Get on your bikes and ride! Here are some of the most popular places to pedal in Pensacola

Mollye Barrows, Pensacola News Journal
·4 min read

The city of Pensacola, residents, and the bicycling community are working together to promote safety and provide more opportunities for people to walk or ride for recreation, or as a means of transportation for work and other activities. Whether you want to take it slow and relax or get a brisk workout, here are some of the most popular places to walk, run, or bike in Escambia County.

Pensacola Bayfront

The trails from Project Greenshores to Bartram Park are a great place to run, walk or bike along Pensacola Bay. Visitors enjoying these trails also have fun learning about history as it’s part of the Pensacola Maritime Trail. Along the trail, signs provide information about the maritime history of Pensacola. Bird watchers can also enjoy pelicans, herons, osprey, and sometimes bald eagles.

Hundreds of people participate in Bike Pensacola's September Slow Ride through East Hill on Sept. 22, 2018. Each month, with a police escort, bicyclists make their way through different neighborhoods, mostly within the city limits, for a relaxing group ride while also bringing awareness to bicycle safety and sharing the road with vehicles.
Hundreds of people participate in Bike Pensacola's September Slow Ride through East Hill on Sept. 22, 2018. Each month, with a police escort, bicyclists make their way through different neighborhoods, mostly within the city limits, for a relaxing group ride while also bringing awareness to bicycle safety and sharing the road with vehicles.

The LEAP Trail

The LEAP Trail is a 3-mile long trail that starts near the Pensacola International Airport and ends on Jerry L. Maygarden Road. It can be used for walking, biking, skating and also has workout stations and connects to the Roger Scott recreation center and playground.

University of West Florida

The University of West Florida's Recreation and Sports Services department maintains more than 20 miles of shared-use trails open to mountain bikers. Certain trails in the area require riding in a single direction, while others are open for two-way traffic. Cyclists using the trails must yield to equestrians and hikers sharing the trails. Those interested in learning more about the trails before heading out alone can attend an orientation ride hosted periodically by the college's cycling club.

Blackwater Heritage State Trail

The Blackwater Heritage State Trail is part of Florida's Greenways and Trails System. The trail head is located just more than 22 miles from Pensacola in Milton and features restrooms, water fountains, a bike rack and picnic. A visitor center is also located a mile down the trail and is the last opportunity to fill up a water bottle. The trail is a 7-mile paved path and connects to 2.2 miles of paved trail maintained by the U.S. Navy and open to cyclists. While on the trail, cyclists must remain alert as it is shared with foot traffic, equestrians and skaters.

South Santa Rosa Loop Trail

The South Santa Rosa Loop Trail is a 40-mile paved trail open to cyclists, skaters and foot traffic. The loop begins at Navarre Park, located about 22 miles from Pensacola in Navarre and takes cyclists along the Gulf of Mexico's sandy beaches, past the Intracoastal Waterway, through area forests and local neighborhoods. Cyclists are likely to see a variety of Florida wildlife, such as skinks, ospreys and woodpeckers along the mainland side of the trail, while the Gulf side offers scenic water views.

Gulf Islands National Seashore

The Gulf Island National Seashore has several bike paths for cyclists to explore. The seashore's Naval Live Oaks area, located just more than eight miles from Pensacola, is home to 2.5 miles of the South Santa Rosa Loop and provides an alternative spot to start a ride around the 40 mile trail. The Fort Pickens area of the shore, located about 18 miles from Pensacola, features two single-use bike paths. A 4-mile trail starts at the park entrance and leads to the ranger station, while a second 3-mile trail leads from the Battery Langdon, located near the center of the area to the fort.

Pedal Perdido Key

Bicyclists can begin their trek at Johnson Beach, Perdido Key’s section of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. A short family-friendly ride (a 4-mile loop) takes you through the dunes with water on both sides. There are numerous boardwalks where you can peel off the road and enjoy a walk along the Gulf or the Intracoastal Waterway, but if you want to stretch it out to 10 miles, you can take Perdido Key Drive to Gongora Drive. You’ll be on a bike-friendly road that leads under the bridge and loops back along the Lost Key golf course and beach homes.

You can also find more information walking and biking trails here: City of Pensacola, Visit Pensacola, and Gulf Coast Outdoors.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola area's most popular bike trails in Escambia Santa Rosa