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
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Arcadia Mill
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Bald Point Beach Walk
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Bear Lake Trail
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Big Lagoon Hiking Trails
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Blountstown Greenway
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Butler Mill Trail
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Buttonbush Marsh Overlook
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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
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Among the Wolves
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Apalachee Savannas Scenic Byway
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Apalachicola National Forest
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Bald Point State Park
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Baltzell Spring
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Big Lagoon State Park
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Blackwater River State Forest
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Destinations
Find outdoor recreation in Northwest Florida by browsing destinations.

Apalachicola
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Apalachicola River
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Blountstown
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DeFuniak Springs
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Fort Walton Beach
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Articles
Articles on outdoor recreation and travel in Northwest Florida.

Alligators Everywhere
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Do Not Feed the Bears
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Botanically rich hikes along the Florida Trail
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Spring hopping around Tallahassee
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Paddling Holmes Creek
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Among the Wolves
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In a Canoe
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Florida’s Best Urban Parks
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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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