Nestled along the Gulf Coast in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, also known as State Park Topsail Hill, spans an impressive 1,640 acres. This beautiful state park offers a variety of activities, including swimming and relaxation opportunities along its 3.2 miles of sandy beaches. Guests can easily access the beach using the tram services provided, and it is important to adhere to the warning flag system for swimming conditions.
About the Park
Nestled along the Gulf Coast in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, Topsail Hill Preserve State Park spans an impressive 1,640 acres. This state park is a treasure trove of natural beauty, featuring a unique blend of coastal dune lakes, wetlands, and longleaf pine forests. The park’s diverse ecosystem is a haven for wildlife, offering visitors the chance to spot alligators, a variety of bird species, and an abundance of fish.
One of the park’s standout features is its coastal dune lakes, which are rare and found in only a few places around the world. These lakes, along with the surrounding wetlands, create a rich habitat that supports a wide range of flora and fauna. As you explore the park, you’ll be treated to the sight of majestic longleaf pines and the serene beauty of the coastal dunes.
For those who love to hike, Topsail Hill Preserve State Park offers a 15-mile trail system that winds through this stunning landscape. Whether you’re wandering through the ancient coastal dunes or strolling along the lakes, the trails provide a peaceful escape into nature. Each step offers a new opportunity to discover the park’s natural wonders and enjoy the tranquility of this coastal paradise.
Visitors to Topsail Hill Preserve State Park will find themselves immersed in a world of natural splendor, where the beauty of Florida’s Gulf Coast is on full display. Whether you’re here to hike, bird watch, or simply relax on the beach, the park offers a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
Beautiful white sandy beaches that stretch for miles along emerald shores and a majestic 25 foot high dune awaits visitors at this state park located in Santa Rosa Beach just 14 miles east of Destin.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, named because of that majestic dune’s resemblance to a topsail, is a 1,640 acre public recreational area filled with wetlands, freshwater coastal dune lakes, and longleaf pine forests. While boats are not permitted in the coastal dune lakes, visitors can still enjoy fishing from the shoreline. Visitors enjoy swimming, kayaking, fishing, bird watching, picnicking, hiking, camping and glamping in this serene Florida state park.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is a great location to spend a few days or more. They have everything you need to have a restful vacation. Their amenities include: a playground, picnic pavilions, outdoor showers, elevated boardwalks to the beach, tram service to the beach, nature hikes, educational programs, campsites, cabins, bungalows, and a clubhouse.
The park’s concessionaire, Fancy Camps, offers guests a different approach to a traditional camping experience with their glamping campsites. The campground store carries snacks, ice, firewood, apparel, ice cream, camping items, and rentals (bikes, canoes, kayaks, stand up paddleboards, beach carts, beach chairs and umbrellas). And the Kith & Kin Cafe offers up coffee, gourmet sandwiches, pastries, tea and smoothies for guests to purchase.
Here are some of the activities that you can do during your visit to Topsail Hill Preserve State Park:
Activities
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is a great location to spend a few days or more. They have everything you need to have a restful vacation. Their amenities include: a playground, picnic pavilions, outdoor showers, elevated boardwalks to the beach, tram service to the beach, nature hikes, educational programs, campsites, cabins, bungalows, and a clubhouse.
The park’s concessionaire, Fancy Camps, offers guests a different approach to a traditional camping experience with their glamping campsites. The campground store carries snacks, ice, firewood, apparel, ice cream, camping items, and rentals (bikes, canoes, kayaks, stand up paddleboards, beach carts, beach chairs and umbrellas). And the Kith & Kin Cafe offers up coffee, gourmet sandwiches, pastries, tea and smoothies for guests to purchase.
Here are some of the activities that you can do during your visit to Topsail Hill Preserve State Park:
Boating at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
Paddle along the emerald waters during your visit to Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. Guests are not allowed to bring their own water craft into the park but rentals are available daily at the park store.
Swimming at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park’s 3.2 miles of gorgeous sandy beaches welcomes guests with opportunities to swim, relax and search for seashells. Guests may enter the beautiful green-blue waters of the gulf anywhere along the extensive beach area; a tram service is available to shuttle guests from the parking area.
Visitors are encouraged to pay close attention to the warning flag system. These flags represent swimming conditions and are posted at the welcome stations and on the beach.
Hiking at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
Discover the peaceful environment inside Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, as you wander through longleaf pines, saw palmettos, ancient coastal dunes, and around the lakes. The park’s 15 miles of trails begin at the day use parking lot and trail maps are available at the ranger station.
Here are a couple of the trails at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park:
- Morris Lake Trail – Easy 3.6 mile trail that winds past ancient coastal dunes and scrub and along Morris Lake. If you look closely you’ll notice remnants of a WWII JB-2 rocket development area.
- Deer Track Trail – This easy 1.1 mile trail leads past Campbell Lake, carnivorous plants and rare coastal dunes.
Biking
Ride along the paved trails that lead out to the beach area or Campbell Lake during your visit to Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. bring your own bicycle or rent one at the park store. Guests should be aware that all riders under the age of 16 are required by law to wear a helmet.
Fishing
Pack up your fishing gear, pick up a Florida fishing license, and head over to Topsail Hill Preserve State Park for a chance to catch bass, catfish, red fish, pompano or mackerel. The park boasts of excellent opportunities for both freshwater and saltwater fishing – along its coastal dune lakes and a 3.2 mile stretch of secluded beach.
Birding
Bring your binoculars and get a glimpse of an Eastern Bluebird, Snowy Plover, Piping Plover, Great Blue Heron, Barred Owl, Savannah Sparrow, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, cardinal, osprey, Orange-crowned Warbler or a Brown-headed Nuthatch. And since the park is along the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, it’s a great spot to see both native and migratory birds.
Nature and Wildlife at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
Guests delight in catching sight of some of the many wildlife species that live within Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. Wildlife that may be seen throughout the park – along the trails, in the beach area and around the lakes – include birds, dolphins, white-tailed deer, gray foxes, snakes, lizards, rabbits, turtles, Florida black bear, and possibly a bobcat. The rare Choctawhatchee beach mouse also resides here.
Pets at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
Pets are welcome at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park as long as they are well behaved and restricted to a hand held leash no longer than 6 feet. Pets are not allowed in any park buildings (this includes cabins and bungalows), on the beach, tram or boardwalks.
Camping at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
Pack your overnight bags and come spend a few days inside Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. The park features an RV campground, a tent only campground, cabins, bungalows and luxury glamping sites.
Here is a little bit of information on each of these options:
- RV Campground – This area features 156 campsites; each site has water, electric, sewer and cable hookups plus access to bathhouses, laundry facilities, a swimming pool, shuffleboard and the beach. Pets are welcome.
- Tent-only campsites – The park has 22 tent-only campsites; each site has an elevated tent pad, a fire ring and access to electricity and water. A bathhouse is located within walking distance.
- Glamping – This luxury camping experience is provided by Fancy Camps and is ideal for guests who want to enjoy the great outdoors but still have many of the comforts of home. Glamping is available year round.
- Bungalows – The park has 16 unique and fully furnished bungalows. Each one has one bedroom, bathroom, a kitchen, living room, dining area and a carport. Bungalows sleep up to 4 guests (a queen-sized bed and a sleeper sofa) and an initial set of linens are provided.
- Cabins – Each of the 16 cabins have 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen and a combo living and dining area. An initial set of linens are provided and each cabin sleeps up to 6 people.
Park Location
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
7525 W County Hwy 30A
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
Phone: 850.267.8330
Map
Video
Here is a short YouTube video showcasing several attractions at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
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