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Big Lagoon State Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,352 Google reviews · Running trail in Pensacola, Florida · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Boardwalk
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Big Lagoon State Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Waterfront park with observation tower & campgrounds offers boating, swimming & hiking.
What runners say about Big Lagoon State Park
“The park is very well-maintained, with clean facilities and plenty of quiet spots to set up a picnic or just sit and enjoy the breeze.”
“It is a perfect destination if you are looking for a relaxing day outdoors with a mix of hiking, kayaking, and beautiful Florida landscapes.”
“The views over the water are peaceful and expansive, and the boardwalks make it easy to wander through the marshes and pine forests without missing the scenery.”
Big Lagoon State Park on Gulf Beach Hwy in Pensacola is in the Florida State Parks system. We drove there as day visitors, and while we wanted to see the campground, this is being renovated since Feb 2025. Upgraded facilities are always a good thing down the road. So we walked trails and saw the sights.
I am so happy the park has fully reopened and is rebuilt after Hurricane Sally. I love the biodiversity of this park, from the saltwater tidal marshes to sand pine scrub. Activities range from kayaking, bird watching, swimming, picnicing, boating, and hiking.
What a nice park! It has nice hiking trails, most of the sites are secluded with trees in between so we had our privacy. The bathrooms are very clean and we saw the camp host cleaning the sites as soon as they were empty. The National Park on the beach is about 4 miles away so not far by car.
We enjoy this park. It's 6$ per vehicle to come here but lots to do and see. See plenty of wildlife- birds and turtles, fish. Lots of trails thru out and a nice playground for kids. There is a boat ramp here as well and a place to self service rent kayaks or paddle boards! Pretty cool.
Trail conditions & character
“The views over the water are peaceful and expansive, and the boardwalks make it easy to wander through the marshes and pine forests without missing the scenery.”
“Some facilities were out of operation (a restroom and a couple boardwalks), but that didn't detract from what was an overall great experience.”
“The views over the water are peaceful and expansive, and the boardwalks make it easy to wander through the marshes and pine forests without missing the scenery.”
“You will be walking along boardwalk areas for short walks and through sand for full hikes.”
“Leashed dogs are allowed on the hiking trails (dogs are not allowed on beaches).”
Plan your run at Big Lagoon State Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceBoardwalk — flat and scenic, and slick when wet, so watch your footing
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitefloridastateparks.org
- Phone(850) 492-1595
Hours
| Monday | 8 AM–6 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Sunday | 8 AM–8 PM |
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