Garcon Point Trail has a 1.7 mile loop and a 1.2 mile spur off that trail.

The trail is owned by Northwest Florida Water Management. The area includes wet prairie and flatwood habitats. Hikers may see many carnivorous plants, sparrows, bluebirds, red-tailed hawks, osprey and more.

Trail is located within the Garcon Point Water Management Area in Santa Rosa County south of Milton. From I-10 drive south on CR 281 to CR 191.

View more about hiking Garcon Point Trail

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Juniper Creek hiking trail, located in Blackwater State Forest, is a nice trail that follows along the Juniper Creek. The trail is 8.8 miles long and is a segment of the Florida National Scenic Trail.

We recently hiked a section of the northern trail. It’s a beautiful, well-marked trail and while hiking it you’ll enjoy a pine and hardwood forest. The northern section is lush with Magnolia trees that line the banks of the creek. In the spring, many shrubs and small trees will bloom. You’ll want to be careful with young children near the beginning of the trail where we were pleasantly surprised by a high bluff overlooking the creek. The view is stunning.

We took along the coordinates of a couple geocaches to find along the way. We found two large ammo container geocaches to add some more interest to our hike.

Enjoy a short video and some pics of sights you’ll see along the trail!

Directions to Juniper Creek Trail

To access the southern section of the trail take I-10 exit 31 (Highway 87). Go north to Hwy 90 and take a right. Go 7 miles and take a left onto Deaton Bridge Road. Follow that road to Blackwater State Park.

To access the northern section continue on Deaton Bridge Road to a four way stop. Take a left on Indian Ford Road. Take Indian Ford Road to Pleasant Home Road and take a right. Follow Pleasant Home Road to Red Rock Road where you will take a left. Park at the parking area at the first bridge which is Juniper Creek. The trail crosses Red Rock Road .3 miles to the east.

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Photos of Juniper Creek Trail

Jones Swamp Wetland Preserve and Nature Trail is part of the Bayou Chico restoration project. It was created to provide protection for Pensacola Bay. The preserve includes 1,300 acres within the Jones Creek Watershed.

There are some developed and undeveloped hiking trails. A large part of the trail winds along a nice creek. The trails take you on a nice, safe walk while offering a great place for the family to enjoy the outdoors. You may encounter wildlife like birds and river otters.

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Looking for a hiking or biking trail you can take the entire family on? Fort Pickens on Pensacola Beach has many trails the family can enjoy. One section of trail we enjoy connects Battery Worth and Fort Pickens. This trail is part of the Florida National Scenic Trail and is only .7 miles long.

The landscape is made up of small dunes, sand live oak, slash pines, myrtle oak, fetterbush, rosemary, saw palmetto, Cruise’s golden aster, and more.  A section of trail runs along a few water channels where you can see many turtles and other wildlife. There is also a bridge you cross and is a great place to see turtles and other wildlife.

Trailhead at Battery Worth in Fort Pickens

Trail is made of ground oyster shells

beach shrubs and trees along the trail

Water channels on Fort Pickens along trail

Visitor at the bridge

Want more on Fort Pickens?

Johnson Beach Discovery Nature Trail is located on Perdido Key. This is a nice hike for the entire family. The hike takes you on a raised boardwalk through dunes, pine trees, salt marsh outlooks, and brings you to a beautiful view of Grand Lagoon. The hike is  just under 1/2 a mile long-just long enough for a fun time of exploring with young kids.  When we hiked through, we saw a hawk family soaring around its nest bringing a Sunday fish dinner. We also observed other small birds. Bring a picnic and check out Johnson Beach this Spring!

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Bayou Marcus Water Reclamation Facility Boardwalk is located near Pensacola, Florida. This facility discharges reclaimed water into the Bayou Marcus receiving wetland system. The water is discharged along the bayou boardwalk. Many birds and other wildlife may be seen along the boardwalk. To walk to the end of the boardwalk and back is approximately 3 miles.

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There is something exciting about preparing for a hiking trip. Maybe it’s the anticipation of the discoveries or the pure excitement of getting out in the great outdoors. If you are going to prepare for your first hiking adventure, here are a few things that may help make your trip a little more enjoyable.

Let someone know.
Before you head out in the wilderness it’s always a good idea to let someone know you are going on a hike. Let a friend know the time you are going, the location, and the expected time you plan to return. This is especially important if you are going out on your own. If at all possible though, hike with at least one other person.

How’s the weather?
Take a look at the weather forecast before heading out on a hike. Lightning and rising waters are something to always consider before heading out. If the weather is questionable, know what you should do in case of certain weather situations.

