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Eglin Weaver Creek

Florida Trail, Weaver Creek

14.3 miles. Along the western side of Eglin Air Force Base, the Florida Trail traverses high, dry sandhills with some impressive views.

Florida Trail, Eglin  |  Eglin Air Force Base
( 30.551267, -86.902100 )      14.3 miles

14.3 miles. Bordered by the tangled floodplain forests of the Yellow River to the north, the 14.3-mile 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.

Resources

The Florida Trail Guide book cover North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide book cover

Overview

Higher and drier than the eastern side of Eglin Air Force Base, the Weaver Creek section features rolling clayhills topped with longleaf pine, and a handful of stream drainages.

Of these, the scenic beauty is concentrated at the segment’s namesake of Weaver Creek, and at the steephead around Dean Creek, where colorful Gulf Coast pitcher plants sport purple blossoms in springtime.

Trip Planning

All hikers must have a permit in advance of arriving at Eglin Air Force Base. Eglin now has a FREE permit for thru-hikers. Day hikers and section hikers not continuing at least 50 miles beyond Eglin must obtain the standard $20 annual Outdoor Recreation permit. Obtain your permit online.

Although the traverse of this section is easy, getting access to it is tough. In general, the Weaver Creek section is closed to public access during the week and only open on weekends.

Before your hike, call 850-882-4164 or check the Public Access Map online to ensure the base is open: FPCON DELTA status means the base is closed to public access.

Eglin is an active military installation with ongoing training maneuvers. Aircraft may fly very low over the tree canopy and you may hear bombing. Stay in the trail corridor and use established campsites.

If you notice any sort of ordinance – rocket, bomb, hand grenade – do not approach it but note the location and call Eglin Security Forces at 850-882-2502 to report it.

Check hunt dates as a part of your trip planning, and always wear bright orange clothing during hunting seasons.

Directions

From Interstate 10 Exit 31, follow SR 87 south to the Yellow River parking area, just south of the Yellow River bridge [30.569548, -86.923714]. From there, it’s necessary to cross busy four-laned SR 87 and follow the fenceline for 0.2 mile towards Navarre until you get to the gate in the fence to enter this section.

It’s a steep climb down from the highway to the gate The trailhead at the other end of this section is off SR 87 at Holley at the East Bay River [30.441963, -86.866837].

Hike

Primarily paralleling SR 87, this section of the Florida Trail leads you through oak hammocks and pine forests in the rolling clayhills of Eglin, while occasionally dipping into titi and gum swamps bridged with long boardwalks.

It is a hilly hike on the north end, especially. Wildflowers like sandhill wireweed and lupine add dashes of color to the wiregrass understory.

Eglin Weaver Creek
Typical clayhill on the Weaver Creek section

The blue-blazed trail at 2.2 miles leads west (trail east) to Buck Pond, a designated camping area.

We discovered that although this has long been a car camping destination, there is no longer any signage along SR 87 to guide people here. The pond has also been drained, so it’s just a stream.

Eglin Weaver Creek
Buck Pond junction

Climbing around a steephead, the trail continues through more rolling hills topped with sand pine and oaks. The ground cover of deer moss becomes a sea of seafoam in places.

Several well-established tracks and dirt roads cross this portion leading up to the Weaver Creek steephead, where you’ll find a trail junction. To explore this fascinating area, stay on the orange blazes.

Eglin Weaver Creek
Weaver Creek is a good water source but you’ll have to get in the water to get to it

The trail plunges down to Weaver Creek, your best water source along this part of the trail, before making a very steep climb up and along the rim of the steephead.

Eglin Weaver Creek
On the hilltop above the Weaver Creek steephead

From the top you can see ridges in the distance. Looping back around to the blue blaze, the trail crosses a paved road, RR 213. This is a popular roadside access point for hikers, used by many for access to the Weaver Steephead Loop, a scenic 1-mile walk.

Eglin Weaver Creek
This is a popular day hike loop off RR 213 that uses the FT and a blue-blaze connector

The next two miles of hiking are through sand pine forests with lots of deer moss on the forest floor. When you reach the gate at SR 87, untwist the wire and fasten it after you exit.

Eglin Weaver Creek
Flattop opens the SR 87 gate for us

The trail resumes at a similar gate on the opposite side of the highway, with a small parking area just south of that entrance. After leading you around another steephead, it crosses a powerline and meanders through mature clayhill habitat before descending into a vast titi and gum swamp on the way to Dean Creek.

