Fort Pickens, located on Santa Rosa Island near Navarre Beach, is a historic coastal fort that played a key role in U.S. military history. Built in the early 19th century, it was designed to guard Pensacola Bay and remained active through multiple wars. Today, it offers a mix of history, outdoor adventure, and coastal scenery, making it a must-visit destination for those exploring Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Adventure Guide to Exploring Fort Pickens
Touring the Historic Fort
Location: Gulf Islands National Seashore, Pensacola Beach, FL
What Makes It Special: Fort Pickens is one of the few Southern forts held by the Union during the Civil War. Visitors can walk through its well-preserved brick corridors, underground tunnels, and large cannon emplacements. Interpretive signs and exhibits detail the fort’s strategic role from the 1800s to World War II.
Key Features: Self-guided and ranger-led tours, interactive exhibits, and photography opportunities of stunning bay views through historic archways.
Hiking the Fort Pickens Trail
Location: Begins near the fort, extending along the coastline
What Makes It Special: A scenic 3-mile trail offering diverse ecosystems, from coastal dunes to maritime forests. Wildlife sightings include ospreys, bald eagles, and gopher tortoises.
Key Features: Beach access along the route, shaded areas, and historical markers. Great for birdwatching and capturing panoramic shots of the Gulf.
Beachfront Recreation & Fishing at the Fort
Location: Surrounding beaches within Gulf Islands National Seashore
What Makes It Special: Calm waters make it ideal for swimming, paddleboarding, and shore fishing. Nearby piers and fishing spots offer opportunities to catch redfish, pompano, and Spanish mackerel.
Key Features: Picnic areas, boardwalks, and boat launches. A great spot for a day trip combining history with outdoor fun.
Local Insights
Fort Pickens once held the famous Apache leader Geronimo as a prisoner in the late 19th century.
The fort's design includes five bastions, making it uniquely resilient against attacks from land and sea.
Located within Gulf Islands National Seashore, the area offers some of the most pristine white-sand beaches in Florida.
Visitor Tips
Best Time to Visit: Early morning or late afternoon for cooler temperatures and fewer crowds. Spring and fall offer mild weather and excellent wildlife sightings.
What to Bring: Comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, water, and binoculars for spotting wildlife and distant naval ships.
Driving Directions: From Navarre Beach, take US-98 west to Pensacola Beach, then follow Fort Pickens Road to the entrance (approx. 45-minute drive).
Adventure Map
Reviews
Sarah Alawa week ago
This is a great place to spend the day. There’s so much history. Makes great history lessons for my kids. There are hiking trails, stores, public bathrooms and the ferry. I think there is also a fishing pier. Beaches are all around and battery’s are close by to check out too. Bathrooms were pretty gross but I with the amount of people and the heat I would expect the smell. The water fountain in front of the bathrooms didn’t work, but I did see a sign pointing in the direction of a water bottle refill station. You can make Ft. Pickens a few hours trip or a few days trip depending on your time and what you want to do. I seen close by RV parks and campgrounds. Langdon beach is really close with bathrooms and outdoor showers. Not to mention the beach is gorgeous. I’d recommend anyone in the area to visit. Great trip all around. It’s really hot generally so I’d say slap some sunscreen on the kids and plan to stay awhile. I’m sure there are plenty of things I missed but I will update my review as I see more, my kids definitely want to return. We didn’t ride the ferry but plan on it next time.
Lisa Gatewood3 months ago
What a great place to explore and learn about how this fort was built and all the changes it went through. The views of the gulf, the bay, and the lighthouse of Pensacola, and much more, are wonderful. Sunset is a perfect time to take photos. We ran out of time to explore everything, so we will have to go back. The gift shop was closed the day we went also.
katherine corbett3 weeks ago
I've been a dozen times on dates but brought my 3 kids this time. Been to New rooms and seen things I never saw this time including hiking the foot path. My daughter thought it was the best birthday she's had in a long time.
Harvey Katza month ago
The previous time I visited the fort was 10 years ago and my memory did not match my latest visit. It could be that there is not currently a ranger station so you are on your own. We used the National Parks app but it would not play the audio. The area around the fort on the water is beautiful and so are the views from the top of the fort.
Heather “MooreToLife21” Marie3 months ago
Well worth the visit! Plan on spending the day if you can and watching the sun set. The place is large and has lots to see and read about. Stop in the gift shop for a map if it's open. My mother-in-law was able to explore most of it, and she struggles with lots of outings. She did skip out on some areas with stairs to climb, but for the most part, it's easy to explore. Just watch your step, The ground isn't even as expected for something like this