Big Lagoon State Park not only offers swimming, boating, fishing, camping, hiking and paddling, but adventurers also can begin or end a 1,515-mile sea kayaking journey on the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail around the entire state. Look for the top half of a kayak embedded in sand. It marks the launch site along with a box containing a weathered log book.

The park is also a gateway for the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. The park is a stopover for more than 23 species of wood-warbler and a variety of ducks, sandpipers and black-bellied plovers. Bring binoculars or borrow a pair from the ranger station and roam the shore and extensive coastal forest, or climb the three-story observation tower for a bird’s-eye view.

Traveler Tips: You can rent paddling equipment and binoculars on site at Big Lagoon State Park. We recommend attending a Stargazing at Big Lagoon State park event where you can actually see the rings of Saturn and the nebulae and galaxies that surround Earth! The event occurs on select weekends, so please contact the park for event times and current use fees for equipment rental.