Boy Scout Trail at Gulf Island National Seashore’s Naval Live Oaks Area

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Note: The Boy Scout Trail is part of my Naval Live Oaks Loop Hike, a 6-mile hike that covers most of the Naval Live Oaks Area of Gulf Island National Seashore. If you are interested in this hike, a link to the next trail segment is given at the bottom of this report.

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Length: .5 mile, one way
Difficulty: Easy

Naval Live Oaks Loop Hike map (click to enlarge)

Boy Scout Trail portion of the Naval Live Oaks Loop Hike

The Boy Scout Trail at Gulf Islands National Seashore in Florida runs between the Fishing Trail on the south side of Gulf Breeze Parkway and the Andrew Jackson Trail on the north side. It is a 1.3-mile hike from the Naval Live Oaks parking lot just to reach it. Nobody would ever set out to specifically hike the Boy Scout Trail, so the only reason to hike it would be as part of a longer trip around the Naval Live Oaks Area, which is my intention with the Naval Live Oaks Loop Hike.

If you are heading west from the Naval Live Oaks parking lot on the Fishing Trail, after about a mile, be on the lookout for a fairly wide, sandy trail. A left leads out to Santa Rosa Sound and a right leads to Gulf Breeze Parkway, which is where you want to go. This is the Boy Scout Trail. There is no sign marking the intersection, so if you miss the turn, you will end up walking another quarter mile to the end of the Fishing Trail. If so, take a right when the trail dead ends, walk out to the Parkway, and then turn right and walk down the road until you come back to the Boy Scout Trail. You can’t miss it because there is a small roadside parking area. Across the street at your 2 o’clock position is where the Boy Scout Trail continues.

Boy Scout Trail in the Naval Live Oaks unit of Gulf Islands National Seashore continues on the other side of Gulf Breeze Parkway

Gulf Breeze Parkway is a major highway with a median in the middle. Is it dangerous to cross? If you are an idiot, yes. Just wait for the cars to stop coming and run to the median, then make your plan for crossing the second half of the road. I’ve done it three times and haven’t been hit yet.

Cross Gulf Breeze Parkway to continue on the Boy Scout Trail in Naval Live Oaks unit of Gulf Islands National Seashore

Most of the Naval Live Oaks Area on the north side of Gulf Breeze Parkway is very open and comprised of short brush and small pines. It is not a forested area like it is south of the highway. Here you will need sunscreen and a hat if avoiding the sun is of concern to you.

Start of Boy Scout Trail on the north side of Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Islands National Seashore

The Boy Scout Trail, like most of the trails on the north side of the highway, is an old road. Tire tracks are still evident and grass grows in the middle, the perfect place for ticks to hide. Check your legs, front and back, every few minutes or whenever you come in contact with vegetation. I did not get any ticks on me, but you must be careful.

Typical terrain on the Boy Scout Trail at Gulf Islands National Seashore’s Naval Live Oaks Area

In less than fifteen minutes from the Fishing Trail, you should arrive at the intersection with the Andrew Jackson Trail. This is a very wide and sandy trail, so you can’t miss it. The Boy Scout Trail continues along a much narrower path and leads to Pensacola Bay, but as far as my Naval Live Oaks Loop Hike is concerned, this is the end of the line for the Boy Scout Trail.

Intersection of the Boy Scout and Andrew Jackson Trail in Naval Live Oaks unit of Gulf Islands National Seashore

To continue on the Naval Live Oaks Loop Hike, take a right on the Andrew Jackson Trail. See the Andrew Jackson Trail web page for further information.

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