Nature walks?

**JoeG** · 01-12-2009, 08:58 PM

Hello guys/gals,

My enlistment is finally up! I'm leaving the Air Force and the cold (Minot ND) to return to my home in Santa Rosa Beach. I'm really wanting to do some exploring when I return. My wife and I lived so close to everything, but I never really got out and got familiar with the local parks and such. Can someone point me towards a resource for some local trails or nature walks around the 30-a area?

**SWGB** · 01-12-2009, 10:14 PM

There's the state parks to start with.

Camp Helen State Park - Located on the far eastern end of Walton County it is technically in Bay County. It is a preserved summer camp that has some neat historical buildings and nature paths.

Deer Lake State Park - Located just west of WaterSound see it before it's gone. Possibility of it closing due to budget cuts. This two time National Award winner is the only one on 30A. It is a distance to the beach, but this makes for some peaceful and beautiful walks. The primitive facilities include only a maintenance free composting latrine. It was quite the media frenzy when they installed it ages ago. It's still going after well over a decade.

There is also a trail across from the entrance that hooks in with the Point Washington trail system.

Grayton Beach State Park - West of WaterColor is probably the most popular state park on 30A. Tons of facilities including cabins to the west on the other side of Grayton. Pavilions, bathrooms, and very close to the beach this is a favorite for day trippers. Just west of the main entrance is another trail head.

Top'sl State Park - Lots of facilities, but I don't believe the beach tram runs during the winter so it's gonna be a walk to the beach.

Also there are trail heads on 395, 283, and 83.

You've also got various county maintained beach accesses, some with bathrooms, that are great for just parking and walking down the beach.

If I've missed anything head up to the TDC at Hwy 98 and 331. They have info about everything.

Thank you for your service.

**beachmouse** · 01-12-2009, 11:19 PM

There's also a trail at Eden State Gardens on the bay side of 98.

The state forests have some good trails as well. And they used to have a program where you could hike X number of trails, send in a paper where you noted the dates that you did, and they'd send you a patch for it.

Further out, Cape San Blas/St. Joseph Peninsula to the east, and the Ft. Pickens area of Gulf Islands National Seashore to the west (reportedly reopening this spring after finally fixing hurricane damage) have some interesting shoreline.

**JoeG** · 01-12-2009, 11:53 PM

Wow. Thanks for the repsonse. It looks like I have more than a few options. I will surely check out Deer Lake park before it closes. I've driven by Camp Helen alot but never stoped. Guess I have my first weekend home planned already. Thanks again!

**Miss Kitty** · 01-13-2009, 05:47 AM

Originally Posted by JoeG

Wow. Thanks for the repsonse. It looks like I have more than a few options. I will surely check out Deer Lake park before it closes. I've driven by Camp Helen alot but never stoped. Guess I have my first weekend home planned already. Thanks again!

back home! Congrats! Please come back and post often!!! Let us know about your adventures.