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Hiking the Emerald Coast
The Emerald Coast is more than sand and sea! The Emerald Coast is a hiker’s paradise with a number of trails just waiting to be discovered by you.
This is a nature enthusiast’s guide to hiking on the Emerald Coast. Get ready for an inside look at state parks, forests and trails. You are about to discover the best hiking locations across the Emerald Coast.
There may not be a mountain in sight, but the Emerald Coast makes up for it in miles upon miles of lush green trails framing the Gulf of Mexico, lakes, forests and other natural wonders.
Blackwater River State Forest
Division of Forestry
11650 Munson Highway
Milton, FL 32570
Phone: (850) 957-6140
Fax: (850) 957-6143
E-mail: archert@doacs.state.fl.us
Blackwater River State Forest – Florida’s largest state forest – consists of 190,000 acres of pine flatwoods and clayhills along Blackwater River. Six hiking trails and one mountain bike trail make their home in this beautiful forest that is part of the National Trail System’s Florida Trail.
- Trails include: Sweetwater Trail (1.25 miles), Bear Lake Trail (4 miles, loop), Karick Lake Trail (3.8 miles, loop), Juniper Creek Trail (6.7 miles), Wiregrass Trail (13 miles), Jackson Red Ground Trail (21.5 miles), Bear Lake Mountain Bike Trail (5.5 miles, loop)
- Location: The entrance to the forest can be found 20 miles north of Milton on State Road 191 in the community of Munson.
- Fees: Visit State Forest Fees and Other Information here at http://www.fl-dof.com/forest_recreation/fees.html
Blackwater River State Park
7720 Deaton Bridge Rd.
Holt, FL 32564
Phone: (850) 983-5363
Blackwater River State Park was certified a Registered State Natural Feature in 1980 for its unique ability to illustrate the natural history of Florida. With two hiking trails on its grounds, hikers are invited to witness nature at its best.
- Trails include: Chain of Lakes Trail, Juniper Lake Trail
- Driving directions: From I-10 East, take Exit 31 (Highway 87 North), 0.5 miles. Take a right onto Highway 90 East, 7 miles to town of Harold. Turn left onto Deaton Bridge Road, 3 miles to main gate. From I-10 West, take Exit 45 to town of Holt. Turn left onto Highway 90, 15 miles to the town of Harold. Turn right onto Deaton Bridge Road, 3 miles to main gate.
- Hours: Open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset
- Fees: $3 per vehicle, $1 for pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers and passengers in vehicles with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Permit
Blackwater Heritage State Trail
5533 Alabama Street
Milton, Florida 32564
Phone: (850) 983-5338
Blackwater Heritage State Trail is officially designated as part of Florida’s Statewide System of Greenways and Trails. This mostly rural trail extends from Milton in the south to Whiting Field Naval Air Station in the north. The two trails are paved and are not open to motorized vehicles.
- Trails include: Milton Trailhead (7 miles), Military Trail (2.2 miles)
- Driving directions: The Milton Trailhead is located at this intersection of State Road 87 and Highway 90. From I-10 West, take Exit 31 to State Road 87. Follow SR 87 to the intersection of Highway 90. Take a left on Highway 90. Follow Highway 90 into Milton to the intersection where State Road 87 heads north (to the right). From I-10 East, take Exit 26 to State Road 191. Follow SR 191 through Bagdad into Milton and turn left on Highway 90.
- Hours: Open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset
- Fees: None
Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park
4281 U.S. Highway 20
Niceville, FL 32578
Phone: (850) 833-9144
The two short trails that make up Rocky Bayou are often ignored by serious hikers. However, if you want to get close to nature and enjoy an arm of the Choctawatchee Bay, you are invited to explore this hidden gem.
- Trails include: Rocky Bayou Trail, Sand Pine Trail
- Driving directions: From I-10 East, take Highway 85 South until you reach Highway 20. Go East on Highway 30. Park is 5 miles on the left. From I-10 West, take Highway 331 South until you reach Highway 20. Go West on Highway 20 Park is 25 miles on the right.
- Hours: Open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset
- Fees: $4 per vehicle (2-8 People), $3 per vehicle (single occupant), $1 for pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers and passengers in vehicles with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Permit
Garcon Point Trail
Garcon Point Road
Milton, FL 32583
These two short hiking trails wind through a wet prairie system and feature orchids, endangered white-top pitcher plants, other insect eating plants and abundant birds.
