The Apalachee Regional Planning Council received a grant from the Department of Economic Opportunity to conduct a feasibility study for a hiking trail connecting the Town of Chattahoochee and to the City of Bristol along the Apalachicola River. The study will assist in determining the feasibility of the Chattahoochee-to-Bristol (C2B) Trail and linkage of this new trail as an alternative route for the existing Florida National Scenic Trail (FNST). Enthusiasm for the C2B Trail has been a grassroots effort that came to life after the Competitive Florida program highlighted many natural assets in the area and identified the ability of trail development through extensive owned public lands. The C2B Trail could add an economic vigor to a rural and underserved area using the incredible terrain and endemic species found in the distinct Apalachicola River Bluffs and Ravines area.
As designed, the 20 mile C2B trail will follow the eastern bank of the Apalachicola River, running through private and public lands in Gadsden and Liberty counties. The trail will include two or three trail heads and follow the topography of bluffs and ravines along the Apalachicola River. Some of the larger landowners include The Nature Conservancy, the Northwest Florida Water Management District, City of Chattahoochee and Torreya State Park.