florida state park guide

8/14/2019 Florida State Park Guide

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FloridaStateParks.org


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Our system of award-winning stateparks represents the nest examplesof natural beauty and cultural diversityavailable throughout Florida and hasinspired visitors for nearly 75 years. Thebenets of state parks to both residentsand visitors are endless. Unmatchedrecreational opportunities and facilitieshelp to strengthen families, educatechildren, expand local economies and fostercommunity pride. Floridas state parks andpreserves are critical to our individual peaceof mind and personal health. You are invitedto visit soon and often, and please let parkstaff know if they can assist you in any way.Welcome to .

National Gold M edal WinnerFlorida S tate Parks - Am ericas First Two-Tim e W in

over photo: Delnor-Wiggins Pass

Curry Hammock

Fakahatchee Strand

Blue Spring

Big Talbot Island

Edward Ball Wakulla Springs

Welcome


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Use this publication, printed with soy based ink on 10%recycled paper, to explore this beautiful state. Whenyoure nished using the guide, share it with a friendor return it to a state park for other visitors to use orrecycle it in your community.


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The Florida State Parks Passport is designed as a travel aidto help you discover .As a collectorsjournal, the passport will help you plan park visits, recordyour experiences and collect each parks unique stamp. Toqualify for a commemorative gift, be sure to collect a stampat each park you visit. Passports may be purchased at aranger station or by calling Homosassa Springs Wildlife StatePark at (352) 628-1002.

Ponce de Leon Springs


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Gamble Plantation

Fort Clinch

A Look Inside...

Florida State ParksGeneral Inormation 5

Accessibility

Pet PoliciesCamping & CabinsResource ManagementFlorida Park Police

Annual PassPark Programs

Activity Key

Northwest Region 9

Northeast Region 19

Central Region 31

Southwest Region 41

Southeast Region 51

Annual Events

Ofce o Greenways & Trails 61

Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas

State Lands

Support Organizations 65

Volunteers

AmeriCorpsFriends o Florida State Parks

Annual Pass

Git Shop

Find a Park

Florida Folk Festival Deer Lake

For more information (850) 245-2157 FloridaStateParks.org


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Florida State Parks

Dudley Farm

Whether you enjoy hiking a rugged trail, kayaking an ancient river, sunbathing at the worlds best beaches,learning about ancient cultures or touring historic homes, youll nd just the right setting at any one of Florid

161 state parks. A favorite of families for the past seven decades, Florida State Parks will stir your imagination and leyou with a greater appreciation for the people, places and events that have shaped this great state. Discover the legacthat remain from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and spend the night in cabins built by young American meduring the Great Depression. Enjoy the cozy atmosphere of recently built cabins along the famous Suwannee Riveoverlooking Central Floridas chain of lakes.

Camping enthusiasts will nd well-maintained facilities and a safe, friendly atmosphere to get away from it all andenjoy the beauty of this states natural landscapes. Many parks with water features including beaches, lakes, springrivers offer water craft rentals such as canoes or kayaks.

Floridas state parks are open from 8:00 a.m. to sunset every day of the year. Museums, visitor centers and histosites are closed two days a week and hours may vary. Call ahead to the park of your choice for more informatioThe mission of the Florida Park Service is to preserve and protect our natural and cultural resources and toprovide recreational opportunities to park visitors. Considerable commitment of staff and funding is requiredto carry out this mission. State park fees help offset the rising costs of providing resource protection, parkmaintenance and visitor services. Please check with each park for information on entrance fees, which varythroughout the state.

In the following pages you will nd brief and informative descriptions of every state park and historic sitemaintained by the Florida Park Service. This guide is organized into geographic regions with color coded

sections for your convenience in locating the park of your choice. For more information, call (850) 245-21or visit us online at FloridaStateParks.org.

Homosassa Springs

AccessibilityIn Florida state parks, we are committed to providing accessible facilities, programs and services

for all people. Our goal is that all visitors, including those with disabilities, will be able to participate in enjoy recreational activities and park experiences. Camping, picnicking, cabins, shing piers, trails, historsites, exhibits and swimming areas are some of the many opportunities available for all visitors to enjoy

For information about specic facilities and programs, please call or write the park that interests you.

For general questions regarding the accessibility of any park facility or program, please call (850) 245-2to speak with the state park Accessibility and Inclusion Coordinator. Park information is also available

large print. TDD users, please dial 711 for the Florida Relay Service (U.S. only).

Suwannee River

Pet PoliciesPets are welcome in designated areas at all Florida state parks. They must be well behaved

kept on a leash no longer than six feet at all times. Pet owners are required to pick up after their pand properly dispose of their waste. Pets are not permitted on beaches, playgrounds, bathing arecabins, park buildings or concession facilities. Service animals are allowed in all areas of Floridastate parks. Owners of horses visiting state parks must provide proof of a negative Coggins tes

Camping with pets is permitted in designated areas. Before you make a reservation to camp wesuggest that you contact the park for its pet policy. Pets must not be left unattended for morethan 30 minutes and must be conned in the owners camping unit during quiet time from 11:p.m. 7:00 a.m. Any pet that is noisy, dangerous, intimidating or destructive will not be allowto remain in the park. Non-furbearing pets, such as reptiles, birds or sh, must be conned ounder the physical control of the owner. Some animals may be prohibited on park property.These rules are written to ensure the enjoyment and safety of all park visitors and failure toabide by them may result in the visitor being asked to leave or board the pet outside the par

Camping & CabinsFloridas state parks offer more than 50 family campgrounds statewide. Full-facility

campgrounds include water, electricity, a grill and picnic table on each campsite, along withcentralized showers, restrooms and dump station. Cabins are available in many parks with avariety of settings and styles. Styles vary from fully equipped modern cabins to hand-hewnlumber or palm-log retreats. Reservations may be made as much as 11 months in advance.To make a reservation, please contact ReserveAmerica at (800) 326-3521, (866) I CAMP FTDD (888) 433-0287 or visit the website at ReserveAmerica.com.Three Rivers

For reservations (800) 326-3521 ReserveAmerica.com


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Overnight Fees and Discounts:

Camping Fees (up to 8 people per site) $10 to $50Cabin Fees (4 to 6 people per cabin) $20 to $120Camping Discount off camping feeDiscounts apply to Florida residents only, who are 65 years old and older or 100% disabled.)

