Picturesque Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park lies along the historic Apalachicola Bay 83 miles south of Tallahassee. This northwestern Florida state park features miles of undeveloped beaches and a trail system that extends through the surrounding pine forest and marshland.
This peaceful paradise offers guests opportunities for swimming, kayaking, fishing, hiking, camping, star gazing, picnicking and wildlife viewing.
Activities
Spend a day or stay for a few nights inside this serene park. You’ll discover more than enough to keep you entertained during your visit here. St. George Island is an ideal spot for shell collecting, stargazing and bird watching.
If you stay overnight make sure you remember to look up after dark. The park’s isolated location makes it a perfect spot to stargaze and an observation platform helps guests get a closer look above them, at the stars, planets and the Milky Way.
The park also provides picnic areas with tables and grills, restrooms, showers, a playground and an interpretive exhibit area with details about local flora and fauna.
Here are some of the activities that you can do during your visit to Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park:
Boating at Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park
Kayak or canoe in the bay along Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park. Bring your own or rent a canoe or kayak at the park’s ranger station. Be aware that the bay may be shallow in places. Two natural boat ramps offer safe access into the Apalachicola Bay.
Swimming at Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park
Swim in the clear blue water of the Gulf and relax on the sandy beach during your visit. The park’s 9 miles of beautiful white sandy shoreline is perfect for strolling along, sunbathing, collecting seashells and building sandcastles.
Since there are no lifeguards, guests are encouraged to pay attention to the warning flag system that is displayed at the welcome centers and on the beach. These colored flags indicate whether swimming conditions are safe or hazardous.
Hiking at Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park
Take a stroll along the beach or through the wildflowers, pine forest, scrub and marshland during your visit to this idyllic state park.
Here are a couple of the trails at Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park:
- Gap Point Trail – An easy 5.4 mile trail from the campground area through the pine forest and out to the bay area.
- East slough Overlook Trail – This easy 3 mile trail follows a sandy path from the picnic pavilions through a marshy area and out near the campground. This trail features boardwalks, benches and informational resources throughout.
It may be hard to follow during the summer because of seasonal overgrowth.
Biking at Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park
Paved roadways and nature trails provide miles of riding for all ages and levels inside Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park. Another trail outside of the park allows riders easy access to the center of the island.
Helmets are required for all cyclists under the age of 16.
Fishing at Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park
Catch redfish, flounder, Spanish mackerel, sea trout, whiting and pompano from boat or shore. Remember to pick up a Florida fishing license ahead of time.
Birding at Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park
Don’t forget to bring your binoculars and bird lists – about 300 species of birds have been sighted in this area. An observation area that overlooks the dunes and coastal grasslands offers spectacular views of native and migrating birds within the park.
During your visit you may see Northern mockingbirds, brown pelicans, gulls, willets, herons, plovers, sandpipers, terns, black skimmers, ruddy turnstones, American oystercatchers, egrets, bald eagles, warblers, hawks, falcons, buntings and rangers.
Nature and Wildlife at Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park
Guests delight in observing the many diverse life forms within all of the Florida state parks. Some of the wildlife that you may see inside Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park are frogs, snakes, lizards, alligators, dolphins, deer, blue crabs, waterfowl and shorebirds.
Pets at Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park
Well behaved pets are allowed inside Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park as long as they are kept on a hand held leash no longer than 6 feet. Pets are not allowed inside any park buildings or on the beach.
Camping at Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park
Pack your camping gear (tent, hammock and/or RV) and spend a quiet night nestled among the pine forest not far from the coast. Sixty campsites with electric and water hookups are available for guests to reserve. These campsites are a short walk from bathhouses, a playground, nature trails and the beach area.
The park also features primitive camping at Gap Point that is accessible by foot or kayak. These 2 separate camping sites each accommodate up to 12 people. There are no restrooms or drinking water near these sites.
A youth camping area for organized groups of up to 25 people is also an option at this state park. This camping area has picnic tables, a campfire circle, restrooms and cold water showers.
Park Location
Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park
1900 E Gulf Beach Dr
St George Island, FL 32328
Phone: 850.927.2111
Map
Video
Here is a short YouTube video showcasing several attractions at Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park:
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