All You Need to Know to Enjoy the Naval Live Oaks Area

The 1,400-acre Naval Live Oaks preserve is a wonderful playground, whether it’s for a short, casual stroll along trails or an all-day outing that can include swimming, sunbathing, cycling, fishing, picnicking and paddling.

Located near Gulf Breeze, 15 miles west of Navarre, the Naval Live Oaks Area got its name from providing wood for building U.S. Navy ships in the 1800s. It’s been federally protected by the National Park Service since 1971, and is a key part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, which runs 160 miles along the barrier islands of Florida and Mississippi.

The park is bordered by Pensacola Bay to the north and Santa Rosa Sound to the south. A network of 11 named trails — the longest being Andrew Jackson, which cuts 2.4 miles east to west — weaves through oak groves, mangroves, sandy pinewoods and scrub. You’ll encounter lovely canopies of green, providing ample shade. The trail network, which totals about seven miles and features plenty of information kiosks, includes a few overlooks, where you can take in expansive water views.

Short unpaved paths branch out to narrow beaches of soft white sand, where you can get all the sun, sand, wind and water you could ask for.