45.5 miles. An official connector, the Blackwater section takes a blue-blazed branch of the Florida Trail up to the Alabama state line.
From there, hikers can continue north, linking up to the Alabama Hiking Trail and the greater Eastern Continental Trail.
Most of the section is within Blackwater River State Forest, Florida’s largest state forest.
Encompassing 190,000 acres of pine flatwoods and clayhills, it surrounds the scenic Blackwater River and its tributaries.
Popular for backpacking trips, this beautiful section of the trail walks you through Atlantic white cedar and longleaf pine forests, pitcher plant bogs and titi swamps.
Once a major lumber and turpentine area, it’s now devoted to conservation and recreation, with a handful of private leases to farmers growing cotton and corn.
North of Deaton Bridge, the Florida Trail utilizes parts of three hiking trails to head north: the Juniper Creek Trail, the Jackson Red Ground Trail, and the Wiregrass Trail.
South of Deaton Bridge, the trail traverses the Hutton Unit and the Deer Lake Unit, both of which sport showy pitcher plant bogs as well as steephead ravines.
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Trip Planning
No permits are required to hike this section.
Camping and Lodging
The Blackwater section has two trail shelters and several designated campsites. Random camping is permitted within Blackwater River State Forest but not within the state park.
Fees apply to camp in developed recreation areas such as Blackwater River State Park, Bear Lake Recreation Area, Krul Lake Recreation Area, Karick Lake Recreation Area, and Hurricane Lake Recreation Area.
Dogs
Leashed dogs welcome. Do not bring them into bathhouses or swimming areas when camping at a recreation area.
Wildlife
Expect to encounter herds of white-tailed deer across the rolling hills that make up Blackwater River State Forest, and the occasional gray fox.
The healthy sandhills and longleaf savanna also supports far less common species like fox squirrels, gopher tortoises, and red-cockaded woodpeckers.
The Florida black bear roams these woods as well, so it’s best to secure your food at night.
Water
Many tributaries feed Juniper Creek and the Blackwater River. Nourished by seepage slopes, the smaller tributaries will dry up during long periods without rain.
There are a few long stretches on both the Jackson and Wiregrass Trails where you’ll find no water in the rolling sandhills. Plan accordingly.
Resupply
Before reaching US 90 the trail goes behind the Harold Store, a locally owned convenience store.
A full-service grocery, Piggly Wiggly, and a Dollar General are 5.4 miles west of where the trail crosses US 90 in Harold. They mark the eastern edge of services in Milton and can be reached via the historic Old Brick Highway paralleling the north side of US 90.
Ruth’s Store in Munson is 5.3 miles west of the trail crossing along SR 4, with hot food and deli along with convenience store standards.
Parking & Shuttle
The Blackwater section has no trailheads at either end, making logistics tricky.
It branches off the main Florida Trail at Deer Lake junction 0.3 mile south of Deer Lake Rd, and ends at the state line almost 4 miles north of the nearest paved road.
Fees apply if you leave a car at Blackwater River State Park inside the park gates. It’s the safest place to leave one during a backpacking trip. Check at the ranger station for fees.
For a shuttle, check with Blackwater Canoe Rental (850-623-0235) or Adventures Unlimited (850-623-6197). Both cater to paddlers but might have time to help you for a fee.
You can also join the Facebook group Florida Trail Hikers to ask if any local volunteers can be of assistance.
Safety
Fire
Fire is the top safety issue on this section. Frequent prescribed burns are used for forest management throughout Blackwater River State Forest.
The Forestry Service has a regular schedule set up. To avoid walking into a burn-in-progress, call them at 850-957-5700 and tell them your planned route.
All times of year, expect at least a portion of your hike to be through recently burned forest. You may encounter damaged infrastructure from uncontrolled burns.
Flooding
Flooding can make hiking along the Blackwater River and its tributaries dangerous. Check the National Weather Service flood gauge.
There is no safe way to skirt flooding at Deaton Bridge if it occurs. Never enter flowing waters. If Deaton Bridge Road is closed due to flooding, this entire section is unsafe to hike.
Hunting
Wear a bright orange shirt or vest during hunting seasons in Blackwater River State Forest. Check the FWC website for hunting season dates.
Roadwalks
Roadwalks are limited to very short stretches on country roads, mainly to cross bridges.
People
This is a rural area where you won’t encounter a lot of people except at the developed recreation areas. Harassment has been reported at Shelter 2, which isn’t far from a road. Blackwater River State Forest is laced with forest roads and isn’t far from the urban spill of Pensacola, so people do drive out into the woods on weekends and whoop it up.
Trail Map
Mileages
Key mile markers south to north.
0.0 – Deer Lake Junction
1.9 – Burnt Grocery campsite +
2.9 – Miller Bluff trailhead
3.9 – US 90
7.6 – Hutton Unit trailhead junction
9.9 – Blackwater River State Park +$
14.0 – Football Field campsite +
15.2 – Bluffs campsite +
16.5 – Red Rocks Rd trailhead
23.0 – Shelter 2 campsite +
23.4 – Bear Lake junction
24.6 – SR 4
29.1– Blackwater Shelter +
33.1– Karick Lake junction
38.3 – Hurricane Lake South +$
39.1– Hurricane Lake North +$
45.5 – Alabama state line
$ fee charged. + designated campsite. * permit needed.
Trail Segments
Details about all segments of the Florida Trail in this section are in The Florida Trail Guide and app. The hikes below include most of the segments for Blackwater.
Each is described from the perspective of a day hiker, noting landmarks, water, and campsites along the way. Not all are oriented from south to north, but this is the order they are in northbound.
Side Trails
Trails that interconnect with and sometimes share a portion of the Florida Trail route.
Public Lands
Public lands this section of the Florida Trail crosses.
Connections
This section of the Florida Trail adjoins to the south.