INDEFINITELY CLOSED due to hurricane damage. Our understanding is a new version of this trail is presently under construction.
For a sampling of the fragile coastal habitats protected along St. Joseph Bay by St Joseph Peninsula State Park, take a short walk on this spectacularly scenic coastal trail.
It meanders through a diminutive scrub forest with delicate Florida rosemary, myrtle oak, and Chapman oak, gnarled and wizened like bonsai thanks to the persistent coastal breezes.
This loop hike scrambles up and over dunes covered in scrub forest to showcase panoramas of the bay.
There are numerous benches along the walk, and several crossovers in the middle of the loop to shorten the walk, making this ideal for small children.
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Overview
Length: 0.9 mile loop
Trailhead: 29.776583, -85.402133
Address: 8899 Cape San Blas Rd, Port St. Joe
Fees: $6 per vehicle
Restrooms: At the bayside picnic area
Land Manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 850-227-1327
Open 8 AM to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome.
Directions
From Port St. Joe, follow SR 30A to SR 30E; continue on SR 30E until it ends in the state park. Continue into the park and follow the state park entrance road to the picnic area past the dunes to the Bayside Picnic Area. Park and walk down along the bay to the boardwalk that leads to the nature trail loop.
Hike
Immediately after crossing the boardwalk over a tidal creek, the trail splits three ways. Turn right to keep to the outer loop, walking out to the shoreline.
Follow the arrows around the coastal fringe, where the trail squeezes down a narrow strip between the bay and cabins.
After 0.4 mile, an arrow directs you to the left into a hilly stretch of relict dunes, creating a loop back to the main trail.
Explore More!
Learn more about St Joseph Peninsula State Park
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.Nearby Adventures
More worth exploring while you’re in this area.
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.
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.