Understand your maps and compass.
If you are headed into the wilderness, knowing how to use a map and a compass is a good idea. Many national and state forests have trail maps available either in the ranger station or online for download. Understanding your map may save you some serious time if you are unsure of the direction. There are many phone apps for GPS and trail maps as well.

Carry enough water.
Water is one of the more important necessities to take with you. Plan your water supply according to the length of hike and the number in your hiking company. Use water carrying backpacks like Camelbaks and/or water bottles.

Keep your feet comfortable.
How about an extra pare of socks? An extra pair of socks could save you from blisters caused by wet socks from sweat or water. In addition to those extra socks, make sure you wear a comfortable pair of shoes without open toes or heels.

Wear a hat and sunscreen.
There’s a good chance when you head out on a hike that you’ll be exposed to the sun for an extended time. Protect your skin by wearing sunscreen and a hat. They can protect you from the discomfort of a sunburn and also protect you from long-term sun induced skin problems.

Keep those pests away
Don’t forget to use mosquito and tick repellent. On the Gulf Coast, you are sure to encounter one or the other. Mosquitoes can be prevalent in the spring and summer months while ticks are present here all year. Yes, ticks are alive and active in the winter months as well.

Be prepared to zoom in.
There is a sure guarantee you’ll discover the beauty and wonder of creation when you go on a hike. How about capturing those moments on a camera? When I’m out, I always have my camera along with me. Having a camera can help you document your trip for great memories. Photos are also great ways of  recording nature’s beauty to enjoy anytime. Another useful piece of gear to consider if you are not inclined to photo taking are binoculars; you never know when you may want to zoom in.

Bring a basic first aid kit.
Bringing along some basic first aid like band aids for scrapes and hydrocortisone cream for bites and stings aren’t a bad idea. Snake-bit kits are also available if you plan to hike where there are poisonous snakes.

Keep it simple.
Remember everything has to be carried. For a short trip this is not as critical, but the longer the hike the more important it is to lighten the load. Only bring the necessities like dried food, water, a change of clothes and the first aid items already mentioned.

Of course, the most important thing is to have fun. If you take the time to prepare you’ll make the hiking trip an enjoyable experience.

Go Explore!

The trail is Located in Escambia County about 1.5 miles south of the intersection of U.S. 98 and State Road 293.

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Bench on Breckenridge Nature Trail

Looking to experience nature in Gulf Breeze, Florida? The Gulf Islands National Seashore Naval Live Oaks Park located in Gulf Breeze is the perfect place to enjoy some quiet time of hiking, picnicking, or relaxing by the water.

We’ve spent a few afternoons at the Naval Live Oaks in Gulf Breeze. This is a great park for hiking, swimming, fishing or having a picnic. For our getaway we packed a lunch and enjoyed the breeze from Santa Rosa Sound. The Naval Live Oaks park is located in Gulf Breeze and has has over 7.5 miles of hiking trails to enjoy.

The park has a large selection of picnic tables and barbecue grills. In addition there is one large covered picnic area for large groups. This past weekend, we found a nice picnic table just a few steps away from the water to enjoy a picnic lunch.

After lunch, we hiked the Breckenridge Nature Trail. This was a perfect hike for the kids considering it’s only .8 of a mile. Along the trail we enjoyed beautiful views of Santa Rosa Sound from the overlook, climbed in a big oak tree, and enjoyed seeing the many sites along the trail. The trail weaves around large Oak trees, Magnolia, Red Cedars, and Pine trees. I especially enjoyed this hike because of the variety of trees along the trail. Color is added to the view by wild flowers and the American Beauty Bush berries.

Flower along the trail

At the end of the hike, we spent a few minutes in the visitor center. The kids always enjoy the playing with the exibits in the visitor center. The visit center has a model oak tree, handsets for listening, and a few other exhibits which explain the history of the oak in constructing Navy ships. If you go for the first time, don’t forget to greet the center’s host, Edwin Woods. He will be glad to answer questions or show you a 12 minute slide presentation of the changes that have taken place for us to be able to enjoy the area.

If you have little kids you’ll enjoy the beach area. Once we were able to lure the kids from the visitor center we put on our swim suits and enjoyed a nice relaxing time in the water. The sand is sugar white and the water is very shallow. While we were swimming we saw people fishing and kayaking along the shoreline.

Pictures from our time at the park

Oak tree at Naval Live Oaks Park

Trail

Lindy & Kids

Up in an Oak Tree

Mushrooms

There is a $4 parking fee.  Parking lot is across the street from the trail.

To access the trail from Interstate 10 go north on Route 87. From 87 go east on U.S. Highway 90. From 90 go north on Deaton Bridge Road. The park is approximately 3 miles north.

Have you hike this trail? Let us know your comments below.

Download Blackwater River Topo Map

Chain of Lakes Trail