32.3 miles. The Seashore section, which traverses two units of Gulf Islands National Seashore, provides the southernmost beach walk on a National Scenic Trail.
On Santa Rosa Island, a barrier island edged by Pensacola Bay and Santa Rosa Sound, the Florida Trail bounces back and forth from bay to beach and in-between.
Navarre Park waterfrontA stroll via sidewalks from East Bay through Navarre leads you to the edge of the sound before crossing it on a pedestrian walkway on a highway bridge.
Paved bike paths at Navarre Beach and Pensacola Beach are interspersed with walking on a white sand beach, a counterpoint to the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Santa Rosa Area, Gulf Islands National SeashoreTrails established in the UWF/SRIA Dunes and at Fort Pickens are the most enjoyable parts of this section.
The northern terminus of the Florida Trail is at Fort Pickens on Pensacola Bay, a fitting place for long distance hikers to complete a grand adventure.
Construction started on Fort Pickens in 1829Our Florida Trail Books & Guides
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Trip Planning
Gulf Islands National Seashore charges $25 per vehicle, $15 per pedestrian to enter the Fort Pickens Area and Opal Beach.
National Park Passes and National Federal Lands Passes are accepted for payment. Your receipt is good for one week.
Other lands the Florida Trail crosses in this section are free to access, although parking may be difficult on pleasant weekends when beachgoers swarm the lots along CR 399.
Navarre Beach Park as seen from the pierCamping and Lodging
Only two designated campsites exist along this section. Neither random camping nor beach camping is permitted.
Camping at Fort Pickens Campground must be reserved in advance. One corner of the campground is largely set aside for tent camping.
Tent camping at Fort Pickens CampgroundHotels are trailside and nearby in Navarre, Navarre Beach, and Pensacola Beach. You’ll walk past a surprising number of them.
Paradise Inn is a hiker favorite because of its funky vibe, tiki bar with live music, and low rates compared to area chains.
Paradise Inn along the Pensacola Beach Bike PathDogs
Leave your dog at home. Gulf Islands National Seashore does not allow dogs on its beaches, and a quarter of the hike is on their shoreline.
Wildlife
The natural areas you walk through on Santa Rosa Island are home to the endangered Santa Rosa Island beach mouse. You may notice tiny tracks in the sand around grasses with seeds.
We’ve spotted manatees in Santa Rosa Sound and dolphins in the shallows of the Gulf of Mexico.
Scouting for tracks in the sandAlong the Fort Pickens Trail, expect an array of bird life. Most notable is the osprey rookery, with many nests visible from the trail.
Migratory songbirds flit between the trees while herons and egrets stalk the marshes. Enormous snapping turtles live in the canal near the terminus monument.
Snapping turtle at Fort PickensWater
There are no surface water sources for fresh water. If you are camping at Bayview you need to haul in the fresh water you need.
Buy bottled water at conveience stores and make use of several free water bottle filling stations along the Pensacola Beach Bike Path.
Water stationResupply
Navarre has two full-service grocery stores within a mile of the trail. Otherwise, plan to rely on what you pick up at conveience stores as you walk past them.
Grab and go food on a shelf at a Tom ThumbParking & Shuttle
Numerous beach parking lots line CR 399 in addition to the ones on our mileage chart below.
However, the highway is prone to washouts during bad weather. It’s a long way around by car from Navarre Beach to Pensacola Beach via Gulf Breeze if that happens.
Crossover to beach parking areaLong distance hikers should join the Florida Trail Hikers Facebook group to request assistance. Be sure to compensate any shuttle volunteers for their gas and time.
If you are starting or completing a hike at the Northern Terminus, see our information farther down this page on terminus logistics.
Florida Trail Northern Terminus markerSafety
Most of the route has no shade and plenty of reflection from white sands. Sun protection is a must: sunglasses for your eyes, a hat for shade, sunscreen for all exposed skin.
Summer is brutal for beach hikes except at dusk or dawn. In winter, bring a coat. We wore puffy jackets when it was in the 40s with the wind whipping off the water.
Bundled up hiking Fort Pickens Beach in winterGnats and mosquitoes can be a problem at dusk and dawn and when the breeze dies down along the Fort Pickens Trail and the UWF/SRIA Dunes.
