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

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Apalachicola River

Northwest Florida

Hiking, biking, camping, paddling and other outdoor recreation throughout Northwest Florida, the Panhandle region stretching from Pensacola east towards the Suwannee River, including Panama City Beach and Tallahassee.

Cypress swamp at Pine Log State Forest

Explorer's Guide North FloridaAs the authors of Explorer’s Guide: North Florida & The Panhandle, we’ve probably crisscrossed Northwest Florida more than most visitors.

In addition to the notable white sand beaches and emerald waters stretching from Panama City Beach to Pensacola, this region has compelling terrain for hikers, particularly along the Florida Trail west of the Apalachicola River. Spanning two time zones, this region includes a vast sweep of wild shoreline along the Gulf of Mexico, little-known springs, and Florida’s largest National Forest, the Apalachicola National Forest. Along its westernmost shores, Gulf Islands National Seashore protects more than 15 miles of pristine shoreline.

Regional Destinations

Apalachicola Raney House

Apalachicola

Apalachicola

Apalachicola National Forest

Apalachicola National Forest
Apalachicola River houseboat

Apalachicola River

Apalachicola River
Blackwater River SF

Blackwater River State Forest

Blackwater River State Forest
Panhandle Pioneer Settlement Blountstown

Blountstown

Blountstown
Tupelo swamp

Bristol

Bristol
Dock in Carrabelle

Carrabelle

Carrabelle
Downtown Chipley

Chipley

Chipley
Big pines near Spring Creek

Crawfordville

Crawfordville
FT Crestview

Crestview

Crestview
DeFuniak Springs

DeFuniak Springs

DeFuniak Springs
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

Destin

Destin
FT bridge over Little Alaqua Creek

Eglin Air Force Base

Eglin Air Force Base
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, 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 Seashore Dunes

Florida Trail, Seashore

Florida Trail, Seashore
Fort Pickens

Fort Pickens

Fort Pickens
Fort Walton Beach

Fort Walton Beach

Fort Walton Beach
Basin Bayou Choctawhatchee Bay

Freeport

Freeport
View from the top of Battery Langdon

Gulf Islands National Seashore

Gulf Islands National Seashore
Madison

Madison

Madison
Tunnel Cave

Marianna

Marianna
Milton

Milton

Milton
Wacissa Springs

Monticello

Monticello
Naval Live Oaks Area

Naval Live Oaks Area

Naval Live Oaks Area
Navarre Park

Navarre

Navarre
Niceville

Niceville

Niceville
Jetty Beach

Panama City Beach

Panama City Beach

Pensacola

Pensacola
Diver in Vortex Spring

Ponce De Leon

Ponce De Leon
Port St Joe

Port St. Joe

Port St. Joe
Allison House Inn in Quincy

Quincy

Quincy
Sopchoppy

Sopchoppy

Sopchoppy
Deer Lake State Park

South Walton

South Walton
St Marks

St. Marks

St. Marks
St Marks NWR

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
Goodwood, in Tallahassee

Tallahassee

Tallahassee

Recent Articles

Madison Blue Springs

Spring Hopping Around Tallahassee

July 1, 2019//  by Sandra Friend

Between Madison and Marianna and across Wakulla County, explore a colorful collection of natural springs for swimming and snorkeling, all within an hour of Tallahassee.

Sandra and her gear at Southern Terminus

How To Prepare For A Backpacking Trip

March 19, 2019//  by Sandra Friend

What does a hiker need to spend a week, or a month, or three months on the trail? Here are trail-tested suggestions for backpacking in Florida for trips of a week or more

Bears opening trash can

Bear season in Florida

February 23, 2019//  by Sandra Friend

As Florida black bears become active in late winter and spring, the chances of a bear encounter go up significantly if you leave food unsecured outdoors – whether in your campsite or at home.

Every Kid in a Park pass

Every Kid Outdoors

February 21, 2019//  by Sandra Friend

Got kids? If any of them are in fourth grade, they can get a free pass to ALL Federal public lands good for the whole family through the end of August. Here’s how.

La Chua gators

Alligators Everywhere

April 6, 2018//  by Sandra Friend

In spring, alligators become more active as the days warm up. It’s also mating season, so alligators are on the move. Expect to see them anywhere and everywhere along Florida’s trails.

Bear bags hanging at sunset on the AT in Georgia

Do Not Feed the Bears

February 27, 2018//  by John Keatley

Bear bagging is the art of hanging your food properly out of reach of bears. If you’re a Florida backpacker and haven’t learned how, here’s a short course. Securing your food from bears is required in the Ocala, Osceola, and Apalachicola National Forests.

Marshall Swamp

Botanically rich hikes along the Florida Trail

February 6, 2018//  by Sandra Friend

With more than 1,400 miles of hiking statewide, the Florida Trail provides a gateway to grand landscapes for botanical beauty. Here are our top suggestions for fascinating botanical destinations along the Florida Trail.

Beckton Spring

Paddling Holmes Creek

July 5, 2017//  by Sandra Friend

With a dozen launch points and more than 15 springs along its 16 mile length, Holmes Creek, a tributary of the Choctawhatchee River, is a must-do paddling trip along a remote waterway.

