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Shallow tannic water edged by cedars and pines

Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park

Hugging the eastern shore of Rocky Bayou, this beautiful state park preserves both shoreline and forested uplands along a estuarine arm of Choctawhatchee Bay.

Niceville      ( 30.495879,-86.432825 )      

Once part of the gunnery and bombing ranges at Eglin Air Force Base, the eastern shoreline of Rocky Bayou was set aside for public use thanks to the efforts of Colonel Fred Gannon.

Hugging a long slender bayou off Choctawhatchee Bay, this 357 acre park provides camping, hiking, and water access for boaters and paddlers in Niceville.

Trail amid magnolias and large oaks In the forest above Rocky Bayou


Resources

Resources for exploring the area
The Florida Trail Guide book cover Florida Trail Hikes book cover North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover Hiking the Gulf Coast book cover  
Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.

Overview

Location: Niceville
Trailhead: 30.495879,-86.432825
Address: 4281 SR 20, Niceville
Fees: $5 per vehicle
Restroom: At the day use area
Land manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 850-833-9144
 
Open 8 AM until sunset. Leashed pets welcome.

Directions

 
The park is along SR 20 east of Niceville, west of SR 293. Follow the entrance road into the park. Unless you’re here to camp, turn left to drive down to the Red Cedar day use area.

About the Park

Designed by Colonel Gannon, the park’s initial amenities included an entrance road, trails, and waterfront for public use, built by the Civil Engineering Group at Eglin he headed.

Like much of Eglin Air Force Base, the land had once been part of Choctawhatchee National Forest, with towering pines and carnivorous plant bogs.

Trail through saw palmetto The nature trails are shady and well groomed


It was part of the bombing and gunnery range at Eglin during World War II, but by the late 1950s, was too close to the growing residential spread of Niceville.

Rocky Bayou State Park became part of the Florida State Park system in 1966 and was later rededicated in the colonel’s honor.

A broad waterway amid pines Built as a park feature, Puddin’ Head Lake has since had its dam removed to allow the stream to recover


Hugging the shoreline of Rocky Bayou, it has one of the prettiest campgrounds in the state park system, naturally cooled by breezes off the water.

Forty-two sites are tucked under the forest canopy, some with waterfront views. All have water and electric, and four are ADA accessible.

Camper in campground At the campground


The Red Cedar day use area is on a bluff above the bayou, with picnic tables, a playground, and direct access to the Red Cedar Trail.

Paddlers can launch their own craft here, or rent a canoe or kayak from the park. Anglers can cast a line anywhere along the shoreline.

Bluff with view of bayou and picnic tables Red Cedar day use


Boaters, continue to the end of the road to reach the double ramp and large parking area for boat trailers.

Rocky Bayou is brackish. From it, you can cruise into Choctawhatchee Bay and reach the Gulf of Mexico.

Shallow tannic water edged by cedars and pines
A cove at the northern end of Rocky Bayou

Three interpretive nature trails tally 3.3 miles of hiking. The Rocky Bayou Trail showcases habitats along the bayou, with excellent views from the shoreline.

The Red Cedar Trail offers an interpretive walk in an upland forest dominated by cedar. The Sand Pine Trail follows Puddin’ Head Creek, edged by sand pine forest.

Split oak with path through it and bench beyond Rocky Bayou Hiking Trails Explore the uplands of Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park in Niceville on a trio of showy nature trails that can be interconnected into a 3.3 mile day hike.
Trail into bluff forest in deep shade Rocky Bayou Nature Trail Stroll through sand pine scrub and bluff forest to savor a series of views on Rocky Bayou, a brackish arm of Choctawhatchee Bay.
Trail tunneling into oak scrub Sand Pine Nature Trail After following the floodplain of Puddin' Head Stream, a steephead creek flowing to Rocky Bayou, this easy hike loops back through sand pine scrub and sandhills.

Trail Map

Rocky Bayou State Park Trail Map
Red: Red Cedar. Purple: Rocky Bayou. Green: Sand Pine. Blue: Connector.

Explore More!

Slideshow

See our photos of Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Turkey Creek Boardwalk Turkey Creek Walk Centered on a broad boardwalk trail that showcases a clear, healthy tannic stream, the Turkey Creek Walk is a family park in Niceville where tubing is part of the fun
Ladder up a bluff 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.
Pitcher plants in front of a pond Cimmaron Trail Sunny sandhill communities transition to the deeply shaded Yellow River floodplain along the well-maintained Cimarron Trail at Eglin Air Force Base.
Emerald waves at Henderson Beach Henderson Beach State Park There's a reason this is called the Emerald Coast, and you'll know why as soon as the sparkling waters of the Gulf of Mexico catch your eye. They make a strong contrast to the sugar-white strand and tall dunes protected by Henderson Beach State Park.

Trail Map (PDF) Reserve Campsite Official Website

Category: Biking, Camping, Canoe & Kayak Rentals, Florida State Parks, Hikes, Loop Hikes, Nature Trails, Northwest Florida, Paddling, Parks, PlacesTag: Best Camping, Birding, Boating, Car Camping, Choctawhatchee Bay, Destin, Developed Camping, Dog-friendly, Family-Friendly, Fishing, Florida State Parks, Fort Walton Beach, Freeport, Niceville, Picnic, Playgrounds

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View of a bay through pines

Sand Pine Trail, Bald Point State Park

Sand Pine Trail, Bald Point State Park
Pine flatwoods

Sundew Trail, Bald Point State Park

Sundew Trail, Bald Point State Park
Trail tunneling into oak scrub

Sand Pine Nature Trail

Sand Pine Nature Trail
Trail into bluff forest in deep shade

Rocky Bayou Nature Trail

Rocky Bayou Nature Trail

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