Nine
miles of undeveloped beaches and dunes, surrounded by the Gulf
of Mexico and Apalachicola Bay, provide the perfect setting for
St. George Island State Park.
The natural features of the park include extensive beaches and
dunes, forests of slash pines and live oak hammocks. The ocean
and bay support an abundance of marine life, while small
freshwater ponds and sloughs provide a limited aquatic habitat
in an otherwise arid climate. The waters of this area are some
of the most productive commercial and sport fisheries in
Florida, with a thriving oyster industry at the mouth of the
Apalachicola River.
Beaches
St.
George Island offers 8 miles of some of the most pristine
beaches along the Gulf coast of Florida. Visitors can access 4
miles of beach along the parks main drive. For those visitors
who enjoy a wilderness experience, the last 4 miles of beach is
accessible only by foot.
Boating
Canoeing and kayaking are favorite activities around the park.
Both can be rented on the Island, call the park for more
information. Small offshore boats are used around the island for
fishing. Keep in mind that the bay is very shallow.
Boat Ramp
There are two boat ramps that visitors can use to access the
Apalachicola Bay. The first ramp is located next to the park’s
youth camp and the other is 2 ½ miles from the parks entrance.
Both can accommodate boats not much larger than 24 feet in
length with a shallow draft.
Full Facility Camping
This
1,962 acre barrier island park has 60 campsites with electric
and water hookups available for reservation through Reserve
America.
Primitive Camping
Primitive campsites at Gap Point are available via a 2-½ mile
backpacking trail. This area is also accessible by boat.
Fishing
Surf and bay fishing may yield catches of flounder, redfish, sea
trout, pompano, whiting or sometimes Spanish mackerel. A
saltwater fishing license is required in Florida.
Nature Trails
The trail to Gap Point begins in the campground and meanders
through the pine flatwood forest to the bay.
Picnicking
The park offers 4 large shelters on the beach equipped with
restrooms and showers. Each shelter has grills for cooking and
several picnic tables for visitors. These shelters can also be
reserved. Call the park for more information.
Showers
Showering facilities are available in the family campground. The
park also offers cold-water showers at two beach access areas.
Ask staff for their locations.
Swimming
Swimming and sunbathing are popular activities on the white
sandy beaches and clear Gulf waters. NO LIFEGUARDS ARE PROVIDED.
Wildlife
The arid conditions, coupled with the park's island location,
limit both the number and type of resident animal life. Osprey
may frequently be seen fishing in the waters, and their nests
are found in the tops of living or dead pine trees in the park.
Raccoons and ghost crabs may be observed, along with the
salt-marsh snakes and diamondback terrapin that reside in the
marsh and bay waters. Birds such as the snowy plover, least
tern, black skimmer, willet and many other species of shorebirds
frequently nest along the park's sandy shores and grass flats.
The barrier islands of the Gulf Coast are important "rest stops"
for a wide variety of migrating birds during the fall and
spring. The best time to observe migrating birds is after the
passage of cold fronts.
