Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
We were thrilled to come across Topsail Hill Preserve. As fans of hiking, we appreciated the trails which run for about 2.5 miles. Had we known the place had rental cabins we probably would have stayed there, but we were already committed to our Airbnb reservations. We really enjoyed the tranquil sea-green water, the white dunes speckled with sea oats, and the solitude of Lake Campbell, a rare freshwater lake surrounded by dunes.Florida Scenic Trail- Burnt Grocery Creek
The following day we headed north toward Milton and explored Burnt Grocery Creek, which is one portion of the longer Florida Scenic Trail. Sadly, we had to turn around after being out for about an hour. It’s not that the surroundings weren’t beautiful, but we realized well into our hike that we had forgotten our water bottles! The portion of the trail we did see was serene and isolated and ran along the banks of a creek. We came across only a handful of other explorers while out there. In keeping with the remoteness of the area, there was no designated parking area. We had to park along the side of the road at the trailhead. The area is a must for birders as there seemed to be a great variety. I had recently taking to bird watching, its not just for old people!Blackwater River State Park
Blackwater River is another park and hiking area near Milton and “wow” is all I can say. My girlfriend and I both agreed this was our favorite and we would recommend it without hesitation. It’s picturesque, featuring three hiking trails, which wind between lakes, through forests, and among swampland. The coolest, though, are the waterfalls — a rarity in flat Florida. For the diversity of landscape alone, this park is a must-see.Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park
On our third day we traveled just northeast of Destin, where we visited Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park. Granted, Fred Gannon isn’t very far inland, but if did offer scenery that was unique from the coastline. These trails were also quiet during our visit. It was as if we (almost) had the whole place to ourselves. One of the loops followed alongside a stream while another ran by the bayou shoreline. Apparently this is an aquatic preserve. Locals had gotten our hopes up, saying that we might be lucky enough to spot dolphins, but sadly, we weren’t so fortunate. We did see a bald eagle, though, which was pretty cool. Lots of waterfowl here. Hopefully our experience in going beyond-the-beach will inspire visitors and locals alike. The nature areas in Florida’s Panhandle are amongst the most diverse in the nation and offer a rich variety of places to explore.Resources for visiting Fort Walton Beach area
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Florida Scenic Trail- Burnt Grocery Creek Blackwater River State Park Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park Indian Temple Mound Museum A small Fort Walton Beach museum in the historic downtown operated by the city. It contains early artifacts from the mound which was excavated in the ’60s. On the same grounds are other historic buildings, including Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum, Garnier Post Office Museum, and Civil War exhibits. Florida Rambler: Best beach camping in Florida Panhandle Florida Rambler: Camping at state parks in Florida’s Panhandle Florida Rambler: Big Bend Scenic Byway: A less visited part of Florida [mappress mapid=”491″]Richard Remick works part time as an IT security consultant while traveling and exploring the outdoors. He spends most of his time skiing, hiking and camping in Colorado and when in Florida you can usually find him on the water either paddleboarding or kayaking.