Fish, Hike, Paddle & Birdwatch on our unique Coastal Dune Lakes!
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Walton County Florida is well known for its beautiful beaches and great fishing. Less known to those that have never visited the area, are the unique and scenic coastal dune lakes that dot the coastline along the area’s beach dune systems. Nestled along Scenic Highway 30A, Walton county’s coastal dune lakes are rare geological features that only occur in the Florida Panhandle, Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand and the northern Pacific coast of the United States.
Streams, groundwater seepage and rain are the sources that feed the coastal dune lakes. Storm surge creates intermittent connections to the Gulf of Mexico, called outfalls. This periodic connection empties lake water into the Gulf, and, depending on tides and weather, salt water and organisms from the Gulf flow back into the lakes.
In addition to their unique form, the coastal dune lakes are among the most picturesque places in Florida. Local state parks; Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, Grayton Beach State Park, Deer Lake State Park and Camp Helen State Park offer beautiful vistas where one can view the lakes nestled in the sand dunes. The lake outfalls provide great birding opportunities. Recreational activities along the coastal dune lakes include kayak/canoe paddling, stand up paddle boarding, bird watching and both salt and freshwater fishing.
