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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.

Florida Trail, Eglin
98.3 miles. One of the most compelling sections of the Florida Trail for backpackers, Eglin offers rugged elevation changes and crystalline waterways.

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.
North of town are Florida’s highest hills, including the state high point at Lakewood Park.

Lakewood Park
In northern Walton County, Lakewood Park hides an unexpected draw that attracts thousands of visitors each year: Britton Hill, Florida’s high point at 345 feet.