HEAD FOR THE DUNES AT TOPSAIL HILL STATE PARK

from Florida Country Magazine - December 2020 / January 2021

WHIPPING IT UP IN YOUR KITCHEN

SANTA ROSA BEACH GEM IS IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA’S WALTON COUNTY

Written by: Ava Grace

White quartz dunes at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park rise above the ground like a ship’s sail, all while enclosing freshwater dune lakes that bristle with aquatic sea life. Wooden boardwalks invite guests to walk past the impressive 25-foot tall dunes, down to three miles of pristine shoreline wrapped along the Gulf of Mexico’s emerald waters.

That vivid description is only part of the story of the state park, as noted on its website, floridastateparks.org/parksand-trails/topsail-hill-preserve-state-park. There is much more to this Santa Rosa Beach gem, located in northwest Florida’s Walton County.

Visitors who love to get out on the water can rent kayaks, canoes and SUPs through the campground store. Those who prefer to hike will enjoy 10 miles of trails through a 1,600acre preserve, and a half-mile jaunt from the campground down to the Gulf waters.

“The hiking trails offer old-growth pine forests, sandy scrubland, dunes and wetlands, where 13 imperiled species find refuge,” explains Alex Cronin, spokesperson for Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection. Hikers might also see otherworldly-looking pitcher plants, which are carnivorous. Wildlife spotting may include Choctawhatchee beach mice, colorful birds such as bluebirds, cardinals, red-shouldered hawks and snowy plovers, and possibly even white-tailed deer.

Anglers are in luck—there is freshwater fishing in the coastal dune lakes—and bass, pan fish and freshwater catfish can be reeled in. Fishing from the shoreline can pull in pompano, redfish, bream, Spanish mackerel and king mackerel. (Florida fishing licenses are required and motorized boats are not allowed).

Although a trip to the park is excellent for a day trip or a morning hike, it’s even better when the plans are for an overnight stay or longer. “The Gregory E. Moore RV Resort campground has 156 RV (up to 45 feet) sites with water, 30-amp or 50-amp electric, digital cable, sewer, laundry facilities, bathrooms with showers, and shuffleboard courts,” explains Cronin.

If you don’t have an RV, no worries—furnished bungalows with full kitchens and bathrooms are available for weekly stays. Plus, big rigs are also welcome. Reservations can be

Topsail Hill made up to 11 months in advance through ReserveAmerica. Book online or call 800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287.

Preserve State Park is a favorite of visitors who love to get out on the water, and who love watching wildlife.

Native Americans once used the land for fishing, hunting and camping. And during the late 1800s to mid-1900s, old-growth longleaf pines, now part of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, were turpentined (sap removed) by workers from the Quarters Turpentine Village. The turpentine was used to maintain wooden ships. Sap-removal scars, “catface” shaped, can still be seen in many living trees.

Concerning the COVID-19 pandemic, Florida’s state parks follow local orders for facial coverings and masks. Visitors are expected to maintain distances of at least 6 feet apart. FCM