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Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

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Florida Trail Nokuse longleaf pines

Florida Trail, Nokuse

27.7 miles. Spanning from the Choctawhatchee River west to the boundary of Eglin Air Force Base, Nokuse is a compelling backpacker’s destination in the Florida Panhandle.

Florida Trail, Central Panhandle  |  Freeport
( 30.450644, -85.899513 )      27.7 miles

Nearly two decades ago, local entrepreneur and conservationist M.C. Davis purchased more than 53,000 acres of the landscapes he grew up in.

He had a dream of restoring what had become pine plantations and sod farms back to the sweeping longleaf pine forests that once dominated the Southeast.

He called it Nokuse Plantation, which is now one of the largest private conservancies in the United States.

Working with the U.S. Forest Service and the Florida Trail Association soon after purchasing the land, a permanent conservation easement across the landscape was arranged to forever provide the Florida Trail a corridor through the region.

We had the honor of joining M.C. on an exploratory hike when the easement was first offered. While he is no longer with us, his legacy continues to be shepherded by a nonprofit organization he founded to complete his dream.

Using that conservation easement as well as adjacent public lands in the Northwest Florida Water Management District, the Nokuse section of the Florida Trail spans 27.7 miles from the Choctawhatchee River to US 331 north of Freeport.


Resources

Full details on this hike are in our Florida Trail guidebooks and app

Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover Florida Trail small coffee table book North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide 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.


Backpacking Nokuse

Habitat diversity and rugged terrain coupled with botanical beauty makes this an outstanding backpacking trip. Four designated primitive campsites are along the route, as well as plenty of streams as water sources.

This is a good section for backpacking with your dog. No permits or fees are required to backpack the Nokuse section of the Florida Trail.


Trip Planning

CAMPING

Do not random camp in Nokuse Plantation. Hikers MUST use designated campsites, which are on water management lands. Designated campsites have benches, a fire ring, and a nearby water source.


HUNTING

Wear a bright orange shirt or vest during hunting seasons in along this section of the trail. Check the FWC website for hunting dates at Choctawhatchee River WMA and Lafayette Creek WMA.


WILDLIFE

Nokuse is the Creek word for bear. Bear bagging or use of a bear canister is recommended. Alligator sightings are infrequent, but they can be present in any body of water, mainly in the ponds and swamps.

Pay attention when you come to the edge of a creek or pond to filter. It’s always smart to scoop water up in a bag and take it elsewhere to filter.


WATER

Water sources are relatively plentiful since there are many creek crossings, especially in the Lafayette Creek section.


RESUPPLY

Resupply for northbound long distance hikers should be done immediately before (Ebro) or after (DeFuniak Springs) tackling this section.


PARKING & SHUTTLE

We have heard of no reports with vandalism when cars are left for multiple days while backpacking. It is better to park beneath the Choctawhatchee River bridge than at Cowford Landing.

If you need assistance with a shuttle, join the Florida Trail Hikers Facebook group and ask for assistance. There are a number of volunteers in the area who can help. Be sure to compensate them for their gas and time.


SAFETY

A primary concern about crossing the Nokuse section is flooding. Flooding can be an issue on portions of the Nokuse section. There is a blue-blazed alternative route paralleling Lafayette Creek. If the creek is flowing across the trail, do not attempt hiking it, use the blue blaze instead.

If the Choctawhatchee River is in flood stage, the Choctawhatchee River Section will be impassable. Check the flood gauge in advance of your hike.

Prescribed burns are used to manage the longleaf pine habitat and can also be a concern. Such activities should be posted along the trail so you don’t walk into them, but we know that doesn’t always happen. Nokuse Plantation phone: 850-835-2457.


Mileages

All of the mileages below start with mile 0 at Cowford Landing trailhead and end with mile 27.7 at US 331. Mileages referenced below are calculated from the Florida Trail App.

0 – Cowford Landing trailhead
1.6 – Cypress Creek boardwalk
3.5 – Leaning Pine Camp
7.4 – Dead River Road
8.2 – Rivers Bend Camp
8.6 – SR 81. Seven Runs trailhead 0.2E
16 – Forgotten Creek campsite
18.3 – Lafayette Creek trailhead
23.9 – Steephead campsite
27.7 – US 331 (parking on west side 0.1N)


Trail Segments

These are the three trail segments that make up the Nokuse section, south to north (compass east to west).

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.

Boggy Head Creek

Florida Trail, Forgotten Creek

9.7 miles. Contrasting steephead ravines and sluggish creeks in gum swamps with restoration areas on former sod farms and pine plantations, the Forgotten Creek portion of the Florida Trail in Nokuse surprises with its challenges.

Lafayette Creek

Florida Trail, Lafayette Creek

9.3 miles. From a tricky traverse of the floodplain of Lafayette Creek to a roller-coaster of steep dips through wooded ravines, this scenic and surprisingly hilly section of the Florida Trail will give you a serious workout.

Category: Backpacking, Florida Trail, Hikes, Land Trusts, Trails, Water Management AreasTag: Best Florida Trail Backpacking, Botanical, DeFuniak Springs, Destin, Dog-friendly, Ebro, Florida Trail, Freeport, FT Central Panhandle, Hilly, Ponce De Leon, Primitive Camping

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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
  • Plan your Hike
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  • Best Scenic Hikes
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  • 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
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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