State Parks

Florida State Parks have been recognized as the nation’s best park service by the National Recreation and Park Association. Destin, Fort Walton, and the Beaches of South Walton feature some of top rated state parks in the country.

Kayak on the calm costal waters of Western Lake in Grayton Beach. Cast a line and fresh water fish at Topsail. Explore and embrace history at the Wesleys Estate at Eden Gardens or a former company retreat at Camp Helen State Park. Relax and kick back on the beach at Henderson Beach or Beasley Park. No matter how you decide to spend your vacation, or if you are local exporing the area you are sure to enjoy one of the many Destin State Parks.

Henderson Beach

17000 Emerald Coast Parkway
Destin, FL 32541
Phone: 850.837.7550
www.floridastateparks.org

Henderson Beach State Park features pristine white sand beaches and more than 6,000 feet of natural scenic shoreline that borders the Gulf of Mexico. Natural features of the park include sand pines, scrub oaks, and dune rosemary. Boardwalks provide access to the beach for swimming, fishing, and sunbathing.

Topsail Hill Preserve

7525 W. Scenic Highway 30A
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32549
Phone: 850.267.0299
www.floridastateparks.org

Topsail Hill Preserve offers a wide variety of natural resources including 3.2 miles of secluded, white sand beaches with dunes over 25 feet tall. Three coastal dune lakes provide excellent freshwater fishing. Boats are not allowed but fishing from the shoreline yields bass, bream, panfish, and catfish.

Grayton Beach

357 Main Park Road
Grayton Beach, FL 32549
Phone: 850.231.4210
www.floridastateparks.org

Golden in the sun, silvered by moonlight, Grayton Beach has consistently been ranked one of the most beautiful and pristine beaches in the US. The beach provides an idyllic setting for surf fishing, swimming, and sunbathing. Visitors can paddle a kayak on scenic Western Lake to get a closer look at a salt marsh ecosystem.

John Beasley Park

1550 Miracle Strip Parkway
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
Phone: 850.689.5772
www.co.okaloosa.fl.us

John Beasley Park is a large beachfront park on Okaloosa Island with 2 dune walkovers to the Gulf. This park has 2 large pavilions, an octagonal platform, 12 picnic tables, restrooms with changing rooms and 208 parking spaces.

Eden Gardens

181 Eden Garden Road
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32549
Phone: 850.231.4214
www.floridastateparks.org

Eden Gardens State Park features a beautifully renovated, two-story house with white columns and a wrap-around porch. The property is surrounded by moss-draped live oaks and ornamental gardens, the Wesley House inspires visions of hoop skirts and landed gentry. The park is part of the Wesleys estate, a wealthy Florida timber family.

Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou

4281 Hwy 20
Niceville, FL 32548
Phone: 850.833.9144
www.floridastateparks.org

The main park feature is the trailing arm of Choctawhatchee Bay and is popular for boating and fishing. A double lane boat ramp makes this one of the best boat launching locations on the bay, where both freshwater and saltwater fish are found.

Eastern Lake Trail

5865 East U.S. Hwy 98
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32549
Phone: 850.231.5800
www.fl-dof.com

The Eastern Lake Trail System was the first trail established in the Point Washington State Forest. This trail system consists of 3 double track loop trails. Hikers or bicyclists can travel the 3.5, 5 or 10 mile loop.

Camp Helen

23937 Panama City Beach Parkway
Panama City Beach, FL 32413
Phone: 850.236.3204
www.floridastateparks.org

Camp Helen is bordered on three sides by the Gulf and Lake Powell. Prehistoric mounds indicate that humans lived in the area more than 4,000 years ago. From 1945 until 1987, Camp Helen was a company resort for employees of an Alabama textile mill and some of the buildings are have now being restored.

Blackwater River

7720 Deaton Bridge Road
Holt, FL 32564
Phone: 850.983.5363
www.floridastateparks.org

A favorite destination for kayakers and canoeists, Blackwater River State Park offers opportunities for a variety of outdoor recreation. The river is one of the purest sand bottom rivers in the country, making this location a popular place for swimming, fishing, camping, and paddling.

Deer Lake

357 Main Park Road
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32549
Phone: 850.231.4210
www.floridastateparks.org

Southern magnolias, golden asters, woody goldenrod, and scrub oaks can be seen in this rare coastal dune habitat. Unique plants such as gulf coast lupine, spoonflower, pitcher plants, and Curtiss’ sand grass are found in Deer Lake State Park.