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The largest forest in Florida, Blackwater is a dream destination for hikers, kayakers, cyclists, and campers thanks to dozens of creeks and streams spanning the park’s ecosystem of longleaf pine, scrub oak, and wiregrass. It’s a great destination for day trip paddles and overnight voyages, with many private forest campsites near streams and the main river.
Spanning 10 miles of Florida coastline on Blackwater Bay, Escribano Point is a great launch point for paddlers and anglers to explore the park’s bays, river swamps, and estuaries, which support unique coastal habitats and local species like black bears. Hipcampers staying at one of Escribano Point’s tent campsites (or at a nearby campground or RV site) should be aware of bears in the area, especially when storing food.
Like all of Florida, Milton is known for being warm and humid year-round. With July temperatures regularly reaching well into the 90s, summer can be a great time to hit the water and escape the heat, but it’s best to be aware of hurricane threats during this time. Heatstroke and dehydration are also concerns—always check to see if a park or preserve has safe drinking water, and pack a supply if not. Winters in Florida are still rather mild, with even cold January days only reaching an average low of 40°F. For this reason, winter RV camping is especially popular.