn’t reveal their secret spots.

Q: What obstacles, if any, have you faced in the outdoors as a woman?
A: Not a fan of the mansplaining on coed hikes.

Q: Name a bucket list adventure you want to have?
A: I would love to hike the Cotswold Way in England, some of the AT and some of the PCT. I would ultimately love to live on or nearby a major trail so I can provide help, assistance, food, or shelter to thru-hikers.

Q: What advice would you give other women who are interested in getting outdoors?
A: Plan and prepare before you go hiking but get out and hike! Keep water in a cooler with ice in the car in addition to the water you bring on the trail. Go with a friend or group of women and stick together.

Thank you Eva, Eva has been pivotal in the early days of Girls Who Hike FL and we can never thank her enough for the workshops at REI, hikes hosted, the many collaborations with various groups, organizations and her constant guidance.
Something Eva doesn't talk about much but she hiked the FT section Big Cypress some years ago I think that is a pretty big accomplishment as that section is no joke :D

03/19/2025

For Women’s History Month, we're featuring our GWHFL members. Follow along as they tell us a little about themselves and what challenges they face as a women in the outdoors.

This week, we're talking with our event organizers.
They help to get our members outside on the trail and in the water.

Meet Shannon
Pronouns: she/her/hers

Shannon lives in Tampa Bay, and her occupational field is in Pet Crematory Operator

Q: How often do you get outside?
A: Weekly

Q: What is your favorite trail?
A: Any

Q: What other outdoor activities do you enjoy?
A: Like to expand my activities kayaking, paddleboard and backpacking

Q: What obstacles, if any, have you faced in the outdoors as a woman?
A: Fear of bees. Newbie at backpacking

Q: Name a bucket list adventure you want to have?
A: Anything to do with the Appalachian Trail

Thank you Shannon for helping Girls Who Hike FL and contributing to the outdoor community :D