Escambia River Wildlife Management Area

 

Escambia River Wildlife Management Area Camping

Location: North of Pensacola and east of US 29 along the Escambia River in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties (30آ° 26' 13" N, 87آ° 12' 33" W)

Season: Year-round

Sites: Except where prohibited, primitive camping pack-in, pack-out is permitted throughout the area. Campers are limited to tents, trailers, or self-propelled camping vehicles only. Camping is limited to 14 days within any consecutive 30-day period and prohibited where “no camping is posted.

One group campsite is available at Mystic Springs limit 25 people with a permit ($$$) from the Northwest Florida Water Management District, (850) 539-5999, nwfwater.com.

Facilities: The Mystic Spring campsite has picnic tables, fire rings, trails, charcoal grills, toilet, pavilion, and nearby boat ramp.

Fee per night: Call for current information

Management: Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and Northwest Florida Water Management District

Contact: (850) 265-3676, myfwc.com

Finding the campground Escambia river wildlife management area :

From I-10 in Pensacola, take exit 10 and drive north on US 29 about 25 miles. Mystic Springs Road is on your right between the crossroads of Bogia and the campground.

About the campground: At nearly 35,000 acres, this primitive area occupies both the east and west banks along 25 miles of the Escambia River, which separates Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties.

For recreational users, there are a dozen boat ramps in the WMA primarily for fishermen and for casual boaters. The Escambia River is a superior spot for a variety of freshwater fish available to anglers.

Most of the river in the WMA is bordered by floodplain forests or flatwoods, and heavy rains can cause the river to rise and the forests to flood quickly. Outdoor recreational users need to be aware of this tendency and that some of the diseases (encephalitis, for example) carried by a myriad of mosquitoes will almost certainly be encountered. Bug spray? Don’t enter this WMA without it.

Hunting is permitted in season and is a primary recreational activity here. During any hunting season, be aware that thousands of people are in the woods with firearms or bows and arrows. The southern portion of the WMA is a dog hunt area, which means that hunters use trained hounds to flush game from deep cover. All-terrain vehicles are prohibited.