Exploring Carrabelle
Carrabelle has historically been a quiet fishing village where shrimp boats depart from to fish the productive shallows of the Gulf of Mexico.
Sitting where the Crooked River snakes into the Gulf, it commands a view of Dog Island and St. George Island along its southern horizon.
During World War II, Camp Gordon Johnston upended daily life for this off-the-beaten path town.
To practice storming the beaches of Italy and Normandy, the beach at Carrabelle is where the Army taught soldiers to disembark from amphibious watercraft.
Only remnants of the camp remain today, including the local airport, a few structures, and a museum devoted to its important role in the success of the D-Day invasion.
Surrounding the community is Tate’s Hell State Forest, occupying more than 315 square miles. To the north of that lies the Apalachicola National Forest.
So you’re unlikely to stumble across Carrabelle unless you love the outdoors, or take the time to drive the Big Bend Scenic Byway along the Forgotten Coast.
Resources
Resources for exploring the area
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Trails and Parks near Carrabelle
Apalachicola National Forest Noted for its botanical beauty, the Apalachicola National Forest is the largest National Forest in Florida, sweeping south and west of Tallahassee.
Bald Point Maritime Hammock Trail A remote beach, a sweep of estuary, a broad bay, and the Gulf of Mexico: the beauty that surrounds this 1.3 mile nature trail at Bald Point invites full exploration on a 2 mile hike.
Bald Point Sand Pine Trail Crossing a rolling landscape of sandy ridges, the Sand Pine Trail explores the largest scrub community found in Bald Point State Park. 
Bald Point Sundew Trail A remarkable variety of wildlife inhabits dry and wet pine flatwoods along this loop trail dotted with tiny carnivorous sundew plants.
Bald Point Tucker Lake Trail Circling the largest body of water in Bald Point State Park, the Tucker Lake Trail showcases a blend of dry upland ecosystems and expansive marshlands. 
Bluffs Overlook Trail Within pine forests planted on WWII-era Camp Gordon Johnston atop high ground above the Ochlockonee River, enjoy vistas of the river and its bay from the St. Teresa Bluffs.
Florida Trail, Jewel to Vilas 14.3 miles. Delving deep into the swampy heart of the Apalachicola National Forest, this section spans some of the gnarliest titi and gum swamps you'll see outside of Bradwell Bay.
Florida Trail, Porter Lake to Jewel 4.6 miles. A deep immersion in pine flatwoods and titi swamps awaits along this segment of the Florida Trail, which uses many old forest roads to cross tributaries draining into the Ochlockonee River.
Granite Point Loop Traversing ecosystems undergoing degrees of habitat restoration, the 4.8 mile Granite Point Loop at Bald Point State Park features fantastic views of Ochlockonee Bay.
High Bluff Coastal Hiking Trail Discover the beauty of the Forgotten Coast by hiking one or both loops of the High Bluff Coastal Hiking Trail through scrub and wetlands fronting US 98 in Tate's Hell State Forest.
Ralph G. Kendrick Dwarf Cypress Boardwalk Leading to a stand of dwarf bald cypress centuries old and less than 15 feet tall, the Kendrick Boardwalk at Tate's Hell State Forest is one of the weirder botanical spots in the Florida Panhandle.
Tates Hell State Forest One of Florida's more enormous state forests with over 202,000 acres, Tate's Hell is a vast coastal swamp sliced and diced by timber barons before being preserved by the state.Related Articles
Florida’s Front Line Beaches (6/6/2024) During World War II, two specialized coastal training bases in Florida contributed to the successful D-Day landings at Normandy and at beachheads beyond. 
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