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Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

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Amelia Island State Park

Amelia Island State Park

The thud of horse’s hooves on sand makes for a unique experience at Amelia Island State Park, the only Florida State Park where you can ride horses on the beach

Amelia Island      ( 30.523138,-81.443006 )      

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A sweep of Atlantic Coast beach awaits along the southern tip of Amelia Island, where the sand glistens and the surf is frequently up.

Amelia Island State Park protects 200 acres along the island’s shore.

Amelia Island State Park Looking across the inlet to Big Talbot Island


Resources

North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide book cover

Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.


Overview

Location: Amelia Island
Trailhead: 30.523138,-81.443006
Address: SR A1A North, Jacksonville
Fees: $2 per person
Restroom: near the parking area
Land manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 904-251-2320

Open 8 AM until sunset daily.

For horseback tours, reserve with Kelly Seahorse Ranch at 904-491-5166. They generally lead tours four times a day.


Directions

 
From Fernandina Beach, follow A1A south. The park is on the left immediately before the bridge to Big Talbot Island, at the very southern tip of Amelia Island.

About the Park

The park is mainly known for its beaches, especially along the pass with Big Talbot Island, where visitors gather to fish and break out their coolers on the beach.

But it’s the soft thud of hooves on sand that intrigues the most, as this park offers a rare find: a place to canter along the surf.

If you’ve dreamed of riding a white horse down a wild shore, here’s your chance! Trail rides must be reserved in advance with Kelly Seahorse Ranch.

Amelia Island State Park Dunes along the island’s edge


Biking

The East Coast Greenway passes right through Amelia Island State Park, connecting north through Amelia Island to Peters Point Park and south into the Talbot Islands.

Through this stretch, it is known as the Timucuan Trail and extends six miles north and another four miles south. Park here to follow it across the A1A bridge or to head northbound through Amelia Island.

Look for East Coast Greenway signs for access points near the pier and the parking lot entrance.

Amelia Island State Park Watch for the East Coast Greenway symbol


Fishing

Anglers flock here for the mile-long George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier, where the state record flounder was caught. Folks also surf fish along the inlet.

You can walk directly to the pier from the main parking lot here. A bait shop provides bait and tackle.

George Crady Fishing Pier
The old A1A bridge is the George Crady Fishing Pier

Trail Map

Amelia Island State Park Trail Map



Explore More!

Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

The George Crady Fishing Pier

George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park

Once a piece of A1A from Amelia Island to Big Talbot Island, the George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier is one of several former highway segments now under the care of Florida State Parks. Open 24 hours, it’s popular for sport fishing as well as bringing home a catch for dinner.

American Beach

American Beach

Home to the largest dune system on the Atlantic Coast in Florida, American Beach has a rich history as a vacation destination that served the African-American community during the days of segregation in the South.

Blackrock Beach at Big Talbot Island State Park

Big Talbot Island State Park

For a taste of tidal pools and black rock beaches in Florida, get out of your car and walk down to the unique shoreline of Big Talbot Island State Park.

Beach with historic fort behind

Fort Clinch State Park

With 1,100 acres of pristine beaches, towering dunes, maritime forest, and estuarine tidal marshes, Fort Clinch State Park is one of Florida’s paramount recreational areas.

Trail Map (PDF) Official Website

Category: Beach Hikes, Beaches, Canoe & Kayak Rentals, Florida State Parks, Hikes, North Florida, Paddling, Parks, PlacesTag: Accessible, Amelia Island, Birding, East Coast Greenway, Fernandina Beach, Fishing, Florida State Parks, Jacksonville

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Sinkhole pond with cypress knees and duckweed

Manatee Springs North End Trails

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Morning light in the upland forest at Manatee Springs

Manatee Springs Scenic Trail

Manatee Springs Scenic Trail
Grassy path edged by dense diminutive scrub forest

Cedar Key Scrub East Loop

Cedar Key Scrub East Loop
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