A ribbon of asphalt that connects communities and parks within the historic Apalachicola River town of Blountstown, the Blountstown Greenway is ideal for walking or biking.
In part, it serves as a path for the Florida National Scenic Trail through the center of town.
Heavily shaded by deep upland forest for much of the journey, it connects Sam Atkins Park, home of the Panhandle Pioneer Settlement, at the western edge of town with Neal Landing along the Apalachicola River, a 3.9-mile journey.
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Resources for exploring the area
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Overview
Location: Blountstown
Length: 3.9 miles linear (7.8 miles round-trip)
Trailhead: 30.445661, -85.045109
Fees / Permits: none
Restroom: yes, at the depot and Sam Atkins Park
Land manager: City of Blountstown
Open dawn to dusk. Leashed pets welcome. No motorized vehicles.
The above trailhead is at Railroad Park, adjoining the Depot Museum.
Directions
You’ll encounter trail crossings along most of the north-south roads in Blountstown, but the best places to access the trail are from Railroad Park and the historic depot downtown along NE Pear Street, Sam Atkins Park at the western end, and Neal Landing at the eastern end. The trail passes under SR 20 just east of downtown.
Hike
For a pleasant short outing along the Blountstown Greenway, start at Railroad Park. Walk east past the depot and into a lush floodplain forest.
The straightaway reaches a boardwalk and jogs left across it to cross a creek and duck under SR 20.
Continue to the next junction in the trail (the side path to the right leads to a convenience store). Turn around and return for a walk of a mile.
For a longer walk, walk west along the greenway, crossing Pear St and SR 71 downtown. Where you reach the intersection of orange and blue blazes at 0.7 mile, continue along the blue blazes to Sam Atkins Park.
The stretch between the road crossing before the trail intersection and the park is particularly scenic and deeply shaded, crossing a bridge over the swamp. This is a 2.6-mile round-trip.
The full greenway is best experienced by bike. Choose your trailhead and go for a ride!
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Slideshow
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Nearby Adventures
More worth exploring while you’re in this area.
Florida Trail, Altha
1.7 miles. Following Bauldree Branch to the bluffs of the Chipola River, the Altha section of the Florida Trail is a fabulous destination for spring wildflowers.
Dead Lakes Park
Centered around a mysterious 6,700-acre swamp forest with open waters and shrunken bald cypresses, Dead Lakes Recreation Area provides paddlers, hikers, and campers with a place to play.
Apalachee Savannas Scenic Byway
In the Apalachicola National Forest, the Apalachee Savannas Scenic Byway is a winding stretch of scenic road through expansive wet flatwoods and open pine savannas
Garden of Eden Trail
Try one of Florida’s toughest day hikes on for size: local legend has it this was the Garden of Eden, and from the lush forests and rare flora along this trek, they might be on to something