Imagine a perfect fall evening under the oaks and stars on the lawn of Eden Gardens State Park, spread out on a blanket with a special friend, or the entire family.
The return of the Fall Film Series at the park is something we look forward to each and every year. This year is even more special as Friends Of Eden Gardens State Park present a screening of local filmmaker (and Eden neighbor) Arix Zalace's Film "The Paper Bear".
Walton County Tourism (WCT) rebranded the free Beach Tram program, along with its website and two county paid parking lots to make beach access information easier for visitors to find. Formerly known as Walton County Transportation, the service is now operating as Walton County Beach Park and Ride. The updated name better reflects the program's purpose: helping visitors park their car, ride the tram and reach the beach with less stress.
The State Parks and State Forest Lands in South Walton are spectacular. Protected lands make up about 40% of the land south of the bay.
We are so blessed to have such treasure all around us. The lakes, bayous, creeks, forests, dunes and beaches in our parks make SoWal a very special place. Incredible landscapes with coastal dune lakes, lake outfalls kissing the Gulf, flowering dune magnolias, soaring pelicans, dancing dolphins, flower-covered dunes - the wonders of coastal nature are everywhere you turn.
Camp Helen State Park invites you to go beyond your park visit, joining a Park Ranger for a nature hike held each first Thursday of the month at 10AM on Camp Helen's user-friendly trail system. Learn about the park's flora and fauna and the larger ecosystem of the Florida Panhandle. The hike lasts about an hour and is great for all experience levels and requires moderate endurance.
Summer visitors to Walton County will once again be able to enjoy complimentary day-use admission to Grayton Beach State Park and Topsail Hill Preserve State Park from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Walton County Tourism is expanding its free Beach Tram service on March 1, with routes running to and from regional beach accesses from the new 393 Municipal Parking Facility, which is 4 blocks north of 30A on Hwy 393 at Gulf Place, and Grayton Beach Municipal Parking Facility, which is 4 blocks north of 30A on Hwy 283.
Note that these large public parking lots have covered waiting areas with seating and restrooms, as well as inside air-conditioned waiting areas with local art.
The 2nd Annual Reeling in the Emerald Coast - Conservation Day is coming to Topsail Hill Preserve State Park on Saturday, April 18, 2026. This free family event, hosted by the park and Walton County 4-H, combines outdoor adventure with hands-on learning for the next generation of coastal stewards.
Finding your perfect spot along South Walton’s 26 miles of shoreline is a breeze, especially with our regional beach accesses designed to make your day easy and enjoyable. These spots come fully equipped with parking, restrooms, seasonal lifeguards, and those all-important flags to let you know the beach conditions at a glance.
If you’re looking for specific accessibility features, South Walton has worked hard to make the sand welcoming for everyone.
ADA Accessible Regional Beach Accesses
Adventure seekers in Walton County have a new reason to explore our local parks and trails.
Walton County has officially launched its own Geocaching program, turning our scenic county parks into a massive, real-life treasure hunt. Whether you’re a seasoned "cacher" or just looking for a new family outdoor activity, the game offers a unique way to discover corners of the county you might normally overlook.
Did you know we have more than 1,400 photos of every public Beach, Bay & Lake Access in the South Walton area? And all photos are available for you to use!
Go to this map and directory of all accesses and click on the access name to go to its page with photos, map and features of each access - SoWal.com/beach-accesses.
