Located on the north side of the Blackwater River at the end of a long dirt road, Wilderness Landing Park immerses visitors deep within the woods with plenty of options for outdoor leisure.
Known for its sandy shorelines, this park features a sandy beach alongside the river, a short distance from ample tree cover on a hot day.
Sandy beachA loop trail meanders across the property, showcasing a remarkable variety of natural landscapes from shady river bluffs to sun drenched pine savannas.
The park offers free, first-come-first-served camping for tents and RVs with the added security of a camp host and amenities like drinking water and restrooms with hot showers.
Camping areaResources
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Overview
Location: Baker
Length: 1.6 miles
Trailhead: 30.802944, -86.767111
Address: 5700 Wilderness Landing Road, Baker
Fees: Free
Restrooms: At the parking area
Land manager: Okaloosa County
Phone: 850-689-5790
Open one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. No pets allowed.
Directions
From Interstate 10 at Holt, head north on Log Lake Rd for one mile before turning left onto US 90. In a half mile, make a right onto Cooper Ln, and then a left onto John Rd in 0.1 mile. In a mile, continue straight where the road becomes Bryant Bridge Rd, and stay straight in another quarter mile when it becomes Bryant Bridge Cutoff Rd. In 1.1 miles, turn right onto Norman Riley Rd, continuing for 6.1 miles before making another right onto Corduroy Rd, a dirt road. In 1.2 miles, make a right at Wilderness Landing Rd, and follow it for about a mile to the end.
Hike
Starting at the parking area in front of the restrooms, head east toward a boardwalk at the edge of the woods near a sign for the hiking trail.
Follow the wooden walkway flanked by tall Atlantic white cedars as it descends a slope into the floodplain.
BoardwalkAt the end of the boardwalk, a pavilion with a pair of picnic tables stands within a few hundred feet of the Blackwater River.
Depending on recent rains, the water may be high up on the bank or a shallow creek bordered with sandy beaches.
Blackwater RiverLook upriver for a defined pathway leading into the forest, climbing a bluff to a peaceful spot overlooking the tannic river below.
After crossing a dip on a short bridge, the trail turns away from the bank, beginning a gradual ascent as the habitat transitions from mixed hardwoods to pine forest.
The path takes a sharp left near a bench at the northern end of the loop to cross the entrance road before entering a healthy mesic flatwoods environment.
Trailside benchAcross the road, dispersed pines form an open canopy over a shrubby blend of lyonia, bracken fern, saw palmetto, and yaupon holly.
Signs indicate the direction of the hiking trail where it intersects side paths.
Pine flatwoodsAs the route bends to approach the river again, a shady hammock rises from the forest floor, surrounding swales filled with bald cypress trees.
Turning to follow the shoreline through a tunnel of dense vegetation, glimpses of the water appear to the right, where mountain laurels bloom on the steep banks.
Mountain laurel in bloomThe trail rises to a tall bluff with panoramic views before dropping down to cross the boat ramp and finishing the loop at the picnic pavilion.
From this point, follow the boardwalk across contoured terrain back to the trailhead.
River bluffTrail Map
Explore More!
Video
Hiking Wilderness Landing Park
Nearby Adventures
Karick Lake Loop Crossing a series of boardwalks over creeks and a bog laden with rare carnivorous plants, the Karick Lake Loop at Blackwater River State Forest makes an excellent day hike for campers and day visitors. 
Bone Creek Loop Trail Along a tributary of the Blackwater River, the Bone Creek Loop at Blackwater River State Forest is a well-maintained trail with a set of scenic boardwalks. 
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. 
Lakewood Park Scale the lofty heights of Florida in the rolling rural ridges north of DeFuniak Springs at a Walton County park atop Britton Hill, Florida's high point at 345 feet.
- Wilderness Landing Park - July 25, 2026
- Deep Creek Conservation Area North - July 21, 2026
- Florida Trail, Spring Creek - July 17, 2026