North South Trail in the Naval Live Oaks unit of Gulf Islands National Seashore

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Note: A portion of the North South 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 Islands National Seashore. If you are interested in this hike, a link to the next trail segment is given at the bottom of this report. The Loop Hike covers .4 mile of the North South Trail’s 1 mile length.

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Length: 1 mile, one way
Difficulty: Easy

North South Trail portion of the Naval Live Oaks Loop Hike

Naval Live Oaks Loop Hike (click to enlarge)

The North South Trail is one of the few trails in the Naval Live Oaks Area of Gulf Islands National Seashore that can be hiked without first having to hike on other trails to get to it. As the name implies, the trail runs north to south, with the southern end starting directly across Gulf Breeze Parkway from the Naval Live Oaks parking lot, and the northern end starting at the northern park boundary, which butts up to a subdivision full of mansions that line the shore of Pensacola Bay. I am not sure if there is parking at the northern end, so most likely this is an access point for the people living in the neighborhood. Regardless, it is doubtful anyone would set out to specifically hike the North South Trail on its own, so it would most likely be part of a larger hike, such as my Naval Live Oaks Loop Hike.

I only hiked .4 mile of the North South Trail, the center section that runs between the Andrew Jackson Trail and the Old Quarry Trail. However, the terrain does not change much in this part of the park, so my report should give you a good idea of what the overall trail is like.

If coming from the west on the Andrew Jackson Trail, turn left on the North South Trail to follow my Naval Live Oaks Loop Hike route. A right turn takes you back to the parking lot on Gulf Breeze Parkway. There is no sign marking this intersection, but if you came from the Naval Live Oaks Youth Group Campground, this is the third intersection you will come to.

Intersection of the Andrew Jackson and North South trails in the Naval Live Oaks unit of Gulf Islands National Seashore

The terrain of the North South Trail is identical to most of the other trails that lie north of Gulf Breeze Parkway: sandy surface with patches of deep beach sand, fairly level, open to the sun, and running through an ecosystem of shrubs, brush, short pines, and a few live oaks.

Typical terrain on the North South Trail at Naval Live Oaks, Gulf Islands National Seashore

The Naval Live Oaks Loop Hike portion of the North South Trail only lasts about ten minutes before coming to the Old Quarry Trail, which is the next leg of the journey. On the way is a narrow, unmarked trail that goes left and right. I have no idea where this leads, but it is at the halfway point between the Andrew Jackson Trail and the Old Quarry Trail. You do not have to worry about missing the turn for the Old Quarry Trail because the North South Trail dead ends into it. The North South Trail does continue northward, and if that is where you are heading, bare to the left at the intersection, and you will come to the park border in .3 mile. But as far as my hike goes, this is the end of the road for the North South Trail.

Intersection of the North South and Old Quarry trails in the Naval Live Oaks unit of Gulf Islands National Seashore

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

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