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Florida Panhandle
Holt
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Blackwater River State Park
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Blackwater River State Park

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Blackwater River State Park
4.5
105 reviews
#1 of 5 things to do in Holt
State Parks • Bodies of Water
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8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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About
This river, which runs from Alabama to Florida, is considered one of the purest sandbottom rivers in the world.
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Blackwater River
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
105 reviews
Excellent
61
Very good
32
Average
8
Poor
1
Terrible
3
clpayne
Missouri City, TX1,507 contributions
Great day trip when visiting Pensacola Beach!
Feb 2022
Spent an afternoon exploring the park while in town visiting Pensacola Beach. $4/car was more than a fair price for an afternoon of entertainment.

We visited early Feb so no swimming or water activities for us. We only hiked. Hiked 8'ish miles total. Hiked the boardwalk and loop trail by the pavillion, Chain of Lakes Trail and part of the Juniper Creek Trail in the State Forest (adjacent to the park). NOT difficult terrain at all! A few areas with some tree stumps, but relatively flat. Would not be good for strollers.

Had read previously the trails can be flooded and/or muddy if it's been raining. Call ahead to check.

Trails are mostly covered/shaded so some protection from the direct sunlight during those hot summer months.

They offer a wonderful Jr Ranger program. Kids have the opportunity to complete activities and earn pins, badge and a patch. The park was kind enough to allow our dog to participate and earn his Florida Junior Ranger badge. Yes, our dog is our kid! He's been collecting his Junior Ranger badges from various states for some time now. :)

