Perdido Key Discovery Trail

Making an arc through Gulf Islands National Seashore on Perdido Key, the Perdido Key Discovery Trail provides interpretation of coastal habitats while offering a pleasant destination for birding.

Resources

North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide book cover

Overview

Location: Perdido Key
Length: 0.6 mile loop
Trailhead: 30.3027, -87.4149
Address: 13233 Johnson Beach Rd, Pensacola
Fees: $10 pedestrian / cyclist, $20 vehicle (good for one week)
Restroom: at the main beach pavilion
Land manager: Gulf Islands National Seashore
Phone: 850-934-2600

Open 5 AM to sunset. Leashed dogs permitted.

Directions

From Pensacola, follow SR 292 west around Pensacola Naval Air Station. After the traffic light at Gulf Beach Highway, SR 292 crosses the bridge onto Perdido Key. Turn left onto Johnson Beach Rd after a half mile. Continue to the park entrance gate and pay the entrance fee. At the first road junction, make a left. Be cautious of people walking along the road. The road ends at the far trailhead.

Hike

There are two entrances to the boardwalk, both along the short road down to Big Lagoon. The road becomes a connector to make the loop.

We started our walk at the trailhead closest to the lagoon, which provided a nice, slow introduction to the habitats of Perdido Key starting at the lowest point.

Perdido Key Discovery Trail kiosk — Kiosk at the north end of the trail

The boardwalk traverses a coastal pine forest for the first short stretch, with puddles of wetlands visible between the trees.

At a trail junction, a short side boardwalk leads out to an expansive marsh. To its north you can see the arc of the SR 292 bridge from the mainland.

Perdido Key marshes — Side boardwalk to the marsh overlook

Although several locations provide benches along the boardwalk, this is the best one for birding. Sit and watch the sweep of the marsh towards the lagoon.

As the trail turns away from the boardwalk, elevation increases. Scrub forest begins to invade the understory of the pine flatwoods.

After a quarter mile, you are firmly in the scrub, the boardwalk bridging dunes topped with open stretches of white sand where diminutive oaks and Florida rosemary thrive.

Perdido Key scrub forest — Diminutive scrub forest on the dunes

As the boardwalk curves again, you catch a glimpse of condos at the edge of Johnson Beach before the path points you back towards Big Lagoon, with more immersion in the scrub forest.

The boardwalk ends at another kiosk along the road to Big Lagoon. Johnson Beach sits off to the right within walking distance. Turn left to walk back to the parking area at Big Lagoon.