At this point, on the Gulf side of the highway, there is a parking lot and the short Dune Trail. This trail also connects with the Florida Trail, which runs all along Gulf Islands National Seashore, ending at Fort Pickens, 1,300 miles from its start in Big Cypress National wildlife refuge. Military history buffs will want to park and explore.Īt the turn off for the Campground A, there is a half-mile loop Blackbird Marsh Trail with good signage that travels around a pretty wetland. (More on camping below.)Īlong the way, you will pass some portions of the fort, gun batteries once camouflaged with sand and vegetation to hide them from aerial surveillance. On this road, there are three turn-offs for campgrounds, which are attractive lightly wooded compounds across the street from the beach. The Blackbird Marsh Trail near Fort Pickens at Gulf Islands National Seashore was beautiful and had informative signage identifying plants and trees. There are three parking lots where you can stop to spend some time at one of the most beautiful wild beaches in Florida. The road travels through seven miles of undeveloped beach. We visited two days after a major rain storm and had to drive slowly through water that came up to the bottom of our car doors. Be aware: This is a low-lying road that is easily flooded. The road again passes through spectacular views of sand and dunes. This time, you do have to pay the entrance fee to continue. (Photo: Bonnie Gross) The Fort Pickens area of Gulf Islands National SeashoreĪ few miles west of Pensacola Beach on Highway 399, you are back in Gulf Islands National Seashore in the Fort Pickens section. Inside Fort Pickens at Gulf Island National Seashore. This area was named Opal Beach after the eye of Hurricane Opal, a Category 4 storm, came ashore here, flattening the sand dunes. It boggles the mind to think how all Florida’s barrier islands might have once looked like this.Ī big chunk of Florida’s section of Gulf Islands National Seashore is located on Santa Rosa Island west of Navarre Beach. With the whitest sand I’ve ever seen, Opal Beach is a sight to behold. Santa Rosa is a narrow barrier island where sand dunes stretch from the Gulf shore to Santa Rosa Sound. The Opal Beach section of Gulf Islands National Seashore FAQs about Gulf Islands National Seashore.Planning your trip to Gulf Islands National Seashore Pensacola area.Visiting Gulf Islands National Seashore by ferry.Other areas of Gulf Islands National Seashore Florida.The Fort Pickens area of Gulf Islands National Seashore.The Opal Beach section of Gulf Islands National Seashore.
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