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Battery Langdon

Florida Trail, Fort Pickens

6.9 miles. At the westernmost tip of Santa Rosa Island, the Florida Trail comes to its Northern Terminus in the shadow of the most important historic sites in Northwest Florida, Fort Pickens.

Florida Trail, Seashore  |  Gulf Islands National Seashore
( 30.325254, -87.181038 )      6.9 miles

6.9 miles. At the westernmost tip of Santa Rosa Island, after one last stroll along the shimmering sands of the Gulf of Mexico, the Florida Trail comes to its Northern Terminus in the shadow of the most important historic sites in Northwest Florida, Fort Pickens.


Resources

Resources for exploring the area. Full details on this hike are in Florida Trail Hikes.

Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover Florida Trail small coffee table book North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide book cover The Hiking Trails of Floridas National Forests Parks Preserves book cover

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


Overview

Reaching the front gate of Fort Pickens, long distance hikers can feel their goal.

The Northern Terminus of the Florida Trail lies ahead at the end of this section of trail, signaling completion of a hike from one end of Florida to the other.

But this isn’t an easy wrapup, despite being at sea level. It’s entirely out in the open, blasted by the wind and drenched by the sun.

But the sense of completion, and the weight of history, make this a compelling walk.

The Florida Trail Northern Terminus marker
The Florida Trail Northern Terminus marker

Trip Planning

Dogs are not permitted along the beach section of this hike between the front gate and Langdon Beach, but may accompany you down the “Fort Pickens Trail” portion of the hike between Battery Langdon and Fort Pickens.

There is a $10 per person or $20 per vehicle entrance fee to Gulf Islands National Seashore at Fort Pickens.

Make plans before you get here as to how you want to tackle the linear hike. Ideally, you can get dropped off outside the gate and walk into the Fort Pickens Unit of Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Before you start your walk, make sure you have enough water with you before tackling this long beach walk along the Gulf of Mexico, as it’s almost five miles to the next water source.

There are beach restrooms just outside the gate, but during the prime winter hiking months, they are closed and only a portable toilet is available.

If you don’t have the option of being dropped off outside the park, we suggest you use Langdon Beach parking area as your pivot point for an out-and-back hike in each direction, covering 13.8 miles altogether.

That way, you have restrooms and water available in the middle of your walk. If the beach parking is full, park across the street at Battery Langdon.


Directions

 
This section of the Florida Trail is at the end of Fort Pickens Rd off CR 399 in Pensacola Beach. Use US 98 from Pensacola to reach Pensacola Beach.

Hike

This trek is in two very distinct parts: the beach walk and the Fort Pickens Trail.

An orange blaze on a post leads you towards the beach as soon as you step inside the gate at Fort Pickens.

Fort Pickens Beach Walk
Blaze post just inside the park gate. Here’s where you start the beach walk

From here, it’s a simple walk along the sandy shore for nearly five miles, with no breaks from the shade.

It’s delightful to walk alongside the waves and have no tall buildings to stare at, which is why we recommend walking west.

It’s also more compelling to be walking towards the Northern Terminus of the Florida Trail.

Fort Pickens Beach Walk
A long beach walk awaits at Fort Pickens

While there is not a lot in the way of features along this stretch of beach, watch for bird life. We saw pelicans and a bald eagle along the way.

Except at low tide when a bit of firm sand is exposed, the sand is soft, which makes for tough going at times. In general, it’s best to walk near the water.

Fort Pickens
Sandbar with pelicans and gulls

At Langdon Beach, the Florida Trail leaves the beach. It’s a welcome relief to find shade at the beach pavilion, as well as restrooms and water.

Langdon Beach picnic pavilion
Shade at the Langdon Beach picnic pavilion

Look for the FNST sign on the far side of the parking lot. Cross Fort Pickens Road, walking into the entrance road into Battery Langdon past another parking area.

Florida Trail Fort Pickens
Cross Fort Pickens Road to reach Battery Langdon

At 5 miles, join the second portion of this hike, the Fort Pickens Trail. It starts behind a “service vehicles only” sign on a gravel road leading west from the parking area.

Dogs and bicycles are permitted along this causeway through the salt marshes. You’ll notice many ospreys nesting in the tall pines.

Florida Trail Fort Pickens

After passing a side loop, the Blackbird Marsh Trail, the Florida Trail pops out into the Fort Pickens Campground.

Follow the blazes straight ahead right past the campsites into Battery Worth.

Battery Worth Fort Pickens
The view from the top of Battery Worth towards Pensacola. Worth the climb!

West of this historic site, the trail becomes a well-marked path and tends to be pretty busy.

You walk through a pretty rosemary bald and alongside marshes where turtles gather on high spots.

Fort Pickens
The last footbridge along the Fort Pickens Trail. Look left for the terminus marker.

After crossing the wooden bridge, look for the official Florida Trail Northern Terminus marker tucked under a frame of bricks that mimic the interior architecture of the fort itself.

It’s very low to the ground, so a little tricky for that selfie.

Florida Trail Northern Terminus
Florida Trail Northern Terminus marker at Fort Pickens

Trail’s end is up ahead, just outside the entrance to the fort itself.

Pop inside and visit the gift shop to sign the trail register and get a commemorative National Parks stamp for the trail.

Fort Pickens
Florida Trail interpretive signage at the end of the Fort Pickens Trail

SOUTHBOUND: Florida Trail, Pensacola Beach

Category: Backpacking, Beach Hikes, Day Hikes, Florida Trail, Hikes, Northwest Florida, Off Road Biking, TrailsTag: Birding, Car Camping, Developed Camping, Favorites, Fishing, Florida Trail, Florida Trail Biking, Fort Pickens, FT Seashore, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Gulf of Mexico, Historic Sites, National Parks, Opt Outside, Pensacola, Shelling

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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

Florida Trail mini coffee table book cover of trail into palm hammock
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.

Learn More

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.

Get the App!

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

  • Florida Trail Overview
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  • Best Scenic Hikes
  • Best Backpacking Trips
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  • Thru-Hiking
  • Eastern Continental Trail
  • Florida Trail in South Florida
  • Florida Trail in Central Florida
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  • Florida Trail in Northwest Florida
  • Florida Trail for Scouting
  • Florida Trail Adventures
  • Florida Trail Updates

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
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Florida Trail, Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Big Cypress

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Florida Trail, Blackwater
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Florida Trail, Central Panhandle
Eglin Weaver Creek

Florida Trail, Eglin

Florida Trail, Eglin
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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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