When making reservations, please indicate that you qualify for a camping discount. Discounts are applied at he time you make the reservation and proof must be provided at check-in.

Resource ManagementFloridas ecosystems evolved through dynamic natural processes such as re, ood and the

nteraction of native species. Our goal is to restore and maintain these ecosystems in state parks witha carefully implemented program of prescribed re, hydrological restoration and removal of invasiveexotic plants.

Many state parks offer wonderful opportunities for viewing native Florida wildlife. West Indian manatees,dolphins, otters, birds of every kind and color, deer, tree snails, sea turtles, scrub lizards and gophertortoises abound in many parks. Wildlife observation is among the more visible benets of goodresource stewardship.

State parks are also home to many cultural resources, which provide links to our past. These rangefrom Native American campsites, to lighthouses built to protect seafarers, to a bakery that supplied

bread to immigrant cigar makers. Our states past is rich and vibrant, and the Florida Park Servicehelps keep it alive by preserving these places and interpreting the signicant events.

Florida Park PoliceFlorida Park Police Ofcers are responsible for protecting Floridas state parks and otherDepartment of Environmental Protection managed lands, including greenways and

trails, coastal and aquatic preserves and recreational areas. Park Police want to make your visit safeand enjoyable. Here are a few basic tips to help you have a great time in Florida state parks.

Parks are home to many types of wildlife. While animals can be interesting to watch andbeautiful to photograph, keep in mind that their behavior can be unpredictable. Always keep a safe distance when viewing. Never feed a wild animal. Keep all food items safely stored in secured containers or in your vehicle.

A park is the perfect place to enjoy riding a bicycle!Keep in mind basic rules of the road:travel in the same direction as motorized trafc and follow all posted road signs. If you are

under 16, you must wear a bicycle helmet.Fort Clinc

Blackwater Riv

Everyone likes having fun outside with friends and family. Enjoy your day in the sun-shine alcohol consumption is prohibited except in restaurants and lodges that sellalcohol and during park-sanctioned events.

For a fun day on the water, ensure that your boat has all required safety gear on board.File a oat plan with someone so they will know when to expect your return. Be sureto purchase a Florida shing license, if required. Check with local ofcials for furtherinformation.

Please preserve our resources for all visitors. Take plenty of photographs to rememberyour visit, but leave nature and historical artifacts in place for future enjoyment.

PASS Annual PassThe Annual Pass allows you to discover, experience and enjoy the beauty of

Floridas state parks for just pennies a day. Passes are honored at more than 100 stateparks, except Homosassa Springs and Skyway Fishing Pier, where they are valid for a33% discount. Ask about passes at any state park or call: (352) 628-1002.

Passes make wonderful gifts and may be purchased at park ofces or by mail:Homosassa Springs Wildlife State ParkAttn: Annual Passes4156 South Suncoast BoulevardHomosassa, FL 34446

Or visit: FloridaStateParks.org/annualpass/default.cfm Bahia Hond

For more information (850) 245-2157 FloridaStateParks.org


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Park Programs

Pumpkin Hill

The Florida Park Service offers manydifferent interpretive programs. These

programs are an easy and fun way to discoverthe unique opportunities available in each

park, and are also great for meeting andgetting to know the many people who make

up the Florida Park Service.

The programs offered in each state parkare as varied as the locations themselves.

Living history reenactments, nature trailsand interpretive exhibits are just a few of the

many enjoyable experiences that are availablein our state parks.

One way to become more familiar with theseopportunities is through the Get REAL

(Recreational and Environmental Adventures

experiences are designed to make the learningprocess a more personal and memorableexperience, while still meeting Florida

Sunshine State Standards for education.

Savannas

in Learning) program. These programs

Torrey

provide a classroom without walls, connectingstudents with state parks and valuable

learning experiences.

Another example of these kinds ofopportunities can be found in the LIFE

(Learning in Floridas Environment)initiative, a series of environmental science

education programs taking place at a varietyof parks. This reects the Department of

Environmental Protections commitment toworking with local school districts to increaseboth student learning and teacher professional

development. The hands on, eld based

Manatee Spring

Hillsborough RivWashington Oaks Gardens

For reservations (800) 326-3521 ReserveAmerica.com


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Activity Key

Camping (Equestrian)

Camping (Full-Facility)

Camping (Group)Topsail Hill

Madison Blue Spring

Beaches

Bicycling

Birding

Boating

Boat Ramp

Boat Tours

Cabins/Lodging

Campfre Circle

Camping (Primitive)

Camping (Youth)

Canoe/Kayak Launch

Canoeing/Kayaking

Concession/Restaurant

Fishing (Fresh/Salt)

Hiking/Nature Trails

Historic Site

Horse Trail

Interpretive Exhibit

Museum

Picnic Area

Playground

RV Camping

Scuba Diving

Day-Use Showers

Snorkeling

Swimming

Tubing

Visitor CenterBlackwater River

Torreya

George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier

For more information (850) 245-2157 FloridaStateParks org

florida state park guide

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