Of all of the Florida Trail segments in Nokuse, the Choctawhatchee River Section does the best job of showcasing why Nokuse Plantation exists.
Entrepreneur M.C. Davis dreamed of restoring a vast swath of commercially exploited landscape to the sweeping longleaf pine forests that he’d grown up with.
Now into its third decade, restoration is most mature along this portion of the trail, which also includes swaths of old-growth forest.
Mature longleaf pine habitatNokuse (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 is a full spectrum of the restoration of longleaf pine habitat across this landscape.
Young longleaf pine in front of a cypress domeThese 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.
Even blaze posts get burnedOur Florida Trail Books & Guides
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Overview
Length: 8.5 miles linear
Trailhead: 30.450644, -85.899513
Fees: Free
Restroom: At nearby Cowford Landing
Land manager: Northwest Florida Water Management District and Nokuse Plantation
Phone: 850-539-2777
The Florida Trail occupies a conservation easement through Nokuse Plantation. Please stay on the trail. Camp only at designated campsites. Protect your food from bears.
Leashed dogs welcome. Do not disturb plants or wildlife. Wear bright orange clothing during hunting seasons in Choctawhatchee River WMA.
Check on river levels before hiking. If the boardwalk at Cypress Creek is under water or you run into flowing water anywhere along the trail, 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 the boat ramp and Cowford Landing. This is where to begin the hike. If the area is clear, it’s okay to park under the bridge rather by the busier riverside.
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 beneath the SR 20 bridge, walk along the base of the grassy highway berm for a quarter mile to the marked entrance to Nokuse. An FNST sign is high above along the highway shoulder.
Slip into a stretch of sometimes-soggy floodplain forest bridged by boardwalks in the squishiest spots.
The hike begins where floodplain and pines intermingleA footbridge crosses an unreliable water source. Don’t be surprised if your shoes get wet or muddy in this short stretch.
By a mile, enter a longleaf pine forest. Join a forest road briefly in a transition between stands of longleaf pine of different ages.
Hiking through restored longleafThe trail skims the edge of the Cypress Creek floodplain, with glimpses of swamp between the dense trees.
At 1.6 miles, cross the swamp on a showy boardwalk, savoring the reflections in the water. Since our visit, railings have been added.
Cypress Creek boardwalkTraverse a mature stand of longleaf pines, a hint of cypress to the east outlining the floodplain of the Choctawhatchee River.
A short, soggy drainage amid tupelo trees provides another opportunity for wet feet. Cross a forest road at 2.7 and the landscape opens up into a panorama of dry prairie.
Prairie panoramaReaching the woods north of the prairie, watch your blazes on a jog through two quick turns leading to a boundary sign for Choctawhatchee River WMA, where seasonal hunting is permitted.
Follow blazes along a forest road over culverts draining a not-so-easy-to-access pond that is the nearest water source to upcoming Leaning Pine Camp.
Trailside pondAfter a gate across the road, the trail leaves the road. Watch for blazing. Soon after, the campsite is at 3.6 miles, down a short blue blaze to the right.
It is a small space under tall pines with two park benches, a fire ring, and nice pine duff to pitch your tent on.
Leaning Pine CampNot far past the campsite turnoff, a sign informs you you’ve re-entered Nokuse. The dense wall of trees to the right marks the river floodplain.
Briefly join a forest road to cross the outflow of a pond, which pours across the road a mile north of the campsite.
Pond outflowBeing close to the river basin means more water flowing towards the Choctawhatchee from higher ground through small drainages.
Some have plank bridges, others you have to step or wade across. Pay attention to blazes each time you reach a forest road as the trail tacks through tall longleaf pines.
Plank bridge over drainageDescending an unexpected slope at 6.3 miles, the trail crosses a natural bridge between two sinkholes. The larger one cradles a bowl of cypress-gum swamp.
Circle the swamp and join a forest road to cross a creek by using an old concrete highway bridge. At the next road intersection, follow the blazes straight ahead beneath tall pines.
A natural bridgeThis portion of the forest has the oldest and grandest longleaf pines. For the next half mile, enjoy the immersion into a habitat that once blanketed the Southeast.
Cross two forest roads amid the towering pines, skirting soggy spots in the trail.
You’ll feel small among the splendor of old-growth longleaf pinesSoon after the habitat transitions into a climax sandhill forest with laurel oaks dominating the canopy, reach a paved road at 7.4 miles.
Dead River Rd dead ends to the right about a mile east at a relatively primitive campground along a side channel of the Choctawhatchee River.
Approaching the boundary gate at Dead River RdCrossing the paved road, leave Nokuse for Choctawhatchee River WMA a second time, entering a seasonal hunting zone for the remainder of the hike.
Staying close to the floodplain, come to a spot a half mile past the road crossing where water gushes downhill from what looks like a small seepage spring.
Outflow between tree rootsImmediately past it, the trail makes a sharp left and right to lead onto a levee above a reservoir across a piece of private land.
Do not stray from the trail. Another sharp right at the end of the levee returns the route to the woods. Cross over a sometimes-flowing drainage.
Drainage north of the leveeJust after the step-across creek crossing, the trail makes a sharp turn at an overlook on Seven Runs, a water source for the Rivers Bend Campsite.
The campsite is just around the corner down a blue blaze to the left, and has the same basics as the prior one.
Seven RunsAscending from the floodplain, climb through a sandhill area with young longleaf pines. The trail emerges onto the shoulder of SR 81 at 8.5 miles. Cross the highway.
If you’re continuing on, the Forgotten Creek section starts straight ahead. Otherwise, follow the road shoulder facing traffic to Seven Runs Trailhead, reaching it at 8.7 miles.
SR 81 road crossing north of BruceNORTHBOUND: Forgotten Creek
SOUTHBOUND: Pine Log to Nokuse Roadwalk
Florida Trail, Forgotten Creek 9.7 miles. Contrasting steephead ravines and sluggish creeks in gum swamps with longleaf pine restoration areas, the Forgotten Creek portion of the Florida Trail in Nokuse surprises with its challenges.Trail Map
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See our photos from the Choctawhatchee River Section
Nearby Adventures
More worth exploring while you’re in this area.
Pine Log State Forest Florida's oldest state forest offers waterfront camping and a variety of loop trails for hikers, cyclists, and equestrians, plus a 5.7 mile linear segment of the statewide Florida Trail.
Morrison Springs Park Surrounded by a rim of old growth cypress, Morrison Springs is a beautiful second magnitude spring with swimming and diver access down an interpretive boardwalk.
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