In a partnership with the State of Florida and Trust for Public Lands among other partners, over 2,400 acres of sensitive habitats were acquired for conservation near DeFuniak Springs.
This new state park protects a large swath of the Shoal River watershed. Like many natural landscapes in this region, it features clear-flowing steephead streams and contoured terrain.
Gum CreekWhile more amenities are expected in the future, the park currently provides a network of forest road trails for hiking and biking, accessible from a small trailhead on King Lake Rd.
The most scenic section is along Gum Creek at the north end of the property. Several picnic tables along the trails offer places to rest in this quiet expanse of rural woodlands.
Trailside picnic tableResources
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Overview
Location: DeFuniak Springs
Length: 7.5 miles
Trailhead: 30.773278, -86.206222
Address: 2239 King Lake Rd, DeFuniak Springs
Fees: $4 per vehicle
Restrooms: Portable restroom at the trailhead
Land manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 850-983-5363
Open 8:00 AM to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome.
Directions
From Interstate 10 exit 85 follow US 331 north into DeFuniak Springs. Turn left on US 90. Stay on US 90 west for 3.5 miles past where US 331 turns north. Make a right onto King Lake Rd. In 2.3 miles, the trailhead will be on the left side of the road, marked with a large sign.
Hike
At the park entrance, a small fenced-in area surrounded by picnic benches provides space for three to four vehicles.
The hike begins on a gravel-strewn road that descends into a wide ravine before steadily climbing and rounding a corner where the path transitions to sand and clay.
Trailhead and parking areaPosts with red arrows mark the trail as it follows a straight track through densely planted slash pines with a shrubby understory.
Near the one-mile mark, stay to the left after crossing a small stream on a wooden bridge to begin the loop portion of the hike.
Sandy forest roadThe corridor widens as the trail bends southward, providing little shade as it cuts across the forest, passing a picnic table along the way.
At 2.6 miles, the road follows a wide bend that sends the trail back to the north.
Trailside picnic tableLook for wildflowers on the grassy edges, where sandhill milkweed and greeneyes bloom in the spring, and woody goldenrod produces vibrant yellow plumes in autumn.
At 3.4 miles, a quarter mile spur trail leads to a small pond created from a steephead stream.
Sandhill milkweed in bloomIn 0.3 miles, stay straight to remain on the main loop trail at an intersection where the Seepage Slope Trail branches off to the west.
Continue north at the next junction, joining the Gum Creek Trail as it begins a partially shaded descent towards the water.
Mountain laurelNear the five-mile mark, a picnic table sits in a small clearing where the trail takes a sharp turn to follow alongside the creek.
Gaps in the tree-lined bluffs reveal a tranquil waterway where showy mountain laurels bloom in late spring.
Creek viewTurn left onto the main loop at 6.2 miles, where the road dips into a stream that may require wading across after heavy rains.
Reaching the end of the loop in a quarter mile, head back across the wooden bridge and down the forest road, returning to the trailhead in another mile.
Gum Creek TrailTrail Map
Explore More!
Video
Hiking Shoal River Headwaters State Park
Nearby Adventures
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, Titi 14.8 miles. Paralleling the floodplain of Titi Creek and its tributaries, this hike on the Florida Trail across Eglin will surprise you with its mature longleaf pine forests and its steep descents into creek basins.
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.
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