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SANTA ROSA BEACH, Fla. — This edition of MBN Day Tripper takes the reader along with us to Point Washington State Forest just north of 30A in Santa Rosa Beach. At the beautiful and rustic Longleaf Greenway Trailhead, a hiker, runner, or biker quickly leaves the busy 30A traffic and immediately finds secluded forest scenery where they may or may not happen upon another hiker or biker for miles. If you seek a little ‘peace and quiet,’ this is a perfect Day Tripper experience.
Late last spring, a good friend and I set out on electric bikes to ride the 8-mile Longleaf Trail. The weather was much warmer then, and the five creekbed crossings along the path were mostly dry and quickly passable. The trail was fairly easy to navigate, although the daily temperatures in late May were already quite warm. We hoped this week’s ride would be similar – but hopefully cooler than last year. Unfortunately, the four bridges on the trail were muddy but passable, and one major low-water crossing was still flooded from recent rains, making completing the last mile impossible.
Trained hikers and bikers will easily finish the trail, but there are a few helpful tips that we would like to share with you if you make this Day Tripper experience part of your getaway plan over the next few weeks.
First, we recommend full-length pants and hiking shoes/socks. The trail is very narrow on a majority (6 of 8 miles) of the path. Many saw palmetto palms lie over the narrow footpath and will most likely irritate any hiker’s bear ankles and calves.
Secondly, for this longer outing, it will be helpful to know that restrooms are only available at the start of the trail (Satinwood Dr.) and at the very end of the trail on County Rd. 395. And don’t forget to bring water and appropriate snacks. On our entire trek, we saw just one bench, which didn’t look very stable.
Prior to our ride, we met with Santa Rosa Beach resident Michael Ekblad, who, as a biker, loves the Longleaf Greenway Trail. When asked his favorite reason for riding this trail, Michael replied, “Getting away and enjoying the quiet and solitude is the major reason I ride this trail. 30A can be so busy, and in just a few minutes, I am away from noisy traffic, bikers, and pedestrians.”
This Day Tripper wants potential hikers and bikers to know that the trail is primarily flat, and the sand is compact and perfect for walking or riding until the low water crossings are found wet and muddy. The Longleaf Greenway Trail is NOT an outing for a family with a stroller or young children. Planning to walk with someone on this trailhead is not ideal because the trail is mostly narrow and will require walking single file most of the way.
Overall, this is a beautiful trail – it is rugged and has sharp turns, but it is fun to be in the middle of nature and so close to the Mid Bay. Trails in Point Washington State Forest are open from sunrise to sunset. There is a Day Use Fee, or State Park Annual Passes are accepted. A “Fee Area” provides access to a QR Code for paying the entry fee, or visitors can access the Florida State Forests website.
Directions to trailhead: From Hwy 98, turn South on County Rd. 393 (1.5 miles). Turn left on Sea Croft Dr. Proceed ½ mile and make a left on Satinwood Dr. Then follow the dirt for less than a .10 mile to the trailhead parking area.
Enjoy the Journey and Safe travels,
Mid Bay News Day Tripper
