Several segments of the Old Spanish Trail remain in place throughout Northwest Florida from Pensacola to Milton. Of these the best preserved are red brick sections of highway in the Santa Rosa County seat east of the Blackwater River. Two of these segments, one name formally as Red Brick Road, are still in use as residential streets in Milton.
Old Spanish Trail @ Blackwater River
Old Spanish Trail Westbound
Old Spanish Trail westbound between Milton Trail and the Blackwater River east of Milton itself. The roadway is home to a handful of houses and abruptly ends at the river itself. The third image shows what's left of the Old Spanish Trail on the west banks of the Blackwater River. Photo taken 05/31/04.
Old Spanish Trail Eastbound
Turning back toward the east from the Blackwater River abrupt end of Old Spanish Trail. The roadway begins initially as all concrete but quickly acquires a brick surface on the drive to Milton Trail. Milton Trail links the old roadway with U.S. 90 & Florida 87 to the north. An overpass carries U.S. 90 & Florida 87 above the roadway between Milton Trail and Cathy Street. The underpass for Old Spanish Trail carries a modern asphalt section of roadway between the two red brick segments. Photos taken 05/31/04.
Red Brick Road Eastbound
Old Spanish Trail becomes known as Red Brick Road east of the U.S. 90 & Florida 87 and CSX Railroad crossing. Red Brick Road proceeds to intersect Cathy Street (a connector to Johnson Road) before turning back toward U.S. 90 & Florida 87. Red Brick Road intersects the new Spanish Trail at a 90 degree angle. The original alignment veers eastward from Red Brick Road to parallel U.S. 90 at that point. Photos taken 05/31/04.
Red Brick Road Westbound
Red Brick Road dead ends at U.S. 90 & Florida 87 west of Cathy Street. A modern asphalt roadway however links the Red Brick Road with the Old Spanish Trail segment west of U.S. 90 & Florida 87 and the CSX Railroad to the north. Photos taken 05/31/04.
Abandoned Old Spanish Trail east of Milton
A five mile long segment of the Old Spanish Trail remains in place east of Milton alongside U.S. 90. The concrete and red brick road remains in remarkable condition for being unused and unimproved as long as it has. The two-lane roadway is open for walkers and bicyclists as it parallels both U.S. 90 and the CSX Railroad line. This suite of photos showcases the roadway near St. Johns Street east of Milton and the Red Brick Road segment. Photo taken 05/31/04.
