Blackwater River State Forest provides multiple equestrian camping options near Perdido Key, Florida. Located approximately 60 miles north of Perdido Key, the forest encompasses over 210,000 acres of pine forests and waterways with dedicated horse trails. Coldwater Equestrian Campground serves as the primary base for riders exploring the forest trail system, offering both overnight facilities and direct trail access.
What to do
Trail riding with varied terrain: The extensive trail network in Blakeley State Park Campground offers diverse riding opportunities. "2000 acres, walking auto cell phone tours of civil war, boat tours. Big pull through rv spots and a tent campground. Awesome," notes Kevin L., highlighting the mix of history and nature trails available.
Access Cold Water Creek: Water access is available directly from many campsites at Coldwater Equestrian Campground — Blackwater River State Forest. Jennifer P. shares, "A lot of the campsites are right on the water. You even have a private huge sandbar for campers only." Riders can cool horses after trail rides or enjoy water activities between riding sessions.
Historical exploration: The Civil War history throughout the region provides educational opportunities between trail rides. Julie D. explains, "You will walk through historic civil war sites, trails that were once the streets of the town of Blakeley. A beautiful hike on boardwalks along the Blakeley River then through a swamp deep into woods amongst ancient oaks."
What campers like
Secluded natural settings: The campgrounds provide privacy despite their accessibility. At Peaceful Camping in the Woods, Christopher M. reports, "Walked back into the woods along a trail and chose one of several camp clearings. Level ground, dry, lots of deer." This seclusion creates a peaceful environment for both horses and riders.
Well-maintained horse facilities: The equestrian infrastructure receives positive feedback. Dale W. notes that Coldwater Equestrian Campground "offers 55 RV/tent campsites and one tent only site and 60 horse stalls. All campsites have water and electrical hookups." The designated stalls allow for safe overnight horse accommodation.
Friendly staff and campers: The community atmosphere enhances the experience. Jennifer P. shares, "Very friendly staff especially the Rangers. Faye (one of the rangers) is great. She came by at least twice a day to give [our granddaughter] a ride on the golf cart... All the other campers were super friendly."
What you should know
Site variations require planning: Not all sites offer the same features or terrain. At Apalachee RV Campground - Blakeley State Park, John W. notes, "Some sites are level some are more difficult to level." This is particularly important when parking horse trailers and RVs.
Limited cell service: Communication can be unreliable in forest areas. Terran B. reports that at Coldwater Recreation Area, "Cell service was on the struggle bus the whole time," making it important to download maps and trail information before arrival.
Sand management challenges: Some sites have excessive sand that can complicate camping. Jennifer P. mentions site #56 at Coldwater was "extra super sandy (beach sand) and would be a lot better if they removed some of it," which can affect horse comfort and gear cleanliness.
