Tarkiln Bayou State Park, Pensacola

About Tarkiln Bayou State Park

Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park is a 4,000-acre nature preserve in Pensacola where visitors explore wet-prairie landscapes and a coastal bayou teeming with rare plant and animal species. The park's centerpiece is a boardwalk offering views of the bayou itself, followed by nature trails where hikers observe four species of endangered pitcher plants, including the carnivorous white-topped pitcher plant unique to the Gulf Coast. Almost 100 other rare plants and animals inhabit the preserve, among them the alligator snapping turtle, sweet pitcher plant, and Chapman's butterwort. Visitors can picnic near the bayou or undertake day-hikes across the park toward Perdido Bay for a more adventurous outing. The park opens daily from morning to sunset and charges admission. Tickets are sold online through the state parks website. This preserve suits nature enthusiasts and hikers interested in observing endangered species and Florida's distinctive coastal wetland ecosystems.