Beach Guide: Grayton Beach State Park - Pristine Sands and Nature Trails

A. Grayton Beach State Park sits along Scenic Highway 30A in South Walton, roughly halfway between Destin and Panama City Beach on the Florida Panhandle's Gulf Coast.

The park entrance is at 357 Main Park Road, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. 32459, reached by heading south on County Road 283 from U.S. Highway 98.

Get directions to Grayton Beach State Park on Google Maps.

A. The park opens daily at 8 a.m. and closes at sunset, every day of the year.

Entrance fees are $5 per vehicle for two to eight people, $4 for a single-occupant vehicle and $2 per person for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Parking is included with admission, but the lot fills quickly on summer weekends and holidays and the park may temporarily close to new arrivals, so an early arrival is strongly recommended.

Call the Grayton Beach State Park office at 850-267-8300 for current conditions or capacity updates.  Check their website for up to date information.

A. Grayton Beach State Park contains three coastal dune lakes, Western Lake, Alligator Lake and Little Redfish Lake, a feature that puts it in extremely rare geographic company.

Coastal dune lakes are found in only five places on Earth: Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand, Oregon and Walton County, Fla., making these the only ones in the state.

Western Lake has a dedicated boat ramp and kayak launch; you can bring your own canoe or kayak or rent one at the park ranger station.

Walton County's coastal dune lakes page explains the geology and ecology behind these globally rare water bodies.

A. The park has a mile of white sand Gulf beach plus restrooms, showers, picnic pavilions, campfire circles, a boat ramp, a kayak and canoe launch, water fountains and interpretive exhibits throughout the property.

A one mile nature trail from the beach parking area loops through the dune ecosystem, salt marsh and pine flatwoods.

A second trail loops 4.5 miles through pine forest and around the back waters of Western Lake, open to hikers and cyclists.

Kayak and canoe rentals are available at the ranger station for visitors who want to explore the dune lakes without bringing their own gear.

A. Yes, the campground has sites at $30 per night plus tax, with a $6.70 reservation fee; RVs pay an additional $7 nightly utility fee.

The park also has 30 duplex cabins starting at $110 per night, each with air conditioning, a fireplace, a kitchen and a heated bathroom, sleeping up to six people.

Cabins require a two-night minimum and can be reserved up to 11 months in advance through the Florida State Parks reservation system.

A. The beach fronts the Florida Gulf coast. The water tends to be clear, emerald-green water and calm-- conditions typical of this stretch of the Florida Panhandle. Offshore systems, winds and tides can cause rough conditions.

There are no lifeguards on duty; the park uses colored warning flags to communicate daily swim conditions.

Conditions can shift with tides and passing storms, so check the flags at the water's edge before letting kids wade in.

A. The park is a designated stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail, and regulars include Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, Brown Pelicans and Osprey.

The interior areas and dune lake zones support alligators and Florida Black Bears, both spotted occasionally in the park's inland areas, so keep a respectful distance and secure food when camping.

Western Lake holds largemouth bass, bream, speckled trout and redfish for anglers casting from shore or paddling out on a kayak.

A. Seaside is about one mile east along 30A and easily reachable by bike on the 18-mile paved Timpoochee Trail that runs the length of the South Walton beachside corridor.

Point Washington State Forest sits directly across County Road 30A from the park entrance and offers three double-loop off-road trails ranging from 3.5 to 10 miles, open to hikers, cyclists and equestrians.

Destin is roughly 22 miles to the west and Panama City Beach about 18-22 miles to the east (depending on the route) for visitors planning a longer panhandle trip.

A. It's a strong choice for families at most times of year: the gently sloping beach is popular with families, although surf conditions vary and there are no lifeguards. The campground and cabin options make it easy to turn a day trip into an overnight, and the trail network gives older kids a full day of hiking and biking.

Since there are no lifeguards on duty, so you'll want to supervise young swimmers closely and always check the warning flags before entering the water.

The park doesn't allow alcohol in day-use areas, which helps keep the atmosphere calm even during busy summer months.

A. Late spring and fall hit the sweet spot: water temperatures are warm, the trails are comfortable for long hikes and the park is far less likely to reach capacity.

May and October are particularly good months to visit.

Be aware the that six-month long hurricane season runs from June 1 until Nov. 30, with the peak months being August, September and October. Summer weekends are the busiest, and the park can close to new arrivals by late morning if the lot fills, so plan to arrive at or before 9 a.m. if you're visiting in July or August.

A. The beachfront offers the mixed shell variety typical of Gulf Coast beaches, though Grayton Beach is not a standout shelling destination.

Collecting live shells is prohibited on all Florida state park beaches.

The one mile nature trail near the beach parking area is a good choice for nature exploration: it passes through the dune ecosystem, salt marsh and pine flatwoods and reveals a side of the park that the beachfront alone doesn't show.

A. The park provides beach Mobi-Mats and beach wheelchairs; call the Grayton Beach State Park office at 850-267-8300 in advance to arrange beach wheelchair access.

Accessible campsites, cabins and picnic areas are also available and can be reserved through the Florida State Parks reservation system.