Perdido Equestrian Trail

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Location: 9898 Smallwood Road; Pensacola, Florida

County: Escambia      Nearby Town: Pensacola

Latitude/Longitude: 30.551304, -87.422419

Overview

The Perdido Equestrian Trail is located within the Perdido River Water Management Area near the Frank Reeder Road entrance.

Currently there are only four miles of trail open, but plans are to expand the trails in the near future.

There is a parking lot large enough for small horse trailers. A designated horse trail entrance point provides access for local neighborhood riders to enjoy the trails.

At the spot where the trail winds its way to the Perdido River, riders can make use of a picnic table and pedestal grill.

Riders on the trail should look for yellow markings on trees to help stay on the course.

The Perdido River, which is designated an Outstanding Florida Water and Special Water System, flows about 63 miles from southern Alabama to Perdido Bay, forming Florida’s western border with Alabama.

The upper part of the river is a shifting sand river system, which is unique to portions of northwest Florida, south Alabama, southern Mississippi, and extreme eastern Louisiana. The lower end of the river is deeper with a slower-moving channel.

The Perdido is a tannin-stained blackwater stream in its lower reaches where rapidly disappearing pitcher plant bogs, threatened gopher tortoises, migratory neotropical birds, and stands of Atlantic white cedar trees can all still be appreciated.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Perdido River and its tributaries are home to several species of rare and imperiled fish including the saltmarsh topminnow and the Gulf sturgeon.

The Northwest Florida Water Management District manages 6,261.22 acres of public lands in the Perdido River Water Management Area.

Recreation Opportunities

  • Horseback riding, wildlife viewing

Restrictions

No ATV’s allowed.

Motorized vehicles allowed on designated roads only.

Alcoholic beverages prohibited.