Nearly on the Alabama border north of DeFuniak Springs, Lakewood Park encompasses a forested slope on Britton Hill, Florida’s high point of 345 feet.
It’s the lowest high point in the United States, but the roadside portion of the park is one of a handful of locations in Florida with a sweeping downslope view.
View from the picnic areaBehind a trio of markers stating the significance of this site, three trails loop through the woods to elevations above them.
The park has several high point photo opsResources
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: Lakewood
Length: 1.1 miles in three loops
Trailhead: 30.98639, -86.28133
Address: 2759 North CR 285, DeFuniak Springs
Fees: Free
Restroom: At the trailhead
Land manager: Walton County
Phone: 850-892-8108
Open dawn to dusk. No pets permitted. Picnic pavilion and restrooms provided.
Directions
From US 90 in DeFuniak Springs, drive north on US 331 for 18 miles. Turn right onto CR 285. The park is on the left after 2.8 miles, with a prominent sign. You’ll notice you’ve driven to the top of a hill.
Hike
A trio of trails in red, white, and blue begin together adjoining the granite monument for Florida’s high point.
Easy to follow through a climax sandhill forest, the broad path sweeps left and parallels a fence with a homestead before making a sharp left to burrow into the woods.
The trail starts behind the monumentThe first of a series of benches provided by the Highpointers Foundation is soon after the turn away from the property line.
Sparkleberry grows beneath tall laurel oaks. Spagnum moss appears along the trail’s edge as it approaches the first trail junction at a bench at a quarter mile.
Approaching the bench at the White TrailThe White Trail peels off to the left. Turn and follow it. Periodic undulations in the forest floor form linear ridges the trail crosses.
From these as well as the young age of the trees, we believe this hillside, like many around it, was once cleared and farmed.
Along the White TrailProviding a shady canopy, several species of oaks dominate and ground cover is sparse. Although there are no blazes, the footpath is well worn and easy to follow.
Emerge at the grassy edge of the roadside park facing the picnic shelter at a half mile. That’s the shortest loop of the trio.
End of the White TrailTo the right is a map of the trail system and a bench. Continue past them to tackle the second half of the trail system.
The combined Red and Blue Trails enter the forest on another broad path, this time close enough to the road to hear passing traffic.
Red and Blue Trails ascendingThe path climbs quickly and sharply along the edge of a large forested depression, perhaps an old borrow pit. A bench sits next to the pine-edged depression.
Continue a steep climb beyond it along a slope deeply eroded where it drops into the forest on the left. Sunlight plays across an open space where the trails split.
Mossy area at trail junctionTurn right to follow the Red Trail. From the steady climb that continues past the bench, this portion of the forest feels like the highest part of the landscape at Britton Hill.
Yaupon holly creates an understory thicket in places. The path is a worn furrow under the oaks.
Furrowed footpathAt 0.8 mile reach the uppermost junction of the Red and Blue Trails. It’s literally only a few paces south of the bench at the White Trail junction you took earlier.
Turn left to follow the Blue Trail along the perimeter of the park. A straightaway under water oaks and laurel oaks at first, it turns left at the park boundary.
Follow the Blue TrailOccasional pines add a soft bed of duff and scattered pine cones on the forest floor. Another swing left and the trail curves between the pines.
Reach a corridor edged with sparkleberry. The understory becomes more lush before deer moss dots a leafy slope.
Entering the sparkleberry corridorEmerge into the scrubby patch in front of the bench at the Red Trail junction to complete this final loop at 1.1 mile.
Mostly hidden by the forest, a small bog is in the bottom of the depression downhill from this junction.
Bench overlooking depressionContinue straight ahead, now descending your previous climb past the erosional features, and circle the largest one, passing the bench.
Emerge into the grassy roadside picnic area, completing a 1.2 mile walk across Britton Hill, Florida’s high point.
Map at the picnic areaTrail Map
Explore More!
Video
Hiking to Florida’s high point
Slideshow
Our photos from Lakewood Park
Nearby Adventures
More worth exploring while you’re in this area.
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.
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.
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.
- Lehigh Trail - October 11, 2026
- Jackson View Park - October 5, 2026
- Doris Leeper Rose Bay Trail - October 3, 2026