Eglin Dean Creek
A long boardwalk leads to Dean Creek. Watch for pitcher plants.

Dean Creek is a beauty spot with easy access for filtering water. Once you cross it, the trail climbs right back up into rolling clayhills.

Eglin Dean Creek
Crossing Dean Creek on a sturdy bridge. Best water access is the SW side.

The remainder of the hike continues through clayhill habitat in a tight corridor between the powerlines and a residential area in Holley. The Dean Creek campsite has ample flat space for a large group.

Dean Creek campsite
Dean Creek campsite on the Weaver Creek section

After the trail crosses River Road and continues around a large quarry, it finally exits the base at the Nelda Road (RR 255) gate. Follow River Road out to SR 87, which you cross one more time to reach the East Bay trailhead.

NORTHBOUND: Florida Trail, Navarre Roadwalk
SOUTHBOUND: Florida Trail, Yellow River Roadwalk

Category: Backpacking, Day Hikes, Florida Trail, Hikes, Northwest Florida, TrailsTag: Eglin Air Force Base, Florida Trail, FT Eglin, Hilly, Milton, Navarre, Pensacola, Pitcher Plants, Primitive Camping, Wildflowers, Yellow River

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Our Florida Trail Books

The Florida Trail Guide

The Florida Trail GuideThe comprehensive mile-by-mile guidebook to planning section and thru-hikes along the entire length of the Florida Trail. 356 pages, $19.95 + tax and shipping.

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Florida Trail Hikes

Florida Trail HikesFifty of the best day hikes, overnights, and weekend trips on the Florida Trail, plus nine of the best section hikes. Full hike descriptions and maps, full color. 376 pages. $24.95 + tax and shipping.

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Discovering the Florida Trail

Florida Trail mini coffee table book cover of trail into palm hammock
Our virtual walk along the length of the Florida Trail, covering more than 1,500 miles from the Everglades to Pensacola Beach. Hardcover, 196 pages. $24.95 + tax and shipping.

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The Florida Trail

Florida Trail large coffee table book cover of trail down swamp causeway under ancient pines

Our history of the first 50 years of the Florida Trail, from its founding in 1966 to becoming a National Scenic Trail to volunteer efforts today.

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The Florida Trail App

Comprehensive logistics and offline maps all in one: The Florida Trail Guide is now also an interactive map-based mile-by-mile app by Guthook Guides.

Get the App!

Florida Trail Updates


Get periodic recaps of changes to the Florida Trail, which we accumulate between editions of our guidebook. Find all official Trail Closures & Notices here.

Hiking the Florida Trail

  • Florida Trail Overview
  • Plan your Hike
  • Choose the Right Gear
  • Best Scenic Hikes
  • Best Backpacking Trips
  • Section Hiking
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  • Florida Trail in Northwest Florida
  • Florida Trail for Scouting
  • Florida Trail Adventures
  • Florida Trail Updates

Florida Trail by Section

Porter Lake, Apalachicola National Forest

Florida Trail, Apalachicola

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Florida Trail Big Bend view

Florida Trail, Big Bend

Florida Trail, Big Bend
Florida Trail Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Blackwater

Florida Trail, Blackwater
Florida Trail Nokuse

Florida Trail, Central Panhandle

Florida Trail, Central Panhandle
Eglin Weaver Creek

Florida Trail, Eglin

Florida Trail, Eglin
Florida Trail Kissimmee

Florida Trail, Kissimmee

Florida Trail, Kissimmee
Florida Trail at Rice Creek

Florida Trail, Northeast Florida

Florida Trail, Northeast Florida
Juniper Prairie Wilderness

Florida Trail, Ocala

Florida Trail, Ocala
Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail

Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail

Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail
Florida Trail, Okeechobee

Florida Trail, Okeechobee

Florida Trail, Okeechobee
Florida Trail at Forever Florida

Florida Trail, Orlando

Florida Trail, Orlando
Florida Trail Seashore Dunes

Florida Trail, Seashore

Florida Trail, Seashore
Florida Trail along a canal south of Clewiston

Florida Trail, Seminole

Florida Trail, Seminole
No Name Creek

Florida Trail, Suwannee

Florida Trail, Suwannee
Cypress Lakes Preserve

Florida Trail, Western Corridor

Florida Trail, Western Corridor

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