statepark

Big Shoals State Park

Big Shoals State Park boasts the only whitewater Class III rapids in Florida. Located In White Springs on S.E. County Road 135 in Hamilton County, this state park has a canoe and kayak launch on the shore of the blackwater Suwannee River. The upper portion of the river provides a year-round opportunity for paddlers. The water level which varies throughout the year determines if the shoals are safe to pass through. The Class III rapids occur when the Suwanne reaches 59-61 feet above mean sea level.

Apalachee and Timucuan lived in the Big Shoals where they used limestone from a quarry to make tools essential for survival. In the early 1800s, European settlers forced most Native Americans out of Big Shoals. Throughout the years, the area was home to a scrub cattle ranch, a black seed cotton farm, and was later used for logging and turpentining. Today, you can still see the scars on the bark of Longleaf pines from catstripping to reach the turpentine. Later the White Springs hotel and bathhouse were built for guests to take advantage of White Springs which was first cherished by Native Americans for their healing properties. The springs dried up in 1990.

Between 1986 and 1989, land including Big Shoals was purchased through a joint agreement between the state of Florida, the Suwannee River Water Management District, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Today, Big Shoals State Park is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail.

Big Shoals State Park has 28 miles of trails waiting to be explored. Hike, bike, or horseback ride while discovering the wildlife and wild plants that thrive there. Trails include a mountain bike trail and the 3.4-mile-long Woodpecker Trail which is a multipurpose paved trail. Be sure to hike the mile-long shaded Big Shoals Trail. The trail will lead you through the forest to limestone bluffs 80 feet above the Suwannee River. Enjoy the breath-taking view of the Big Shoals as the Suwannee rushes over agatized corals and limestone.

Bring your camera and/or binoculars. Look for greenfly orchids and magnolia trees. Watch for Swallow-tailed kites, bald eagles, and hawks soaring overhead. Wood ducks, herons, egrets, and other wading birds visit or make their homes near the water. Listen for owls and a diverse assortment of songbirds.

Bring your dinner and enjoy it at the picnic pavilion. Pets on a 6-foot leash are welcome.

Be sure to stay until sunset to see hundreds of Mexican free-tailed bats fly out of the bat house.

For more information click here: https://www.floridastateparks.org/…/big-shoals-state-park

Photo Credit: Bobby Putnam

San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park

Just south of Tallahassee lies a little historic state park waiting to be explored. San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park was established as a state park in 1964, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966, and is a National Historic Landmark and National Engineering Landmark.

The flags flying over San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park welcome you and are a reminder of those who came before you. Saunter along the self-guided .33 mile interpretive trail through the historic ruins. Look for today’s wild residents including pelicans, anhingas, cormorants, seagulls, ospreys, great blue herons, turtles, sea turtles, manatees, otters, squirrels, and more.

Be sure to make time to visit the museum where you will learn about the history and importance of San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park located on the Wakulla and St. Marks River junction. First settled by the Apalachee who lived in farming communities, the area later became a trading route. Over the years two military forts and a federal marine hospital were built. Hernando de Soto, Spanish explorers, Britains, pirates, Confederate soldiers, and General Andrew Jackson are just some of the people who have lived at San Marcos or occupied a fort.

Enjoy your meal in the picnic area complete with grills and tables.

For more information about this Historic State Park located in St. Marks, Wakulla County click here:

https://www.floridastateparks.org/…/san-marcos-de…

Photo Credit: Bobby Putnam

Bahia Honda State Park

Bahia Honda State Park, located at mile marker 37 in the Florida Keys, is made up of over 500 acres and an offshore island that is waiting for you to explore. Henry Flagler’s historic Overseas Railroad is a stark reminder of the 1937 Category 5 Labor Day Hurricane.

Bahia Honda State Park is best known for its beaches, Calusa and Sandspur Beach. Favorite water activities include snorkeling, swimming, and scuba diving. Canoeing, kayaking, and boating are popular with easy access to both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Watch for sea turtles and bottle-nosed dolphins.

Snorkeling tours offer the opportunity to explore the sea life at Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary. Look for starfish, spiny lobsters, queen conchs, and nurse sharks.

Saunter along the nature trail that leads you to the Old Bahia Honda Bridge. Enjoy the view while you admire herons, egrets, and ibises. A 3-1/2 mile hard surface road runs the length of Bahia Honda and is a perfect way to enjoy the park on your bicycle.

Bring your lunch and eat at a picnic area with a grill. Leashed pets are allowed in very limited areas.

For those who want to take a few days to experience all that Bahia Honda State Park has to offer, campsites are available for tents and RVs. There are six furnished cabins that accommodate 6 people in each.

Be sure to stay for stargazing. Bahia Honda Key is the darkest location in the Florida Keys.

For more information: https://www.floridastateparks.org/bahiahonda/

Photo Credit: Dan, Nancy, and Christian Kon

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, located in Key West, is a 54-acre state park and has been around since before the Civil War. After 21 years of construction slowed by yellow fever, hurricanes, and shortages of manpower and materials, Fort Zachary Taylor was completed in 1866. The fort played a significant part in the Civil War and the Spanish-American war. To learn more, take a guided tour through the fort or visit during the living history week that includes historical reenactments.

Swim or snorkel at the beautiful beach. There are picnic tables and grills under the trees for your beachside meal. Saunter along the nature trails and discover unique plant life and wildlife. Explore the shaded trails on your bike.

A coral reef surrounded by seagrass beds is waiting to be explored. The reef includes the knobby brain, tube, and starlet coral. Be sure to bring your snorkel. There are equipment rentals in case you forget. There’s a small cafe if you get hungry from all the exploring.

Park amenities include biking, geocaching, picnicking, swimming, birding, hiking, scuba, tours, fishing, paddling, and snorkeling.

Check out the live webcam and enjoy a moment of serenity as you watch the waves flow across the beach. Webcam: http://www.fortzacharytaylor.com/beach.html

For more information: https://www.fortzacharytaylor.com

Photo credit: Aymee Laurain, Dan Kon

Washington Oaks Gardens State Park

This State Park is located near Palm Coast along A1A, between the Atlantic Ocean and Matanzas River. Washington Oaks Gardens is known for its formal gardens, a unique shoreline with rare coquina rock outcroppings, beautiful oak trees, and nature trails. You can hike, bike, and picnic in the park. The grounds feature brick pathways to saunter along and benches to rest upon as you immerse yourself in northeast Florida’s original native habitats. On the 425 acres, you will find a beach, coastal scrub, coastal hammock, and tidal marshes.

Over 144 species of birds can be found in Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. Look for peregrine falcons, spotted sandpipers, scarlet tangler, indigo bunting, and the endangered scrub jay. Take one of the hiking trails and perhaps run into bobcats, a gopher tortoise, raccoons, or whitetail deer. The waters surrounding the park are home to sea turtles, manatees, and dolphins.

Washington Oaks Gardens State Park was part of the Spanish land grants and is in an area steeped in history. The formal gardens are a showcase of the park. They were devised by the former owners Louise and Owen Young and feature rose gardens, birds of paradise, and orange groves, as well as the towering oak trees which the Youngs named the property after.

The park was donated to the state in 1964 with the stipulation that the gardens were kept and maintained as they were originally laid out. Spending the day at Washington Oaks State Park is worth the trip whether you go for hiking, a picnic, bird watching, fishing, or just to spend a serene day enjoying nature.

For more information: https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/washington-oaks-gardens-state-park

Photo credit. Lourdes Brown and Andy Waldo