As the name suggests, lagoons are the centerpiece of Big Lagoon State Park, but only one is the Big Lagoon.
Its mirror-smooth expanse of saltwater is trapped behind dunes within sight and sound of the surf of the Gulf of Mexico.
Observation Tower and boardwalks along Big LagoonAcross Big Lagoon is Perdido Key, the facing shoreline protected as Gulf Islands National Seashore all the way to the eastern tip of the island.
Big Lagoon is edged to the east by Naval Air Station Pensacola, the birthplace of naval aviation, so the Blue Angels practice weekly in these skies.
From the top of the tower, you can see over Perdido Key to the Gulf of MexicoResources
Resources for exploring the area
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Overview
Location: Pensacola
Entrance: 30.321489,-87.403733
Address: 12301 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola
Fees: $4 individual, $6 carload
Restrooms: at the West Beach and East Beach picnic areas
Land manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 850-492-1595
Open 8 AM to sunset. Leashed pets welcome except on beaches.
Don’t assume brackish waters and soft white sands mean no alligators, because they do live in the lagoons and bask on these shorelines.
Directions
From the US 29 exit along Interstate 10 west of downtown Pensacola, head south on US 29 for 1.4 miles, turning right onto North W St. In 1.7 miles, turn right onto SR 296, continuing for 4.3 miles to N Blue Angel Parkway. Turn left and drive 7.7 miles. Make a right at SR 292. In 3 miles, turn left onto Bauer Rd. In 1.3 miles, the park entrance is directly across the intersection with Gulf Beach Highway.
About the Park
With 678 acres protected along Big Lagoon, Big Lagoon State Park is more than just a waterfront. But many visitors flock here for that water access.
Slender beaches and gentle shallows make the lagoon shoreline a popular spot for wading, splashing, and catching fish.
The near expanse of Big LagoonTwo swimming areas frame the waterfront. West Beach is closer to the campground and is home to a playground and picnic pavilions, including the large Governor’s Pavilion.
A boat ramp enables visitors water access to the lagoon with motorized watercraft.
Both beaches are natural shorelinesEast Beach is at the eastern tip of the park and entirely out in the open along the lagoon, with picnic pavilions surrounding its landmark observation tower.
The hand-launch for kayaks and canoes is here in a protected channel between Grand Lagoon and the open waters of Big Lagoon.
Paddlers in the launch channelThe western gateway for the Great Florida Birding Trail, the park has a boardwalk loop and tower perfect for watching skimmers, herons, and pelicans.
Its interior uplands with with coastal dune ridges, sandhills, and baygalls are also productive for birding.
Osprey nest along the Estuary TrailDue to its vulnerable location between Pensacola Bay and the mouth of the Perdido River, the park has taken a beating during many hurricanes.
It’s not uncommon to show up and find a portion of the infrastructure closed for post-hurricane repairs months later. If you have a specific activity in mind, call ahead on its status.
The park road between the beaches was closed on our last visitHiking
Extending into and connecting most corners of the park, there are more than 6 miles of interconnected hiking trails at Big Lagoon.
With access points just past the entrance station and at the campground, the white-blazed 3.1-mile Sand Pine Trail circles the uplands of the park.
Sand Pine Trail, Big Lagoon State Park
Immersed in an intriguing blend of habitats in a coastal setting, this uplands hiking loop at Big Lagoon State Park showcases a variety of birds and native plants.
The Estuary Trail starts at the bridge to the campground over Long Pond and heads east, with nice views of both the pond and Grand Lagoon.
It branches in two directions halfway along the route, one arm terminating along Grand Lagoon at a picnic pavilion with a view.
Observation deck on Grand LagoonThe other branch continues through the coastal scrub and reaches the East Beach parking area within sight of the Observation Tower Loop.
It’s a 2-mile hike between West Beach and East Beach via the Estuary Trail and its connecting boardwalks, including the spur out to Grand Lagoon.
The Estuary Trail connects the beaches and Grand LagoonA must-visit, the Observation Tower Loop is a half-mile walkway, a boardwalk for most of its length over the estuary and scrub where Grand Lagoon and Big Lagoon meet.
Connecting picnic pavilions at the very southeast tip of the park, its notable feature is the tall observation tower with its outstanding panorama of Big Lagoon.
The observation tower is worth the climbPaddling
Big Lagoon State Park is the westernmost launch point for the Florida Saltwater Circumnavigational Trail, a marked paddling route along Florida’s coastline.
The primary paddler put-in is accessed from the very end of the park road near the observation tower.
Paddlers headed out to Big Lagoon on the Florida Saltwater Circumnavigational Trail routeFrom this launch, you can either explore Grand Lagoon or paddle out into the open waters of Big Lagoon.
Canoes are available for paddling Long Pond, which adjoins the campground. That put-in is next to the beach side of the bridge over Long Pond.
Canoes stored next to the Long Pond picnic shelterCamping
Centered within the park, its campground provides a surprising amount of habitat and terrain diversity within its loops.
Choose a site within the inner loops to be well up atop the scrub ridge. Sites along the southern edge of the campground fringe the marshes.
One of the sites along the marshEach of the 75 campsites have water and electric hookups along with the usual picnic bench and fire ring.
Maximum size for an RV is 40 feet. A dump station is available. A central bathhouse includes a laundry facility.
A campsite on the scrub ridgeBoardwalks connect the campground with the recreation area at West Beach and with the hiking trail system.
A half-mile loop trail extends through the campground from Long Pond to a boardwalk linking up through the scrub to the Big Lagoon Loop.
Boardwalk to campground from Grand Lagoon picnic shelter areaTrail Map
Explore More!
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See our photos of Big Lagoon State Park
Nearby Adventures
More worth exploring while you’re in this area.
Johnson Beach
As part of Gulf Islands National Seashore, the windswept tip of Perdido Key goes on for miles at Johnson Beach. Discover natural habitats and wild shores along its length
Gulf State Park
Stretching west from the tip of Perdido Key, Gulf State Park encompasses more than 6,000 acres of natural habitats on barrier islands between Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Perdido Key State Park
With sand as white as fresh fallen snow, Perdido Key State Park offers Florida’s westernmost public beach.
Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park
Conserving a vast swath of wetland habitats in low-lying areas along the Perdido River floodplain, Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park is home to four species of Sarracenia – pitcher plants – unique to the Gulf Coast.