Great option for a day trip if spending a week in Pensacola!
Written February 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Debra T
4 contributions
The only noise was the paddle and the river
Oct 2021 • Friends
Black water river state park is a great place to stay and provides easy access to the river. The first day I kayaked from Deaton Bridge to the Forest Service Ramp, approximately 1 mile. It took me and hour and a half to fight the current, but I wasn’t trying to set a speed record. The return took less than 30 minutes. The second day I put in at Bryant Bridge which is an 8.5 mile trip on the river until the take out at Deaton Bridge. It took just under 3.5 hours for the trip. I was paddling, but no real exertion. I did not see a lot of wildlife, no alligators, a few turtles and one heron. I was there at the end of October and the day I put in at Bryant Bridge I only met 5 people on the river.
Written October 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
TrailTrekker15
Tallahassee, FL3,873 contributions
Great Hiking and Scenery
Jan 2023 • Couples
My girlfriend and I visited Blackwater River State Park to do some hiking. We opted for the Juniper Trail and the Chain of Lakes Trail. The Juniper Trail was partially boardwalk and partially dirt trail. There were several access points to sandbars along the river. The trail also passed by an oxbow lake. This trail was less than half a mile total. The 1.5-mile Chain of Lakes Trail showcased all the ecosystems in the area including pine uplands, the river bottom area, and oak forest. There was a large number of giant cedar trees on this trail which include the largest cedar trees in Florida. This was a great place to hike and I highly recommend visiting.
Written January 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
thefamily3
Lafayette, IN239 contributions
Loved this park and campground!!
Dec 2021 • Couples
We camped 5 nts here and loved every minute!! It’s the cleanest most friendly campground you’d ever want to stay in. The rangers there are helpful and knowledgeable especially Aimee she bent over backwards to make our stay perfect!! The trails and picnic area along the River are so pretty 😍 . We will definitely b back !! Note that it’s a very small campground so make your reservation early! If you want a delicious meal visit the gator cafe at Baker Florida yummy!
Written December 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Wendy L
Las Cruces, NM79 contributions
Go with Blackwater Canoe Rental!
Apr 2013 • Couples
I lived in Pensacola for years before going to Blackwater State Park and renting a kayak from Blackwater Canoe Rental. Everyone working at the Blackwater Canoe Rental was very friendly and seemed genuinely happy and like they were enjoying their jobs. There's a little store where you pay for the kayak trip, which sells snacks, sunscreen and such. You'll want to take a lunch and water and whatever other supplies you need for spending a day outdoors. Everyone meets up in the parking area and a truck loaded with kayaks comes along and gives you a ride down to the launching off point. It's rather a fun ride, in the back of the truck outfitted with bench seats. Although the whole group starts off together, everyone starts splitting up as some people paddle vigorously and others stop for photo ops or to check out the beaches. Pretty soon you're kayaking along with just the person you came with, and you feel like you have the whole river to yourself. It's very relaxing, almost like tubing. If you don't want to paddle at all, you'll float along at a lazy pace and just need to occasionally steer a bit to avoid a branch. You can stop whenever you want- there's great beaches all along the way and whenever you're in the mood, you can beach your kayak or canoe and get out for a bit of exploring or snacking. We saw some turtles and hawks and although at first we had planned to get exercise, we ended up being lazy and it was a very peaceful experience just meandering down the river and enjoying the beautiful day. We took the long trip and it was wonderful; for kids or people who don't want to be out so long, perhaps the shorter trip would be better. One of the very convenient ways that the company sets up the trip, is that you end back at the parking lot where you parked your car. So you just paddle up to the beach where the man who originally drove you to the launch point is waiting, and he pulls your kayak up onto the beach, you get out and your car is 100 feet away. Very handy.
Written August 10, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Christine J
Florida147 contributions
Great canoe trip for the family!
Jun 2014 • Family
Beautiful river. Used Blackwater Canoe Rental and did the short trip (4 miles). Took 4 hours (made lots of stops). Great service. Went with my husband and two kids (10 and 6). We fit comfortably in one canoe. Bring seat cushions and a hat, the sun really beats down. We brought snacks and enjoyed it on one of the numerous beaches. Wish we brought a full lunch to enjoy. Bring cash for the honor box parking. Would absolutely do this again, but the longer trip next time.
Written January 19, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
NavyNurse412
Swansboro, NC23 contributions
Loved the tubing
May 2013 • Couples
We stayed here for 2 nights at the end of May. The campground was nice although the racoons were ruthless and fearless if you had an ounce of anything left out (we definitely learned the hard way.) Even closed containers such as unopened mustard or ketchup were fair game for these guys. The more disturbing issue was that of bees that seemed to get progressively worse over the 2 days. On a positive note we did love tubing down the river. We attached a cooler and just let the casual current take us for the ride. At times it seemed the river was all ours as we wouldn't see human life for an hour or so.
Written August 16, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Holly_campers
Madison, AL43 contributions
Canoe with your dog
Jul 2013
Had an awesome time with the husband and dog. The campsite is spacious and clean with gravel They use a weed blower to clean out the site and level the gravel when the previous campers leave so it's perfect when you arrive. The park rangers and staff put a lot of effort in keeping the area up. During our stay it had rained a week straight before our arrival so the black water river itself was not being used for canoeing but instead we did the 7 mile canoe ride down juniper river using the blackwater canoe rental about a half mile up the road from the park. My husband and I had a wonderful time along with our dog stopping along the many mini beaches, picnicking, fishing, and splashing around in the water. We would def visit again.
Written July 15, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Mike F
Riverview, FL25 contributions
Blackwater River State Park
Sep 2014 • Friends
Good state park in NW Florida. Tannin makes the river's water appear black. Many white-quartz sand bars, islands and shore lines to stop at. Wonderful spot for flat water activities.
Written February 4, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Morgan G
Gulf Shores, Alabama, United States6 contributions
Great Little Campground
Oct 2014 • Couples
We stayed one night and tent camped in the campground it was very clean and well kept. Our site was perfect had everything we needed and just a short walk to the bathhouse which was also clean. We walked on the trail down to the river and the water was clear and nice we will be coming back in the summer and putting our canoe in the water. We will defianlty be back again. Great little weekend get away but close to home. Defiantly stop at the Piggly Wiggly on the way in its the cutest littlest store I have ever been in. The people are nice and they even have a boars head deli and they will make you a sandwich to order.
Written October 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Blackwater River State Park (Holt) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about Blackwater River State Park
Blackwater River State Park is open:
  • Sun - Sat 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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