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Bright white sand dunes along emerald shores

St. Joseph Peninsula State Park

Protecting fragile coastal habitats on the tip of Cape San Blas as it curves around to shelter St. Joseph Bay, T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park provides a sweep of beachfront on both bay and Gulf to enjoy.

Cape San Blas      ( 29.745278,-85.395351 )      

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Cut in two by the ferocious force of Hurricane Michael in 2018, St. Joseph Peninsula State Park is continuing its progress towards recovery.

Portions of the park have reopened, enabling both day use access and overnight stays. But the peninsula is now in two parts with a connecting bridge.

Sea shells on a beach Shelling is still superb along these shores


Resources

Resources for exploring the area
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: Cape San Blas
Entrance: 29.745278,-85.395351
Address: 8899 Cape San Blas Rd, Port St. Joe
Fees: $6 per vehicle
Restrooms: At campgrounds and picnic areas
Land Manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 850-227-1327
 
Open 8 AM to sunset. Leashed dogs on the bay side but not the beach.

Directions

 
From Port St. Joe, follow SR 30A to SR 30E; continue on SR 30E until it ends in the state park. Enter the park gates and pass the Maritime Forest Trail trailhead before reaching the entrance station.

About the Park

The primary purpose of St. Joseph Peninsula State Park is to protect windswept Cape San Blas, which shelters the expanse of St. Joseph Bay behind it.

But it’s always been a destination for beachgoers in a distinctly rural region west of the Apalachicola River.

path between dunes to beach Beach access near Eagle Harbor


En route to the park, much of the narrow spit of Cape San Blas is now crowded with beach homes.

But here at the park, you can relax and enjoy the surf on a vast expanse of white sand along emerald waters.

White sands and low dunes on ocean Powdery white sands await


A large parking area is shared between the primary beach access point south of the new pass at Eagle Harbor and the bayside harbor with its marina.

Little remains of the massive dunes that once blocked your view of the Gulf of Mexico from the park road.

Open water with forest beyond Eagle Harbor


Before Hurricane Michael rearranged this peninsula, the park had also two large campgrounds in a pine forest by the sea and an array of bayside cabins.

The bayside cabins survived the storm and are once again open for rental. They have a unique “vacation cottage” vibe and great views of the bay.

Primitive camping is available in the Wilderness Preserve west of the cabins. A new campground is presently being built.

Cabins on the shoreline Bayside Cabins in 2011


Hiking

Three hiking trails existed on our last visit. The Maritime Forest Nature Trail just inside the park gate has reopened.

The Wilderness Trail has long been a destination for backpackers to sleep under the stars, and is currently the one place you can camp in the park.

Partially destroyed by the forces of nature that tore a new inlet at Eagle Harbor, the interpretive St. Joseph Bay Trail is being reconstructed.

St Joseph Maritime Maritime Forest Nature Trail Combining a boardwalk and a loop through a maritime hammock, this easy nature trail leads to the bluffs and shoreline along St. Joseph's Bay.
Close up of leaves of scrub oak St. Joseph Bay Trail Home to a diminutive scrub forest, the interpretive St. Joseph Bay Trail scrambles along dunes with views of the expansive bay.
Emerald waves on the St. Joseph Peninsula Wilderness Preserve Trail If you’ve dreamed of camping on a deserted beach, here’s your chance. Spend a night under the stars along the Gulf of Mexico amid the quiet of the Wilderness Preserve.

Biking

A long-established paved bike path parallels CR 30E from the park entrance gates through the entire sweep of Cape San Blas for ten miles.


Explore More!

Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Coastal scrub at Salinas Park Salinas Park With a boardwalk over a beautiful coastal scrub to a beach on the sparkling waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Salinas Park provides a picnic grove in a pine forest.
Large marble monument in forest Constitution Convention Museum State Park Learn about frontier days on the Forgotten Coast at this small museum that commemorates the steps taken to establish Florida statehood.

Reserve Campsite Official Website

Category: Backpacking, Beach Hikes, Beaches, Biking, Camping, Canoe & Kayak Rentals, Day Hikes, Florida State Parks, Hikes, Loop Hikes, Nature Trails, Northwest Florida, Paddling, Parks, PlacesTag: Accessible, Birding, Boating, Botanical, Cabins, Family-Friendly, Fishing, Florida State Parks, Picnic, Playgrounds, Port St. Joe, Primitive Camping, Scalloping, Scenic Hikes, Snorkeling, St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, Swimming, Wildlife Viewing

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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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