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Print Friendly MapGayle's Trails is part of a growing greenways and trails system that will eventually span the entirety of Panama City Beach. Gayle's Trails connects Frank Brown Park to the 3,000-acre Panama City Beach Conservation Park, where you'll find long boardwalks crossing cypress swamps, off-road trails perfect for mountain biking, hiking, or walking your dog.
A perpendicular route runs along N Arnold Rd north through West Bay. Additionally, Gayle's Trails make up a series of paths that run through Frank Brown Park, Aaron Bessant Park until reaching Front Beach Rd.
Gayle's Trails is a tribute to a true conservation advocate. Named after Gayle Oberst, former Mayor of Panama City Beach, due to her trail conservation work.
There are parking lots and trailheads at Panama City Beach Conservation Park (Conservation Rd), at Frank Brown Park (16200 Panama City Beach Parkway), and at the northern end of Gulf Boulevard. Additionally, where the trail ends along 16230 Front Beach Rd, there is abundant parking nearby. There is also a trailhead at the current eastern end of the trail at the Colony Club subdivision, but there is no parking at that location.
See TrailLink Map for more detailed directions.
My wife has limited use of her left side but enjoys riding her e-trike. We stayed in Panama City Beach for 10 days and this was our go to trail to ride.
We parked at Frank Brown Recreation Complex with easy access to the trail. The surface is very smooth and well maintained. We would ride south to the colony, taking the side trail and two other paved paths that went along the highway. Traffic at the crossings was very courteous and stopped to let us cross each time. We could get nearly 10 miles in without retracing our side trails this way.
On one occasion we did ride to the other park, crossing the busy highway at the light. A note of caution however, I guided her trike halfway across the road before letting her go under her own power. I did not realize there was a sharp left turn on the other side. Just as she needed to make that turn, her e-trike surged, and she nearly lost control. She could have ended up going down an embankment and into the water. Thankfully she did not.
We sure appreciated the effort put into developing these trails. Although not crowded, lots of people were enjoying them.
Nice trails. Good for all ages.
This is an outstanding trail. Smooth asphalt. Signals for road crossings. Discovered the conservatory and even more trails. They are compacted gravel and not for road bike. Will be back. Ended up with 30 miles and didn’t do all branches.
Nice wide paved paths in a safe area. Some of the paths are in scenic wooded areas. Hopefully they’ll expand the trails in the future. Take the path to the west and check out Conservation Park. Miles of dirt trails, some smooth enough for our cruisers. It’s a beautiful place. We did see a big cat cross the paved path behind us as we were leaving.
The paved part that starts at Frank Brown Park is great. I expected more from the conservation park on the west end. We rode everlasting trails totaling about 12 miles and saw 3 ducks the whole time. I was expecting to see much more wild life during May but there was none. Not even any fish in the waterways. So partly good and part just ok.
Just to let people know, conservation park at the west end has a 9 mile loop that I frequently ride. It is dirt/ gravel so no road bikes. Im not sure if all the other trails allow bikes but its all posted. Im adding a picture that shows the trails.
This is a fine trail. I don’t understand why the other writer rated it so low. The surface is in excellent condition, there appears to be a low threat of any crime, and most of the trail is near woods or fields with no car traffic nearby. The only downside is the hot location in Florida. This is a perfect winter trail.
Gayle's trails is actually four different interconnected trails, each interesting. I suggest that you park in Frank Brown Park, which has bathrooms and water. The park also is the trail head and has a very useful map of the trail system.
My husband and I did this trail on a beautiful day in March 2016. I think the idea behind the trail is wonderful and will go back to see if there are any more paved trails.
The short paths that are paved require a lot of back and forth. The trails in the conservation area were too dangerous to ride on regular bikes (great for off road bikes)! I think the plan is to pave some more of these trails and that would be great.
We found it difficult to actually locate the entrance to the trail. It is in Frank Brown park but the signage off Hwy 98 is poor. Lots of signs for beaches but none to this park.
Once you are at the park, again, no evidence of where the trails are or how to access them. Fortunately the park office was open and someone there helped us.
Good for Panama City mayor for promoting this activity!
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