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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 Seashore Dunes

Florida Trail, Seashore

32.3 miles. In addition to several bike paths and the wild and scenic UWF-SRIA Dunes Preserve, the Seashore section of the Florida Trail walks you along a beach to the trail’s Northern Terminus.

Florida National Scenic Trail  |  Navarre Beach & Pensacola Beach
( 30.441963, -86.866837 )      32.3 miles

Florida Trail, Seashore

32.3 miles   Gulf Breeze, Fort Walton Beach, Navarre, & Pensacola

The Seashore section, which includes Gulf Islands National Seashore as well as the Pensacola Bike Path, the Navarre Bike Path, and the wild and scenic UWF Dunes Preserve, is the southernmost National Scenic Trail with beach walking.

The Florida Trail leads you onto the sparkling shores of Santa Rosa Island, a barrier island along the Gulf of Mexico between Navarre and Pensacola.

This is one of the most beautiful beaches in Florida. The glistening sugar-white sands of Santa Rosa Island are a counterpoint to the emerald sea as you approach trail’s end.

The northern terminus of the Florida Trail is at Fort Pickens on Pensacola Bay, a fitting place to complete a grand adventure.

<< Eglin


Resources

Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide book cover Florida Trail history book

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.


Hiking Tips

Pedestrian fee of $10, vehicle fee $20, good for 7 days, to enter Fort Pickens Unit of Gulf Islands National Seashore.

If you are completing a thru hike or a section hike, check inside the Fort at the Gift Shop to sign the trail register.

Random camping is not permitted in this section. Make use of the free Bayview Campsite at mile 1086.1, and reserve a tent site at Fort Pickens Campground near the northern terminus.

Hotels are available in Navarre and Pensacola Beach. Paradise Inn is a hiker favorite because of its funky vibe, tiki bar with live music, and low rates compared to area chains.

There is no fresh surface water on Santa Rosa Island. Obtain water at parks and stores. There are long stretches without any water available. There is no fresh water near Bayview Campsite, so be sure you bring plenty.

Dogs are not permitted on the beaches of Gulf Islands National Seashore, including Santa Rosa Area, Opal Beach, and Fort Pickens.

Most of the route has no shade and plenty of reflection from white sands. Sun protection is a must.


Terminus Logistics

Pensacola has both an airport with major carriers and a Greyhound bus station.

While the Amtrak station has been closed for years, there is word that it may reopen in 2020.

To get to or from the terminus from Pensacola, the easiest option is to pre-arrange a shuttle. Taxi, Uber, and Lyft services are all available in Pensacola.

You may have to pay the shuttle driver’s entrance fee to Gulf Islands National Seashore if they don’t have a pass. Ask before booking. You can also check on the Florida Trail Hikers Facebook page for local volunteers who can help.

Pensacola ECAT buses run Route 61 to Pensacola Beach multiple times a day.

Check this page for Route 61 schedule and transit map.

It does not enter Gulf Islands National Seashore but it gets you close to the gates. You could try a combination of bus + Uber to get you to the terminus.

During the summer, a ferry service connects downtown Pensacola and Fort Pickens daily.

Summer is a brutal time to hike the beach unless you do it at dusk or dawn.

From May 24 to Sep 2, Pensacola Beach also has a trolley service, but it doesn’t enter the gates of Fort Pickens.


Trail Map

Florida Trail Seashore section map


Hikes

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 Dunes

Florida Trail, UWF/SRIA Dunes Preserve

3.2 miles. At the UWF/SRIA Dunes Preserve on Santa Rosa Island, the Florida Trail traverses a series of coastal habitats cradled by the sweeping dunes, providing a one-of-a-kind hike.


Recent Articles

UWF Dunes Preserve

Pensacola Dunes a beauty spot

July 23, 2009

Sugary-white sand and emerald water are counterpoints on a hike that leads you through nearly 4 miles of pristine dunes – up and over and down, a true roller-coaster of a hike – at the UWF Dunes Preserve in Pensacola Beach

All Articles & Hikes Interactive Map

Category: Backpacking, Beach Hikes, Day Hikes, Florida Trail, Hikes, Northwest Florida, TrailsTag: Florida Trail, Florida Trail Biking, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Locations, Navarre, Pensacola

Have an update? Contact us.

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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
  • Choose the Right Gear
  • Best Scenic Hikes
  • Best Backpacking Trips
  • Section Hiking
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  • 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
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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