Perdido Key is the westernmost State Park in Florida, a popular swimming spot among the famous Gulf Coast beaches.
Although its acreage is small, this park provides protection to endangered ecosystems and the wildlife that thrives within.
Located alongside the Old River, the North Trail provides a unique glimpse of dune environments that are often off-limits to foot traffic.
The lesser visited north side of Perdido Key State ParkResources
Resources for exploring the area
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Overview
Location: Pensacola
Length: 1.8 mile round trip
Trailhead: 30.293689, -87.469829
Address: 15301 Perdido Key Drive, Pensacola, FL 32507
Fees: $3 per vehicle
Restrooms: Yes, at the beach, but not at the trailhead.
Land manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 850-492-1595
Open 8 AM to sunset. No pets allowed at the Gulf beach side of the park, but leashed pets are permitted on the trail.
Directions
From Interstate 10 and US 29 in Pensacola, head south on US 29 S for 1.4, before turning right onto North W St. In 1.7 miles, turn right onto SR 296, continuing for 4.3 miles to N Blue Angel Parkway. Turn left, continuing for 7.7 miles, then make a right at SR 292. In 3 miles, turn left onto Bauer Rd, then turn left onto SR 292 in 3.9 miles. Continue for 6.1 miles before making a right at Lafitte Reef. The tiny trailhead parking area is to the right in 0.2 mile.
Hike
Heading east from the trailhead, a narrow, grassy path winds through a stand of thick pine flatwoods.
Clusters of wax myrtle border the trail alongside shiny blueberry and yaupon hollies sporting bright red berries.
North Trail trailheadIn a tenth of a mile, the trail opens to a sandier landscape speckled with false rosemary and gopher apple amongst various grasses and asters.
A post topped with an orange trail marker indicates the pathway as leads across the gently rolling dunes into another stand of pines.
Sandy clearingVegetation huddles together in islands of green on a sea of stark white sugar sand.
Small gnarled oaks emerge from the xeric soil, providing partial shade for various seedlings as they take root in the desert-like environment.
Island of oaksWildflowers sprout from the snow-white ground, providing an important food source for insects in the scrub habitat.
Milkweeds produce new leaves in the spring, while coastalplain honeycombhead, partridge peas, and goldenrod bloom with bright yellow flowers at different times of the year.
Sandhill milkweedAs the trail traces along an edge of a salt marsh, chirps of several ospreys fill the air as they attend their nests in nearby pines.
The shallow waters of the adjacent bay are a convenient source of protein for these birds of prey, especially when rearing their young.
Osprey nest over the marshMarked posts continue to guide the way across the sandy terrain, reaching the end at 0.9 mile.
A bench sits next to the last trail marker, on a high point overlooking placid waters to the north.
Turning around at the bench, retrace your steps though the dunes back to the trailhead.
Bench at the end of the trailTrail Map
Explore More!
Learn more about Perdido Key State Park
Perdido Key State Park
With sand as white as fresh fallen snow, Perdido Key State Park offers Florida’s westernmost public beach.
Video
Hiking the North Trail at Perdido Key State Park
Slideshow
See our photos of Perdido Key State Park
Nearby Adventures
More worth exploring while you’re in this area.
Gulf State Park
Stretching west from the tip of Perdido Key, Gulf State Park encompasses more than 6,000 acres of natural habitats on barrier islands between Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Perdido Key Discovery Trail
Showcasing the habitat diversity of Perdido Key at Johnson Beach, the accessible Perdido Key Discovery Trail is a gentle boardwalk over wetlands, forests, and dunes.
Sand Pine Trail, Big Lagoon State Park
Immersed in an intriguing blend of habitats in a coastal setting, this uplands hiking loop at Big Lagoon State Park showcases a variety of birds and native plants.
Tarkiln Bayou Trail
A gentle introduction to Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park, the Tarkiln Bayou Trail starts as a sidewalk but ends as a boardwalk to view the glowing gems of this botanical area and the bayou itself.