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 southern tip, and it’s one of very few locations in Florida where you can ride a horse on the beach.
Looking across Nassau Sound to Big Talbot IslandResources
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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. No camping.
Driving access to the beach is limited to 4x4s. Horses have right-of-way.
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 horse down a wild shore, here’s your chance! Equestrians are welcome to bring their own horses, or you can book a guided trail ride with Happy Trails Walking Horses, the outfitter on site.
Dunes along the island’s edgeBiking
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.
Watch for the East Coast Greenway symbolFishing
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.
Trail Map
Explore More!
Nearby Adventures
George Crady Fishing Pier State Park A broken highway span between Big Talbot Island and Amelia Island State Parks, this park encompasses not just bridge stubs but a white sand beach along Nassau Sound.
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.
Big Talbot Island State Park Wind and water perpetually reshape the landscape along this rugged Atlantic shoreline with tidal pools, black rock beaches, and a boneyard of sand-scoured trees.
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. 
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