Pensacola

The northern terminus of the Florida Trail is at Pensacola Beach, but the wonders of this region extend far inland to the vast Blackwater River State Forest, a playground for backpackers, day hikers, and paddlers alike. Bayou hikes are particularly interesting here, especially in spring when vast fields of pitcher plants are in bloom in the marshes. Bike trails connect communities, and boardwalks offer easy access for birding and photography.

Nearby communities: Crestview, Milton, Navarre

With powdery white beaches, lush pine forests, broad open prairies, rugged riverside bluffs, and clear sand-bottomed rivers perfect for enjoying the outdoors, the region around Pensacola has a deep and rich history. A naturally deep harbor, Pensacola Bay first attracted Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León. But it was Don Tristán de Luna y Arellano who settled on its shores in 1559, founding the first European settlement in what is now the continental United States.

As the City of Five Flags, Pensacola has a rich cultural history, including Spanish, French, and British rule. Shots were fired at Fort Barrancas mere hours before the Civil War began. Three of Pensacola's four historic forts remain accessible for exploration. Other important historic sites include Historic Pensacola Village, the Pensacola Lighthouse, and the Arcadia Mill site.

On our visits to Pensacola, we've both camped and found hotels at reasonable prices to use as our base camp while we hiked. Our favorite camping spots include Blackwater River State Park (for camper vans, campers, and RVs), Fort Pickens, and the campgrounds of Blackwater River State Forest, especially Bear Lake for its accessibility to many trails.

Lodging around Pensacola ranges from top-name beach resorts (yes, there is a Margaritaville right along the Florida Trail) to B&Bs and small mom-and-pops as well as dozens of chain hotels. Paradise Inn is a great bargain in Pensacola Beach, right along the Florida Trail. Adventures Unlimited in Milton makes a good base camp for outdoor adventures, with tent camping, cabins, and the School House Inn.

Big Lagoon State Park- As the name suggests, lagoons are the centerpiece of Big Lagoon State Park, but only one is THE Big Lagoon, a mirror-smooth expanse of saltwater trapped behind dunes within sight and sound of the surf of the Gulf of Mexico.
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 Blackwater River and its tributaries.
Blackwater River State Park- With sandy beaches tempting on every curve of the river and trails for paddlers and hikers to enjoy, Blackwater River State Park is the gateway to thousands of acres of public lands stretching northward to the Alabama border.
Coldwater Gardens- A private nature retreat north of Milton, Coldwater Gardens is a study in serenity, melding camping, gardening, and enjoyment of natural habitats along the Coldwater Creek basin.
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 top picks for parks in Florida's urban areas, chosen for their diversity of outdoor activities and/or their unique green spaces.
Fort Pickens- History buffs, beachgoers, campers, and hikers looking for an oceanfront experience will enjoy all that Fort Pickens has to offer.
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.
Naval Live Oaks Preserve- Naval Live Oaks Preserve outside Pensacola was our nation’s first tree farm, established in 1828 by President John Quincy Adams to protect a significant coastal stand of live oaks for military use
Pensacola Bay Bluffs Park- After a lunch with my friend Jeff, I headed to the Pensacola Bluffs to see what the fuss was all about. Jeff had strongly recommended the bluffs as a potential site to include in my hiking guides, and after a few moments scramble, I found out why. The trail is only a mile or so […]
Perdido Key State Park- With sand so white you'd think it was fresh-fallen snow, Perdido Key State Park tempts with a slice of natural beach amid condos and hotels crowding the Gulf Coast at Florida's westernmost point.
Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park- Conserving a vast swath of wetland habitats in low-lying areas along the Perdido River floodplain, Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park is home to four species of Sarracenia - pitcher plants - unique to the Gulf Coast.
Yellow River Marsh Preserve State Park- East of Pensacola, Yellow River Marsh Preserve State Park is a sweeping panorama of wet prairies, home to the largest concentration of pitcher plants in Florida.

Arcadia Mill- An archaeological site in the woods between Milton and Pace - just east of Pensacola off US 90 - Arcadia Mill showcases ongoing work to uncover Florida's first "modern" industrial complex.
Bear Lake Trail- At Blackwater River State Forest, each of the recreation areas offers access to hiking, and popular Bear Lake is no exception. A 4-mile trail loops around this impounded reservoir, which flows into Sweetwater Creek.
Big Lagoon Hiking Trails- Near Perdido Key, Big Lagoon State Park is best known for its (really big) lagoon, but the scenic trail system through the scrub is a delight for hardy hikers, involving much trekking through soft white sand.
Chain of Lakes Trail- At Blackwater River State Park, the Chain of Lakes Trail provides access to sandy beaches along the river and meanders along oxbow lakes out to pine flatwoods in a loop
Clear Creek Nature Trail- Imagine a wonderland of bright red blossoms and lacy white-veined trumpets reflected against reflections of the sky, where everywhere you turn, beauty surrounds you. You'll find it near Milton at the Clear Creek Nature Trail
Edward Ball Nature Trail- At the University of West Florida, the Edward Ball Nature Trail offers an escape for quiet contemplation beneath the shade of old cypresses on a 1 mile loop.
Florida Trail, Fort Pickens- 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, Jackson Red Ground Trail- 16.6 miles. On the Jackson Red Ground Trail, the very first trail built in Blackwater River State Forest in the 1970s, the Florida Trail rises up from the red clay bluffs of Juniper Creek and enters rolling clayhills topped with longleaf pine forests.
Florida Trail, Juniper Creek- 7.3 miles. Also known as the Juniper Creek Trail, the Florida Trail at Juniper Creek is a gorgeous place to explore, with its panorama at Red Rocks and botanical delights along and above the creek basin.
Florida Trail, UWF-SRIA Dunes Preserve- 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 3.4-mile hike.
Florida Trail, Weaver Creek- 14.3 miles. Bordered by the tangled floodplain forests of the Yellow River to the north, the Weaver Creek section of the Florida Trail traverses the western side of Eglin Air Force Base on high, dry sandhills topped with longleaf pine forest and planted pine.
Garcon Point Trail- On a peninsula separating Blackwater Bay and East Bay, Garcon Point Preserve presents an open landscape of wind-swept prairies punctuated by oak hammocks and tall longleaf pines
Naval Live Oaks Preserve- Naval Live Oaks Preserve outside Pensacola was our nation’s first tree farm, established in 1828 by President John Quincy Adams to protect a significant coastal stand of live oaks for military use
Pensacola Bay Bluffs Park- After a lunch with my friend Jeff, I headed to the Pensacola Bluffs to see what the fuss was all about. Jeff had strongly recommended the bluffs as a potential site to include in my hiking guides, and after a few moments scramble, I found out why. The trail is only a mile or so […]
Perdido Key State Park- With sand so white you'd think it was fresh-fallen snow, Perdido Key State Park tempts with a slice of natural beach amid condos and hotels crowding the Gulf Coast at Florida's westernmost point.
Tarkiln Bayou Trail- Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park offers several trails - including an accessible boardwalk - leading to pitcher plant bogs along a bayou on the Alabama border, west of Pensacola.
Trout Point Nature Trail- A hidden treasure inside Pensacola Naval Air Station, Trout Point Nature Inside Pensacola NAS, Trout Point Nature Trail showcases fragile coastal habitats from a 1.5-mile boardwalk hike with scenic views of Big Lagoon and Perdido Key

Find your way