 Riding the Blackwater Heritage State Trail | Blackwater River State Park Summer is here, but that doesn't mean you have to sit out hiking. When the temperatures soar, we switch gears. Literally. Break out the bicycles for a ride on a paved trail, or slip a kayak into the water for a refreshing paddle. Between mosquitoes, ticks, extreme heat, and thunderstorms, backpacking is best put off until fall, but early-up day hikes beat the heat. Just pack that insect repellent! We offer a handful of tips here for getting outdoors in the summer months. Finding a multi-activity base camp for summer fun is ideal, and we can think of few better than Blackwater River State Park near Milton, with its deeply shaded campground and white sand beaches along a clear, tannic river. Take a morning hike and cool off afterwards with a swim. The park isn't far from Milton, where restaurants abound and the Blackwater Heritage State Trail offers rural miles for cyclists. Assisting us over the past few years with field research, Chris Stevens recently revisited one of our favorite summer hikes to provide the details below. While everyone else is dashing to the beach, turn your attention inland to the beauty of the Blackwater River. | Happy Trails,
Sandra Friend & John Keatley Visit our Recent Articles page to see the newest trails posted on FloridaHikes.com. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Vimeo for more trails to explore. | Featuring white sandy beaches, pine forests, and swamps alongside a lazy river, the 1.5 mile Chain of Lakes Trail at Blackwater River State Park makes an excellent summer hike with the opportunity to make a splash. Basics Trailhead: Deaton Bridge [30.704111, -86.881020] From Interstate 10 exit 31 (Milton / Navarre) drive north on SR 87 one mile to US 90. In 5.8 miles turn left onto Deaton Bridge Rd. The parking area is on the right in 3.3 miles, immediately before the bridge. Manager: Florida State Parks (850-983-5363) $4 per vehicle entrance fee. Trails open 8 AM to sunset. Leashed pets welcome, but do not bring them onto the river beaches. Use insect repellent, as mosquitoes thrive in the oxbow swamps. Restrooms are in the picnic areas on the other side of the bridge. |  Blackwater River State Park day use area. This route in red. | The Hike From the parking area cross Deaton Bridge Road at the crosswalk, entering a shaded canopy on the opposite side. The trail starts along a sturdy boardwalk that delves into a dense forest of pine, cedar, and oak. In less than a tenth of a mile, the boardwalk turns to the left, leading to the beach area. Stepping off the end of the wooden walkway, follow a sandy path through tall white cedars and between swampy depressions lined with cypress trees. Reaching 0.2 mile, the trail climbs to a low bluff at the water’s edge, providing scenic views of the Blackwater River. On a busy day, folks float by on tubes and various watercraft, enjoying a day in this immersive wilderness. The trail leaves the river at a half mile, tracing alongside a slough filled with dark, tannic waters. Trailside benches offer a spot for tranquil reflection among softly chirping crickets and birds. |  "Rainbow swamp" effect on one of the oxbows | Small bridges cross seasonal streams as the pathway weaves through undulating terrain, clambering over roots and low areas covered with cypress knees. Tiny waterfalls trickle next to the path, following rivulets into the forested swamp. Turning to the right at 0.8 miles reveals a quick ascent from wetlands to an upland habitat. Tall pines rise above an open landscape of grass and palmettos. Wind blows through the treetops while following a wide pathway over gently rolling hills. Lush vegetation borders a stream crossing at the one-mile mark, where wisteria produces showy purple blooms in late spring, attracting a variety of pollinators. At 1.3 miles, the trail reaches Deaton Bridge Road. Continue alongside the road for 0.2 mile, completing the loop at the crosswalk to the parking area. | MORE INFORMATION
Blackwater River State Park NEARBY TRAILS |  Juniper Lake Trail |  Florida Trail, Hutton Unit | | |  Florida Trail, Juniper Creek Trail |  Blackwater Heritage State Trail | | | Saturday June 2 is National Trails Day There are events statewide. Look for one near you on the National Trails Day website. |  Caloosahatchee River at Alvin Ward Park | June 2 HIKE & BIKE, 7 AM. Sunrise Cycle & Stroll, Alvin Ward Park, Moore Haven. Walk or ride a paved portion of the Florida Trail between Moore Haven and Clewiston. DETAILS. June 2 HIKE, 9AM. Hillsborough River State Park. 4 to 7 miles along the state park trail system between River Rapids, Baynard, and Seminole Trails. DETAILS. |  View of Perdido Key from Fort Barrancas | June 2 VOLUNTEER, 9AM. National Trails Day of Service at Fort Barrancas. Help the National Park Service with trail maintenance on the nature trails of historic Fort Barrancas as NAS Pensacola is reopening public access for the first time since 2019. DETAILS / SIGN UP. June 2 DEDICATION & HIKE, 10 AM. Ribbon cutting of new Owl's Head trailhead along US 331 north of Freeport. Short day hike in the Florida Trail Nokuse section afterwards. DETAILS. | The Florida Trail Guide Plan your next adventure on the Florida Trail -- our state's own National Scenic Trail spanning from the Everglades to Pensacola Beach -- with our linear guide to more than 1,500 miles along it on foot. Logistical information, mileage charts, overview maps, and descriptions of significant waypoints along the trail let you plan anything from a backpacking trip to a day hike. Fourth edition, 356 pages with 106 maps, $19.95. ORDER HERE. | |
