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Point Washington State Forest, located in South Walton along Scenic 30A is a rare gem.  With hundreds of acres of indiginous pine, oak and miles and miles of sand trails, there are endless opportunities to explore.  There are groomed and ungroomed offroad 4 wheel drive trails and miles and miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. 

Location Along 30A

There are many public entrances to Point Washington State Forest on Highway 98 and on most of the major corridors to County Highway 30A from Highway 98, including County Highway 395, County Highway 283 and County Highway 83.  Located in the southern most of Walton County Florida, if you're coming down from Highway I-10, it's about 46 miles down Highway 331.  

Natural Ecosystems in Point Washington State Forest

The majority of this Florida state forest consists of sand, pine forest, basin swamps, wet flatlands, wet prairie and cypress swamps.  The forest is rich with wildlife and plantlife, including many endangered or rare species including American Kestrel, gopher tortoise, flatwoods salamander and the world's largest population of Curtiss Sandgrass. 

Camping

Overnight camping is allowed in special areas of Point Washington State Forest. You can get more info and reserve a spot for only $10.00 by calling (850) 373-1801. Keep in mind that resources inside the forest are limited – camping is primitive in the park.

What To Do

There are endless miles of hiking and biking trails and forest roads to drive your offroad vehicle or Jeep.  Point Washington State Forest is a great place to get a taste of what natural Florida was like.  With endless pine and sand trails, the forest can offer days of exploration and roaming.  Overnight camping by resevation is available at the Eastern Lake Campground.  

Close to 30A Vacation Rentals

The forests of Point Washington directly abut 30A in many places.  If you're staying in one of our luxury 30A vacation rental properties, most are just a couple minutes from a trail head.  Going for a relaxing or energetic ride in the forest trails just takes a few minutes from your 30A rental home.  

Hunting

Hunting of certain animals is also permitted inside Point Washington State Forest. The forest is part of the Point Washington Wildlife Management Area. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission regulate the hunting seasons and game limits inside the forest. See their website for more detailed information.

Off-Road Vehicles

Point Washington, FL is also an excellent spot for off-road vehicles. Many of the trails are designated for you to take vehicles on. Take your Jeep along the many trails inside the forest - just be careful to not ruin the path or hit any animals!

Features

The forest is made up of ten natural communities. Sandhills, basin swamps, titi drains, wet flat woods, wet prairie and cypress swamps make up the majority of the land. Much of the forest has been cut over, but there are still plenty of intact sandhill ecosystems to be seen.

Rare species of plants and animals can be found in the forest. These include the American kestrel, gopher tortoises, flatwoods salamanders, and white-topped pitcher plants. Point Washington is also home to the world’s largest population of Curtiss sandgrass. There are wildflowers galore to be seen and photographed during certain months.

It’s also not uncommon to see controlled forest fires at Point Washington State Forest. Prescribed burning programs are used as an important management tool for the forest’s ecosystem. Preservationists and state park officials’ use controlled fire to manage the timber, wildlife, and ecological resources. “Reducing fuel loads (undergrowth), improving hazardous conditions, and maintaining biodiversity are some of the objectives of the prescribed burning programs,” according to FreshFromFlorida.com.

Start planning your trip to Point Washington in Florida today. Blue Swell's incredible rental homes in Santa Rosa Beach make visiting the forest easy. Contact us today to get started on the best vacation of your life!