Resources
Resources for exploring the area
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Exploring DeFuniak Springs
DeFuniak Springs is the county seat of Walton County, its historic residential district clustered around a perfectly round spring-fed lake exactly a mile in circumference.
The town came to life when the Florida Chautauqua Association held its first assembly here in February 1885. Chautauqua Assemblies are still held each January.
That 1885 Chautauqua ushered in the town’s Victorian architecture and established one of the earliest grand cultural centers of the Southeast.
DeFuniak Springs is home to Florida’s oldest continually operating library. South of town, miles of the Florida Trail await for backpackers in Eglin Air Force Base and Nokuse Plantation.
North of town are Florida’s highest hills, including the state high point at Lakewood Park.
Trails and Parks near DeFuniak Springs
Chipley Park History unfolds along a pair of paved loops circling an unusually round lake at the center of DeFuniak Springs. 
Florida Trail, Alaqua 12.8 miles. With significant botanical beauty, rugged climbs, and nice campsites, the Alaqua section of the Florida Trail in Eglin Air Force Base is one of the most scenic parts of the trail statewide.
Florida Trail, Catface 14.2 miles. Climbing to the highest elevations along the Florida Trail, the challenging Catface section traverses hilly terrain along the northern edge of Eglin Air Force Base.
Florida Trail, Eglin One of the most compelling sections of the Florida Trail for backpackers, the 98.3 miles through Eglin offers rugged elevation changes and crystalline waterways.
Florida Trail, Eglin East 41.8 miles. Simultaneously rugged and scenic: that's the beauty of a backpacking trip across the Alaqua, Catface, and Titi sections of the Florida Trail in Eglin Air Force Base.
Florida Trail, Lafayette Creek 9.3 miles. From a tricky traverse of the floodplain of Lafayette Creek to a roller-coaster of steep dips through wooded ravines, this scenic and surprisingly hilly section of the Florida Trail will give you a serious workout. 
Florida Trail, Nokuse 27.7 miles. Spanning from the Choctawhatchee River west to the boundary of Eglin Air Force Base, Nokuse is a compelling backpacker's destination in the Florida Panhandle.
Lakewood Park Scale the lofty heights of Florida in the rolling rural ridges north of DeFuniak Springs at a Walton County park atop Britton Hill, Florida's high point at 345 feet.
Morrison Springs Park Surrounded by a rim of old growth cypress, Morrison Springs is a beautiful second magnitude spring with swimming and diver access down an interpretive boardwalk.
Ponce De Leon Springs Nature Trails Two short nature trails, the Sandy Creek Trail and the Spring Run Trail, follow the confluence of waters at Ponce De Leon Springs State Park.
Ponce de Leon Springs State Park In the middle of the Florida Panhandle, Ponce de Leon Springs is along the upper end of a belt of shimmering springs that feed the Choctawhatchee River basin.
Shoal River Headwaters State Park Opened to the public in January 2026, Florida’s 176th state park offers miles of wide multiuse trails alongside Gum Creek, a tributary to the Shoal River.