Distance: 7 miles (out-and-back)
Drive from Mobile: About an hour and 30 minutes via Interstate 10
We had been eyeing Blackwater River State Park since we started this blog as it provides several longer trails than what we typically hike. And we were glad that we were finally able to find a day to devote to it. The hike was scenic, varying from a swamp to a piney sandhill to deep woods. It was not very strenuous as it was mostly flat, but with its length of 7 miles it was a great way to burn calories from all of the Christmas cookies we had been eating.
As an added bonus for kids, there were several balance beams to walk over swampy land.
We took a break to snack and one stop to eat sandwiches we had packed for lunch, so the whole hike took just over 3 hours. And we did not hear too many, "How much furthers?" from our 9- and 12-year-old, so we consider that a success.
Scenery: The trail starts at the Blackwater River and goes through a boggy swamp. The park installed wooden balanced beams/platforms over the muddiest of parts. The beams zig-zagged, and we - including the dog - had fun keeping our balance as we walked over them.
Next came a piney sandhill. The trail was surrounded by chest-high gallberry underbrush and, of course, pine trees. We found some pitcher plants, too, which are always cool to see. Mile 1.5-2.5 got a little monotonous to me, but my husband disagrees.
After that span, you cross through another swampy bottom with another set of balance beams. And eventually you are in the woods, my favorite part. You are near a creek, but not quite where you can see it, so I found myself wishing we were closer. But the scenery was still fine. In the woods, you cross over one creek via a bridge. You finally come to a cool wooden bridge that is over Alligator Creek. The creek is not marked, so the only way we knew we had made it was because we were recording our hike on the AllTrails app.
We crossed the creek, sat and ate our sandwiches on the bank, and then headed back.
Wildlife: We did not see any wildlife on this mild winter day. Several reviewers on AllTrails mention mosquitos and orb spiders, but those were not present on our winter day.
Highlight(s): It was a relaxing hike that made us feel as if we had gotten away from most of civilization. We pretty much had the trail to ourselves. I did appreciate the change in scenery as we went from swamps to sandhills to the woods as that kept the hike interesting.
Directions: Take Interstate 10 east to exit 31 for FL-87 North. Keep eft at the fork and follow signs for Blackwater River State Park. Turn left onto FL-87 and then right onto US-90. Turn left onto Deaton Bridge Road. Cross over the river and park on the left before you actually enter the park. Pay $4 per car in the drop box.
Trail markings: Follow the signs that say "Juniper Creek Trail." There is a restroom just over the bridge from the parking lot. Follow the blue trailblazes, which mark the trail really well. There is one point where a sign directs you toward Juniper Creek (instead of the campground), so follow that. You cross over a couple of logging roads and one actual paved road.
No signs ever said "Alligator Creek," so I recommend downloading the map on AllTrails and recording your hike so you know when to turn around. Make sure you have a full battery on your phone.
L says: It's long, but you pass some cool scenery. Make sure you leave early so you can finish before the sun goes down. The balance beams were fun to walk across.
G says: It was a good hike, but very long. Bring hiking boots because parts of it are soggy.
About the trail: It is part of a series of trails inside Florida's Blackwater River State Park, and it is part of the Florida National Scenic Trail, a network of trails that span 1,500 miles from the Panhandle to South Florida. Blackwater River State Park is better known for canoeing and kayaking. There is also a campground that gets good reviews. We would like to come back and try some of the other trails, which range from 1.4 to 8.4 miles. Several of the trails are point-to-point, so make sure you are not on one of those, unless you bring two cars. For more information about the park and its trails, visit: https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/blackwater-river-state-park
We are hoping to find some more local trails as long as this one so we can prepare for some upcoming trips to national parks. So if you know of any, please mention them in the comments below.
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