Perry

Exploring Perry

Long the heart of Florida’s timber industry, Perry is the county seat of Taylor County along Florida’s Big Bend, set within a coastal puzzle of swamp forests and estuary that is mostly timberlands.

Timber companies removed vast tracts of virgin pines and cypress, and processed the harvest in two enormous timber mills. Farms blanket the higher, drier ground.

The Florida Trail crosses US 19 to the north of Perry as part of a lengthy backroads roadwalk between the Suwannee River and the Aucilla River.

Trails and Parks near Perry

Econfina River Marsh Island Loop Dig deep into Florida's Big Bend along a series of raised access roads inside Econfina River State Park to discover to panoramic views of expansive salt marshes on the Gulf Coast.

Econfina River State Park Protecting nearly 4,400 acres where the Econfina River snakes its way to the Gulf of Mexico through the vast marshes of the Big Bend, Econfina River State Park is well off the beaten path.

Florida Trail, Apalachee Bay 14.3 miles. Hugging the Big Bend coastline, this hike through Aucilla WMA and St. Marks NWR offers some of the most breathtaking panoramas you'll find along the Florida Trail, and a profusion of wildlife.

Florida Trail, Aucilla River 9 miles. Endearingly scenic, surprisingly rugged, unlike any other piece of the Florida Trail, this trek along the Aucilla River showcases some of Florida's top natural features.

Florida Trail, Aucilla Sinks 4.4 miles. Winding through a geologically weird and archaeologically significant part of Florida, the most fascinating segment of the Florida Trail is the Aucilla Sinks

Florida Trail, Big Bend Crossing rural farms and forests, this 116 mile segment of the Florida Trail reveals the secrets of the Aucilla River before tracing the Gulf coastline at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.

Forest Capital Museum State Park To learn about the storied past of the forestry industry in Florida, stop in the Forest Capital Museum State Park, where one of the highlights is a pioneer homestead.

Lafayette Blue Springs State Park A beauty spot along the western shore of the Suwannee River, Lafayette Blue Spring is both a swimming hole and a lesson in the curious nature of karst.

Steinhatchee Falls The widest waterfall in Florida and a scenic stop in the Big Bend, Steinhatchee Falls is both geologically intriguing and an important piece of Florida history.

Steinhatchee Trail Follow the 3.3-mile Steinhatchee Trail through wildflower-rich uplands for a spectacular finish at Steinhatchee Falls, Florida's broadest waterfall.

Articles

The Moon Tree Garden (7/14/2019) Florida's most unique arboretum features a circle of sycamores honoring the Apollo missions, all here thanks to an Apollo 14 project for the U.S. Forest Service to take tree seedings into orbit around the moon.

Permanent closure of the Florida Trail between Suwannee and Aucilla Rivers (7/30/2015) A permanent closure of 55 miles of the Florida Trail between the Suwannee and Aucilla Rivers leaves thru-hikers no alternative but a very lengthy roadwalk