Northwest Florida – also known as the Florida Panhandle – is a region of extreme beauty and vast tracts of lightly explored wilderness. As the authors of Explorer’s Guide: North Florida & The Panhandle, we’ve fallen in love with this lesser-known part of Florida because of its rural nature and natural beauty.
The sweep of coastline from the Big Bend to the St. Joseph Peninsula is wild and majestic, with untrammeled islands and Old Florida villages. While the cities of Tallahassee, Pensacola, Destin, Fort Walton, and Panama City each have their own vibrant flavor, the majority of the region is rural. The natural lands protected throughout the Florida Panhandle include ancient swamps and tracts of longleaf pine forest, mysterious bogs with carnivorous plants, rare coastal dune lakes, and rugged ridges with waterfalls.
Trails
Recommended trails in Northwest Florida.
Angus Gholson Nature Park
Above the Apalachicola River, the community of Chattahoochee hides a natural treasure in its deep ravines—a park named for its
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Arcadia Mill
An archaeological site in the woods between Milton and Pace - just east of Pensacola off US 90 - Arcadia
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Bald Point Beach Walk
Where Ochlockonee Bay meets the Gulf, Bald Point State Park protects the tip of the peninsula. Off the beaten track,
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Bear Lake Trail
At Blackwater River State Forest, each of the recreation areas offers access to hiking, and popular Bear Lake is no
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Big Lagoon Hiking Trails
Near Perdido Key, Big Lagoon State Park is best known for its (really big) lagoon, but the scenic trail system
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Blountstown Greenway
Connecting neighborhoods, parks, and services within a historic Apalachicola River town, the paved 3.9-mile Blountstown Greenway includes a segment of
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Butler Mill Trail
Lake Jackson Mounds is best known for being one of the largest ceremonial temple mound complexes in the Southeast, but
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Buttonbush Marsh Overlook
Less than a mile from the strumming waves of the Gulf of Mexico, Buttonbush Marsh provides an important habitat for
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Parks
Beyond trails: natural destinations such as state and national parks, beaches, campgrounds, gardens, paddling runs, scenic drives, and springs in Northwest Florida, along with ecotours, wildlife, and historic and cultural sites.
Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park
In late winter, azaleas create ribbons of bright color beneath the live oak canopy across the grounds of Maclay Gardens,
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Among the Wolves
When getting to know wolves means sitting among them, it's a bit intimidating. But being among the wolf packs of
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Apalachee Savannas Scenic Byway
In the Apalachicola National Forest, the Apalachee Savannas Scenic Byway is a winding stretch of scenic road through expansive wet
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Apalachicola National Forest
The Apalachicola National Forest is the largest National Forest in Florida, sweeping around the southern edge of Tallahassee. It is
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Bald Point State Park
Where Ochlockonee Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico along the Forgotten Coast, quiet Bald Point State Park protects the tip
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Baltzell Spring
Made up of liquid pools of beauty on the edge of Florida Caverns State Park, Baltzell Spring is a compelling
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Big Lagoon State Park
As the name suggests, lagoons are the centerpiece of Big Lagoon State Park, but only one is THE Big Lagoon,
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Blackwater River State Forest
At Blackwater River State Forest near Milton, immerse yourself in the largest state forest in Florida: 190,000 acres surrounding the
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Destinations
Find outdoor recreation in Northwest Florida by browsing destinations.
Apalachicola
Around Apalachicola, the "Forgotten Coast" is dotted with parks, forests, and refuges along US 98 and the barrier islands, none
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Apalachicola River
There is something magical about the Apalachicola River, surrounded by deeply folded ravines at its upper end and wet pine
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Blountstown
A small town along the Florida Trail, Blountstown got its start as a destination along the Apalachicola River. It is
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DeFuniak Springs
DeFuniak Springs is the county seat of Walton County, its historic residential district clustered around a perfectly round spring-fed lake
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Fort Walton Beach
One of the largest and oldest communities in Okaloosa County, Fort Walton Beach sits between Choctawhatchee Bay and the Gulf
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Articles
Articles on outdoor recreation and travel in Northwest Florida.
Alligators Everywhere
In spring, alligators become more active as the days warm up. It's also mating season, so alligators are on the
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Do Not Feed the Bears
Bear bagging is the art of hanging your food properly out of reach of bears. If you're a Florida backpacker
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Botanically rich hikes along the Florida Trail
With more than 1,400 miles of hiking statewide, the Florida Trail provides a gateway to grand landscapes for botanical beauty.
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Spring hopping around Tallahassee
Between Madison and Marianna and across Wakulla County, explore a colorful collection of natural springs for swimming and snorkeling, all
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Paddling Holmes Creek
With a dozen launch points and more than 15 springs along its 16 mile length, Holmes Creek, a tributary of
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Among the Wolves
When getting to know wolves means sitting among them, it's a bit intimidating. But being among the wolf packs of
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In a Canoe
Since falling in love, becoming a couple, and marrying, it was time for a real test of our relationship: going
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Florida’s Best Urban Parks
When you live in a tightly packed space, you need somewhere green as your go-to place nearby. These are our
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Interactive Map
Drag, zoom, and click on this interactive Florida map to discover all recommended destinations in Northwest Florida.
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