- Trails include: Loop trail (1.5 miles), Spur trail (1.2 miles)
- Driving directions: From Highway 98 West, turn right (North) onto State Road 191 (across from Wal-Mart). Take SR 191 over Garcon Point Bridge (toll). Garcon Point Water Management Area will be on the mainland on your right (East).
Grayton Beach State Park
357 Main Park Road
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
Phone: (850) 231-4210
Grayton Beach State Park consists of 400 acres along the beautiful shoreline of Grayton Beach – recognized as one of the top five beaches in the nation. Its nature trail highlights the coastal plant communities on the Emerald Coast.
- Trails include: Interpretative trail (4.5 miles)
- Driving directions: The park is South of Highway 98 between Panama City Beach and Destin. Take County Road 283 South of Highway 98. Turn left at the stop sign on County Road 30A (0.5 miles east of the intersection of CR 30A and CR 283).
- Hours: Open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset
- Fees: $4 per vehicle, $1 for pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers and passengers in vehicles with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Permit
Pine Log State Forest
Division of Forestry
Pine Log State Forest
5583-A Longleaf Road
Ebro, FL 32437
Telephone: (850) 535-2888
E-mail: cullenk@doacs.state.fl.us
Pine Log State Forest – Florida’s first state forest – was purchased in 1936. The forest consists of 6,911 acres with more than 13 miles of hiking, including a segment of the National Trail System’s Florida Trail.
- Trails include: Dutch Tieman Trail (5.5 miles), Campground Loop Trail (2 miles), Crooked Creek Trail (4.5 to 9 miles)
- Location: The forest is located near Ebro 14 miles north of Panama City Beach on State Road 79. Access to Pine Log State Forest is available on Highway 79 or on open forest roads.
- Fees: Visit State Forest Fees and Other Information here: http://www.fl-dof.com/forest_recreation/fees.html
Point Washington State Forest
Division of Forestry
Point Washington State Forest
5865 East U.S. Highway 98
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
Telephone: (850) 231-5800
E-mail: vanderj@doacs.state.fl.us
The Eastern Lake Trail System was the first trail established on the forest. This trail system consists of three double track loop trails.
- Trails include: Eastern Lake Trail (3.5, 5 or 10 miles)
- Location: The forest is located in Walton County 9 miles South of Freeport on Highway 98. Access to Point Washington State Forest is available at 9 designated public entrance points.
- Fees: Visit State Forest Fees and Other Information here: http://www.fl-dof.com/forest_recreation/fees.html
St. Joseph Peninsula State Park
8899 Cape San Blas Road
Port St. Joe, FL 32456
Phone: (850) 227-1327
Fax: (850) 227-1488
The 14-mile walk through the interior of St. Joseph Peninsula provides a close look at sand pine scrub and pine flatwood habitats.
- Trails include: Peninsula Trail (14 miles)
- Driving directions: The park is located near Port St. Joe. From Highway 98 East, turn onto County Road 30A East. From Highway 98 West, turn left on CR 30A.
- Hours: Open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset
- Fees: $4 per vehicle, $1 for pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers and passengers in vehicles with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Permit
Tate’s Hell State Forest
Florida Division of Forestry
290 Airport Road
Carrabelle, FL 32322
Telephone: (850) 697-3734
E-mail: haddoca@doacs.state.fl.us
Tate's Hell State Forest consists of more than 185,000 acres of land and swamp. The forest gets its name from a popular legend about a man named Cebe Tate who is rumored to have died shortly after leaving the swamp in 1875.
- Trails include: High Bluff Coastal Trail (4 miles)
- Location: The forest is located in Franklin County, between the Apalachicola and Ochlockonee Rivers. The forest extends into the southeast corner of Liberty County, south of the Apalachicola National Forest and 1.5 miles northwest of the town of Carrabelle. Access the forest from Highway 98, County Road 67 or State Highway 65.
- Fees: Visit State Forest Fees and Other Information here: http://www.fl-dof.com/forest_recreation/fees.html
Florida’s designation in National Trail System
In 1983, Congress officially recognized the Florida Trail as part of the National Trail System. This ranks the Florida Trail with other nationally recognized trails, such as the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail and the Ice Age Trail.
The1,400-mile Florida Trail runs through the entire state of Florida, including the Florida Panhandle’s Blackwater River State Forest. For more information on hiking the Florida Trail, visit the Florida Trail Association at http://www.floridatrail.org.
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