Seacrest wolf preserve

Among the Wolves

March 31, 2017//  by John Keatley

When getting to know wolves means sitting among them, it’s a bit intimidating. But being among the wolf packs of Seacrest Wolf Preserve near Chipley will open your eyes as to why wolves are well worth protecting.

In a Canoe

March 18, 2017//  by John Keatley

Since falling in love, becoming a couple, and marrying, it was time for a real test of our relationship: going upstream with two paddles along Holmes Creek.

Oleta River State Park

Florida’s Best Urban Parks

October 27, 2016//  by Sandra Friend & John Keatley

When you live in a tightly packed space, you need somewhere green as your go-to place nearby. These are our top picks for parks in Florida’s urban areas, chosen for their diversity of outdoor activities and/or their unique green spaces.

San Marcos de Apalache

Exploring San Marcos de Apalache

June 21, 2016//  by John Keatley

Where the Wakulla and St Marks Rivers meet, explore San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park, a small piece of ground with a deep history under five flags.

CONTENT ARCHIVES

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FIND A TRAIL OR PARK

NORTHWEST FLORIDA
Apalachicola. Apalachicola National Forest. Blackwater River State Forest. Blountstown. Bonifay. Bristol. Cape San Blas. Carrabelle. Chattahoochee. Chipley. Crawfordville. Crestview. DeFuniak Springs. Destin. Ebro. Eglin Air Force Base. Fort Walton Beach. Freeport. Gulf Islands National Seashore. Madison. Marianna. Milton. Monticello. Mossy Head. Navarre Beach . Niceville. Panama City Beach. Pensacola. Ponce De Leon. Port St. Joe. Quincy. Sopchoppy. South Walton. St. Marks. St. Marks NWR. Tallahassee. Vernon. Wakulla. Wewahitchka

NORTH FLORIDA
Alachua. Amelia Island. Baldwin. Branford. Bunnell. Cedar Key. Chiefland. Crescent City. Dowling Park. Ellaville. Fernandina Beach. Flagler Beach. Gainesville. Green Cove Springs. High Springs. Jacksonville. Keystone Heights. Lake Butler.Lake City. Live Oak. Mayo. Macclenny. Micanopy. Olustee. Orange Park. Osceola National Forest. Palatka. Palatka-Lake Butler Trail. Palm Coast. Perry. Salt Springs. St. Augustine. Starke. Steinhatchee. Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. Suwannee Springs. Talbot Islands. Timucuan Preserve. Trenton. Welaka. White Springs. Williston

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MULTI-REGION
Big Cypress Swamp. East Coast Greenway. Everglades National Park. Florida National Scenic Trail

CENTRAL FLORIDA
Apopka. Belleview. Brandon. Brooksville. Bushnell. Canaveral National Seashore. Christmas. Chuluota. Clearwater Beach. Clermont. Coast to Coast Trail. Cocoa Beach. Cross Florida Greenway. Crystal River. Dade City. Daytona Beach. De Leon Springs. DeBary. Deland. Deltona. Dunedin. Dunnellon. Frostproof. Geneva. Inverness. Kenansville. Kissimmee. Lake Mary. Lake Wales. Lakeland. Largo. Leesburg. Longwood. Melbourne. Melbourne Beach. Merritt Island. Merritt Island NWR. Mims. Mount Dora. New Port Richey. New Smyrna Beach. Ocala. Ocala National Forest. Ocklawaha. Orlando. Ormond Beach. Osteen. Oviedo. Palm Bay. Ridge Manor. Sanford. Silver Springs. Spring Hill. St. Cloud. St. Petersburg. Tampa. Tarpon Springs. Titusville . Walt Disney World. Weeki Wachee. Winter Springs. Withlacoochee State Forest. Withlacoochee State Trail. Yeehaw Junction

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Bradenton . Charlotte Harbor. Ding Darling NWR. Englewood. Estero. Fort Myers. Immokalee. Naples. Pine Island. Port Charlotte. Punta Gorda. Sanibel Island. Sarasota. Venice

SOUTH FLORIDA
Arcadia. Basinger. Big Cypress National Preserve. Big Cypress Seminole Reservation. Clewiston. Everglades City. Fisheating Creek. Lake Okeechobee. Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail. Lake Placid. LaBelle. Lakeport. Moore Haven. Okeechobee. Pahokee. Port Mayaca. Sebring. South Bay

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
Big Pine Key. Biscayne Bay. Biscayne National Park. Boca Raton. Boynton Beach. Coral Gables. Davie. Delray Beach. Northeast Everglades Natural Area. Florida Keys. Fort Lauderdale. Fort Pierce. Hobe Sound. Hollywood. Homestead. Islamorada. Jensen Beach. Jupiter. Juno Beach. Key Biscayne. Key Largo. Key West. Marathon. Miami. Ocean to Lake Greenway. Overseas Heritage Trail. Palm Beach. Port St. Lucie. Redland. Sebastian. Stuart. Vero Beach. West Palm Beach

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