Deer Lake State Park – Florida Hikes - Primal Outdoor Members Portal

The coast of Walton County is dwelling to uncommon coastal dune lakes, an ecosystem that solely exists in Florida, Australia, and Africa.

You’ll discover considered one of these fascinating lakes at Deer Lake State Park, west of Alys Seaside alongside CR 30A.

Blue ribbon of water beyond a dune field

Deer Lake defines the western fringe of the park

A pleasant 0.3 mile linear boardwalk over the dune discipline results in a sweeping view of the Gulf of Mexico and seaside entry.

Add a seaside stroll to see the outfall of Deer Lake, or discover the lesser identified aspect of the park on a hike to the north finish of the lake on the Deer Lake Path.

Marsh with tidal channel and pine flatwoods on far shore

The higher finish of Deer Lake

Sources

Overview

Location: Seagrove BeachLength: As much as 3 milesTrailhead: 30.302900, -86.074800Address: 6350 E CR 30A, Seagrove BeachFees: $3 per car in dropboxRestroom: On the trailheadManager: Florida State ParksPhone: 850-267-8300

Open 8 AM till sundown each day. Leashed pets welcome on footpaths however not on the boardwalk or the seaside. A water bottle filling station is on the restrooms.

Instructions

From US 98 at Rosemary Seaside, observe CR 30A via Seacrest to Seagrove. The park entrance is on the left 2.7 miles previous Watersound Pkwy. The doorway street splits contained in the gate on the iron ranger. To incorporate the boardwalk to the seaside in your stroll, use the primary parking space on the finish of this street. To hike solely the Deer Lake Path, flip round in that parking space and backtrack to one of many parallel parking areas on the opposite aspect of the cut up entrance street.

Hike

The walkway guiding guests to the seaside begins from the primary parking space to the appropriate of the restrooms.

Cease on the water bottle filling station and prime off, because the stroll to the outflow of Deer Lake is completely within the solar. Go a kiosk with park info.

Woman looking at kiosk along concrete path

Begin of the accessible path to the seaside

To cross the delicate coastal dunes, the walkway turns into a sturdy, broad boardwalk the place the habitat transitions away from pine flatwoods. Railings are on each side.

As soon as the boardwalk is above the dune discipline, there’s a roofed commentary deck with benches overlooking the higher finish of the dunes closest to the pine flatwoods.

Shaded bench

Deer Lake is the faintest of smudges to the west; the homes that rise past it are extra recognizable.

Topped with a minimal quantity of vegetation, the dunes are blindingly white within the solar.

Boardwalk above the dunes

Previous a pine on a ridge, the boardwalk extends excessive above a deep swale within the dunes, crossing it to the subsequent crest of sand ridge.

From this top, you’ll be able to see the Gulf of Mexico shimmering past the dunes.

Dunes with Florida rosemary and water beyond

A blue horizon

The rounded shrubs thiving on the dunes beneath are Florida rosemary, the youngest evenly spaced.

That’s on account of natural poison their roots put out to maintain different vegetation from benefiting from the shade they solid.

Florida rosemary

Attain a second roofed commentary deck with benches that overlooks the undulating panorama of the shifting dunes beneath.

Waves strum the shoreline the place dunes meet seaside, a panorama that opens up when the boardwalk turns to satisfy a staircase.

Staircase to seaside

The steps present the short descent to the seaside, however the boardwalk ramp to seaside stage is healthier for the views.

Proceed to its west finish, dealing with the the distant outfall of Deer Lake, the place it exchanges its contemporary waters with the Gulf.

View of beach beyond an interpretive sign

View to the west

It’s straightforward to discern the boundary of this park, as an enormous build-up of residences and condos begins on the western shore of Deer Lake.

If you wish to see the outfall up shut, it’s a seaside stroll from the bottom of this boardwalk, an addition 0.7 mile round-trip.

Stormy seas and dark waters flowing into them

On the outfall

On the outfall, witness how the tannic waters of Deer Lake move into the Gulf of Mexico.

This occurs when the lake is overfull. Waves wash into Deer Lake from the Gulf when the surf is up.

The lake’s eroded channel speaks to sturdy releases of water after storms

In both case, the return journey to the parking space is precisely the way in which you got here right here, one other 0.3 miles on the accessible boardwalk for both a 0.6 or 1.3 mile hike.

In case you are including a hike on the Deer Lake Path to the boardwalk traverse, stroll alongside the park street to the entrance entrance and cross CR 30A. It’s a half mile round-trip to its walk-in trailhead.

Alternatively, parallel parking spots simply previous a yellow-tipped publish alongside the exit aspect of park street present the closest parking to the Deer Lake Path trailhead.