McQuage Bayou Trailhead

The McQuage Bayou Park & Trail in Point Washington is open to hikers, cyclists, and equestrians. You’ll find the trailhead near civilization but it feels worlds away in the Point Washington State Forest. The bayheads, titi swamps, and cypress stands in this soggy part of the forest feed several bayous, including McQuage Bayou, that flow north into Choctawhatchee Bay.

A bayhead habitat, also known as a baygall, is a type of wetland characterized by high acidity and dominated by plant species like sweetbay magnolia and sweet gallberry holly. Bayhead habitats are typically found in low-lying areas with slow drainage, often supporting unique ecosystems and diverse wildlife.

The trailhead is north of US Hwy 98 on Bay Drive, north of Grayton Beach. Its East Loop is 3.9 miles. A 0.7 mile connector stays south of the bayou drainage to lead to a 2.5 mile loop east of the bayou, with some water crossings where it nears the floodplain.

The 5.3-mile West Loop starts just north of the trailhead off Bay Drive. It follows the bayou briefly before crossing the road to continue to a 2.5-mile loop section that follows forest roads.

Point Washington State Forest was purchased under Florida’s Conservation and Recreation Lands (CARL) program in 1992. Using an ecosystem management approach, the Florida Forest Service provides for multiple uses of the forest resources. The forest is managed for timber, wildlife, outdoor recreation and ecological restoration.

The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages more than 1 million acres of state forests and provides forest management assistance on more than 17 million acres of private and community forests. The Florida Forest Service is also responsible for protecting homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire on more than 26 million acres. Learn more at FloridaForestService.com.