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Cypress Creek boardwalk

Florida Trail, Choctawhatchee River

8.7 miles. Crossing majestic longleaf pine forests in Nokuse Plantation, the Florida Trail along the Choctawhatchee River also showcases natural features in the river basin between Cypress Creek and Seven Runs.

Florida Trail, Central Panhandle  |  Florida Trail, Nokuse
( 30.450644, -85.899513 )      8.7 miles

8.7 miles. Providing an immersive hike through majestic longleaf pine forests in Nokuse Plantation, the Florida Trail along the Choctawhatchee River also showcases natural features in the river basin between Cypress Creek and Seven Runs.


Resources

Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide book cover Florida Trail history book
Full details on this hike, including a trail map, are in our full-color guidebook Florida Trail Hikes.

Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.

 
Guthook GuidesGuthook Guides GPS-driven map-based guide to the Florida National Scenic Trail with thousands of waypoints from The Florida Trail Guide. Works offline. For iPhone and Android.



Overview

Of all of the segments of the Florida Trail in Nokuse, the Choctawhatchee River Section does the best job of showcasing why Nokuse Plantation exists.

Local entrepreneur and conservationist M.C. Davis had a dream of restoring a vast swath of commercially exploited landscape back to the sweeping longleaf pine forests that it had once been.

That restoration effort, now two decades old, is most mature along this portion of the trail.

Nokuse (pronounced Nah-Go-Say) means “bear” in the Creek language, but you’re far more likely to see white-tailed deer, foxes, turkeys, fox squirrels, and gopher tortoises.

In addition to a surprising amount of wildlife along this hike, you’ll also experience the full spectrum of the restoration of longleaf pine habitat across this landscape.

These range from young candle-stage pines sprouting from tall grasses to a towering canopy of pines with an open understory that stretches on and on.

Prescribed fire is a part of the regimen of keeping longleaf pine habitats healthy, so don’t be surprised to run into crispy bits of forest, too.


Trip Planning

Ongoing restoration of pine plantations continues. While this process is going on, you will encounter both recent clearcuts and new young forests. Keep alert for flagging and blaze posts in these areas to follow the footpath.

Two designated campsites – Leaning Pine and Rivers Bend – on public land provide destinations for backpackers, with benches and fire ring.

Both are nice places for day hikers to take a break, too. No permits are required, but backpackers are asked to stick to designated campsites throughout the Nokuse section.

Portions of this trail, including the vicinity of the two campsites, are on lands managed by Northwest Florida Water Management District, which permits limited seasonal hunting.

There is also a private hunting ground adjoining the trail north of Dead River Road, marked with signs. Check the FWC website for hunting dates for Choctawhatchee River WMA.

As the trail is along the Choctawhatchee River floodplain, flooding can be an issue. Check flood gauges in advance of your hike. If you hike in and find the Cypress Creek Boardwalk under water, turn around.


Directions

From US 98 at the west end of Panama City Beach, follow SR 79 north for 15.5 miles, driving through Pine Log State Forest, to meet SR 20 at Ebro. Turn left and continue west on SR 20 for 2 miles. Immediately after you cross the Choctawhatchee River, the turnoff on the left leads to Cowford Landing. This is the trailhead for the beginning of the hike. If the area is clear, it’s okay to park up near the bridge rather than down at the riverside parking area.
 
For the northern terminus of this hike, continue past Cowford Landing 3.8 miles to the town of Bruce. Turn right on SR 81. Drive 5.8 miles, passing Dead River Road before you come to the trail crossing. The trailhead at Seven Runs is on the left side of the highway just after you cross the bridge over Seven Runs, 0.2 mile north of the trail crossing.

Hike

From the parking area at Cowford Landing or under the bridge, you’ll need to walk along the grassy shoulder of SR 20 about a quarter mile before entering the forest at the base of the berm. A highway sign along SR 20 marks the spot.

Slipping through a stretch of sometimes-soggy floodplain forest, the trail guides you into the longleaf pine restoration areas, with pines of different ages and sizes along the trail.

When you reach the Cypress Creek floodplain, take the time to enjoy the sturdy boardwalk across it and the reflections of the swamp in the water.

