With travel restrictions in place and the closing of our usual go-to places for fun, we all seem to be getting back to basics. The basics of time together with family and getting out and exploring. Luckily, we live on the Gulf Coast where we have plenty of opportunities for adventure right in our own back yard!
story by Anna Stockton
University of West Florida
In northern Pensacola you’ll find the University of West Florida. It has everything you need for an outdoor adventure! With biking, equestrian and walking trails for every skill level, UWF boasts over 20 miles of trails on their campus. The West Trail is located on the westernmost 600 acres of the campus with robust trails for mountain biking and hiking. The Cross-Country trails wind through the Baars-Firestone wildlife sanctuary, taking you through many different habitats such as the hammock and wetlands. If you’re in the mood for more of a stroll, the Nature Trail will fit the bill. This half-acre boardwalk through Thompson’s Bayou gives you the ultimate in wildlife viewing where fish, mammals, and birds abound, and you could catch a glimpse of the most famous resident that may make you say “see ya later alligator.”
Pensacola Bay Bluff Park
Not far from UWF are the bluffs along Pensacola’s Scenic Highway, which have a history that goes all the way back to Yamassee Indians and the Spanish settlement in 1559. The area was a powerhouse of brick production from 1820 to 1860 and the railroad tracks were established there in the early 1880’s. Today, it’s a scenic area that rivals the beauty of the Pacific Coast Highway.
This gem of Pensacola holds Bay Bluff Park, a beautiful 26-acre park with a magnificent walking trail. Bay Bluff Park’s walking trail may only be .8 miles of boardwalk in total but it’s still quite a workout. With plenty of stairs to make you wish you’d skipped leg day, the view is hard to beat!
Navy Point Park
On the west side of Pensacola, the Navy Point area is a close-knit neighborhood with WWII era cottages, tree lined streets and a community park. Located along Bayou Grande, this park has 60 acres of waterfront property, a boat ramp, exercise equipment and a beautiful walking trail. The paved walking trail is 2.5 miles but can be extended through the streets of the neighborhood. This park is also a great place to watch the various aircraft taking off and landing at NAS Pensacola. On practice days, the Blue Angels put on quite a show. Be prepared to practice the “Pensacola pause” though, this is when the jet noise makes the act of talking futile so you pause your conversation.
Big Lagoon State Park
Further south, along Gulf Beach Highway you will find Big Lagoon State Park, a 705 acre preserve that sits along the Intracoastal Waterway. There are 5 miles of walking trails in the park. Sand Pine Trail is the most popular, this 3.5 mile trail winds along the back of the campground and along Long Pond and the salt marsh. The sandy trail has viewing areas to stop, rest, and check out the locals… the local wildlife that is. You’ll find deer, lizards, snakes, owls, and you might even get to see a bald eagle. When you visit Big Lagoon, don’t forget to check out the look-out tower. This 3 story structure gives you amazing views of the intracoastal, and those stairs give you a heck of a work out.
Fort Pickens – Gulf Island National Seashore
Across the bay and east of Big Lagoon is Fort Pickens, located at the western tip of Santa Rosa Island near Pensacola Beach. Fort Pickens has a long history dating back to 1825 when President James Monroe signed a law establishing a new navy yard and depot in Pensacola Bay. Fort Pickens was then built to protect the bay from attack.
There are two walking trails offered at Fort Pickens. The beach trail is a 5-mile trek along the soft sand of the Gulf, while the Fort Pickens trail offers a shadier, less difficult alternative. Both trails offer excellent wildlife viewing, with pelicans, ospreys and even eagles flying overhead.
Whichever trail you take, make sure you stop by the visitor’s center afterwards to cool off in the air conditioning and learn about Fort Pickens’ notable history, inclusing the imprisonment of the Apache warrior, Geronimo.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
If you want to turn your exploring into a day trip, check out Topsail Hill Preserve State Park on Santa Rosa Beach. Located about an hour and a half from Pensacola, this 1600 acre preserve boasts numerous hiking and biking trails. With over three miles of beaches, sand dunes up to 25 feet high and rare dune lakes, there is something interesting around every bend. Take the turpentine trail and check out the cat face pines, named that because of how the workers cut the pines to harvest turpentine in the early 20th century. This park also used to be a WWII missile testing sight, so keep an eye out and you can spot literal blasts from the past.