Cross at crosswalks, but be alert for drivers swinging around corners and barreling towards you if there’s no traffic light to stop them.
Crosswalk to Santa Rosa AreaRoadwalks
You’ll pound pavement along three portions of the Seashore section, but rarely do you share space with vehicular traffic.
From East Bay to Navarre Beach, follow sidewalks along SR 87, crossing US 90 to the waterfront. A brief walk across parking lots gets you to the next stretch of path.
Starting point at East Bay trailheadBoth the Navarre Beach and Pensacola Beach Bike Paths are paved, but the main concern on those are the driveways and roads crossing them.
These are local transportation paths as opposed to high speed bike paths, so issues with cyclists should be minimal.
Eastern end of Pensacola Beach Bike PathPeople
It’s the beach. Some people are here to relax, others to party. Except during special events, you won’t encounter a lot of people except in the middle of Pensacola Beach.
The area surrounding the giant beach ball water tower has many bars and restaurants, so it’s where you’ll find the most raucous crowds.
The iconic Pensacola Beach water tower at Casino BeachTerminus 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. It hasn’t yet.
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 your 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 gate. You could try a combination of bus + Uber to get you to the terminus.
From March to October, the Pensacola Bay City Ferry connects downtown Pensacola and Fort Pickens Fri-Sun.
From May 24 to Sep 2, Pensacola Beach also has a seasonal trolley service, but it doesn’t enter the gates of Fort Pickens.
Trolley stop with water bottle fillerTrail Map
Mileages
Key mile markers south to north.
0.0 – East Bay trailhead
0.0 – East Bay trailhead
3.4 – Navarre Park NAVARRE
4.7 – Navarre Bike Path parking
7.9 – Beach Parking 37A
8.2 – Santa Rosa Area, Gulf Islands NS
11.2 – Opal Beach $
13.6 – Beach parking
15.5 – UWF Dunes boundary
16.5 – Bayview campsite +
18.6 – Pensacola Beach Bike Path
19.3 – Beach Parking 27A
22.9 – PENSACOLA BEACH water tower
25.1 – Park West parking
25.3 – Fort Pickens Area, Gulf Islands NS $
30.3 – Langdon Beach $
31.3 – Fort Pickens Campground +$
32.1 – Northern Terminus marker
32.3 – Fort Pickens parking
$ fee charged. + designated campsite. * permit needed.
Trail Segments
Details about all segments of the Florida Trail in this section are in The Florida Trail Guide and app. The hikes below include some of our favorites.
Each is described from the perspective of a day hiker, noting landmarks, water, and campsites along the way. Not all are oriented from south to north, but this is the order they are in northbound.
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.
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.Public Lands
Some of the public lands this section of the Florida Trail crosses.
Gulf Islands National Seashore Stretching across three Gulf Coast states, Gulf Islands National Seashore protects portions of the barrier islands between Navarre Beach, Florida and Gulfport, Mississippi.
Fort Pickens With more than seven miles of beaches along Santa Rosa Island, the Fort Pickens Unit at Gulf Islands National Seashore is a compelling destination at Pensacola Beach.Connections
The Seashore section is the northernmost piece of the Florida Trail. Southbound, it is adjoined by the Eglin section.
Florida Trail, Eglin One of the most compelling sections of the Florida Trail for backpackers, the 98.3 miles through Eglin offers rugged elevation changes and crystalline waterways.Suggested Articles
Plan your Florida Trail Hike Thinking of section hiking, thru-hiking, or simply backpacking the Florida Trail? Plan ahead with this step-by-step guide of what to do in advance of hiking the Florida Trail. 
Florida Trail Backpacking Backpackers will appreciate the many places the Florida Trail provides a pleasant overnight, three-day-weekend, or multi-day hiking experience to escape to the outdoors.
Section Hiking the Florida Trail Section hiking the Florida National Scenic Trail provides some logistical challenges, but a sense of satisfaction in being able to complete an 1,100-mile walk across Florida at your own pace.
Thru Hike the Florida Trail A thru-hike in Florida takes sixty to ninety days across a surprising diversity of landscapes not found on other long distance trails in the United States.
Best Hikes on the Florida Trail Explore our picks for the best scenic hikes along the Florida Trail. We've hiked the entire trail: these are pieces of the trail we'd be happy to hike again and again.Recent Articles
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