Cypress Creek boardwalk
The Cypress Creek boardwalk is a compelling day hike destination

Traversing mature longleaf pine forest and a grassy prairie, the trail exits the private conservancy into public land for a stretch, where it follows a forest road past a pond.

Watch for signs and blazes. Beyond Leaning Pine Camp at 3.5 miles, you’re back in Nokuse Plantation again, hugging close to the Choctawhatchee River floodplain.

Crossing a natural bridge, the trail rises up into a truly grand longleaf pine forest before it crosses Dead River Road.

Florida Trail Nokuse longleaf pines
Under the longleaf pines in the Choctawhatchee River Section of Nokuse

On the north side of Dead River Road, you re-enter public land along the Seven Runs basin. A portion of the trail hugs close to a hunt camp, crossing a reservoir berm.

Enjoy the overlook on Seven Runs Creek before you encounter Rivers Bend campsite at 8.2 miles.

The trail rises up through sandhills to cross SR 81, marking the end of this section. The Seven Runs trailhead is a quarter mile north along the highway.

NORTHBOUND: Florida Trail, Forgotten Creek
SOUTHBOUND: Florida Trail, Pine Log to Nokuse Roadwalk

Category: Backpacking, Day Hikes, Florida Trail, Hikes, Land Trusts, Northwest Florida, Trails, Water Management AreasTag: Bonifay, Botanical, Dog-friendly, Ebro, Florida Trail, Freeport, FT Central Panhandle, FT Nokuse, Ponce De Leon, Primitive Camping, Scenic Hikes

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Our Florida Trail Books

The Florida Trail Guide

The Florida Trail GuideThe comprehensive mile-by-mile guidebook to planning section and thru-hikes along the entire length of the Florida Trail. 356 pages, $19.95 + tax and shipping.

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Florida Trail Hikes

Florida Trail HikesFifty of the best day hikes, overnights, and weekend trips on the Florida Trail, plus nine of the best section hikes. Full hike descriptions and maps, full color. 376 pages. $24.95 + tax and shipping.

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Discovering the Florida Trail

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Our virtual walk along the length of the Florida Trail, covering more than 1,500 miles from the Everglades to Pensacola Beach. Hardcover, 196 pages. $24.95 + tax and shipping.

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The Florida Trail

Florida Trail large coffee table book cover of trail down swamp causeway under ancient pines

Our history of the first 50 years of the Florida Trail, from its founding in 1966 to becoming a National Scenic Trail to volunteer efforts today.

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The Florida Trail App

Comprehensive logistics and offline maps all in one: The Florida Trail Guide is now also an interactive map-based mile-by-mile app by Guthook Guides.

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Florida Trail Updates


Get periodic recaps of changes to the Florida Trail, which we accumulate between editions of our guidebook. Find all official Trail Closures & Notices here.

Hiking the Florida Trail

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Florida Trail by Section

Porter Lake, Apalachicola National Forest

Florida Trail, Apalachicola

Florida Trail, Apalachicola
Florida Trail Big Bend view

Florida Trail, Big Bend

Florida Trail, Big Bend
Florida Trail Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Blackwater

Florida Trail, Blackwater
Florida Trail Nokuse

Florida Trail, Central Panhandle

Florida Trail, Central Panhandle
Eglin Weaver Creek

Florida Trail, Eglin

Florida Trail, Eglin
Florida Trail Kissimmee

Florida Trail, Kissimmee

Florida Trail, Kissimmee
Florida Trail at Rice Creek

Florida Trail, Northeast Florida

Florida Trail, Northeast Florida
Juniper Prairie Wilderness

Florida Trail, Ocala

Florida Trail, Ocala
Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail

Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail

Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail
Florida Trail, Okeechobee

Florida Trail, Okeechobee

Florida Trail, Okeechobee
Florida Trail at Forever Florida

Florida Trail, Orlando

Florida Trail, Orlando
Florida Trail Seashore Dunes

Florida Trail, Seashore

Florida Trail, Seashore
Florida Trail along a canal south of Clewiston

Florida Trail, Seminole

Florida Trail, Seminole
No Name Creek

Florida Trail, Suwannee

Florida Trail, Suwannee
Cypress Lakes Preserve

Florida Trail, Western Corridor

Florida Trail, Western Corridor

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