Outdoors & Nature Insider

With cooler weather right around corner, you can bet that folks are already planning some trips to take in some of Florida's outdoors. Cool, crispy air always makes a hike more enjoyable, and the trails will be full of smiling faces. With so many state parks with hiking trails, how do you choose? I've got a bunch already written up on my calendar -- I'll share with you a few of the ones that I'm excited to visit! Here are my top five parks for a Florida day hike in the fall. Get out there and have fun!

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park - Hike a 3-mile section of the Florida Trail as it makes its way through Gold Head Branch State Park, one of the oldest parks in the state park system. You'll travel through pine flatwoods and then drop down and hike along the ravine. Take some time and explore the Loblolly and Ravine loops for a longer hike.

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park - One of my favorite places to visit, Paynes Prairie never seems to disappoint those interested in wildlife. I love this hike in cooler weather, and go several times a year, well, just because it's so peaceful.

Falling Waters State Park - Explore one of Florida's most impressive geologic features -- a 65-foot waterfall that falls into a 100-foot sinkhole. The cascade is really something you have to see, especially after a heavy rain! The trails are short, and you won't hike more than an hour or so. You'll also hike down a boardwalk to the bottom of the sinkhole. Even if the water is really low, the geology here is amazing. Bring your camera!

Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park -  Cooler weather always brings people out to stroll through the formal gardens, and there's always something in bloom. After the gardens, eight miles of multi-use trails are yours to enjoy on the adjacent Lake Overstreet property that is a part of the park.

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park - How about a hike in Key West? Fort Zachary Taylor State Park has a couple of really nice short trails, perfect for photography, birding, or just a relaxing stroll. You'll pass through native vegetation of the Keys, and many migratory bird species are commonly seen here as they migrate to and from the Caribbean islands.