Bald Point

BALD POINT STATE PARK HISTORY AND NATURE Located on North Florida’s Gulf Coast where two bays meet, Bald Point State Park offers exceptional natural beauty and opportunities for outdoor recreation. 146 Box Cut Road Alligator Point, FL 32346 850-349-9146 With evidence of Norwood pottery, the earliest known pottery in North America, archaeologists identified human activity at the site 2,500 to 3,500 years before the Spanish arrived. Native Americans hunted, fished, collected clams and oysters, and lived in relatively permanent settlements near the abundant resources of the coast and forests. Picturesque natural beauty along North Florida’s Gulf Coast Beginning in the mid-1800s, fishermen established seine yards at Bald Point. Primitive campsites included racks to hang, dry and repair fishing nets. In the early 1900s, pitch was harvested from pine trees to make turpentine. Many “cat-faced” pines are still visible at the park. PARK GUIDELINES Bald Point State Park protects more than 4,800 acres of coastal wilderness dotted with freshwater ponds and tidal marshes where the Ochlocknee Bay meets the Apalachee Bay. Tidal marshes are a valuable nursery for marine life and a rich feeding ground for land and sea birds. Alligators also find the marsh a rich source of food, and sea turtles nest on the beach at Bald Point from May to October each year. Bald Point’s varied landscape hosts more than 230 animal species and 360 species of plants. Seasonal wildflowers can be seen blooming throughout the park. BALD POINT STATE PARK • Hours are 8 a.m. until sunset, 365 days a year. • An entrance fee is required. • All plants, animals and park property are protected. Collection, destruction or disturbance is prohibited. • Pets are not allowed on the beach. Where allowed, pets must be kept on a hand-held leash no longer than six feet and be well-behaved at all times. • Fishing, boating, swimming and fires are allowed in designated areas only. A Florida fishing license may be required. Swim at your own risk. No lifeguard is on duty. MORE INFORMATION • To learn about becoming a volunteer, visit FloridaStateParks.org. • Florida State Parks are committed to providing every visitor with equal access to facilities and programs. Please contact staff at any ranger station or call 850-349-9146. Visit us online at FloridaStateParks.org Follow us on social media FloridaStateParks.org #FLStateParks Bald Point State Park EXPERIENCES AND AMENITIES Ochlockonee Bay Bald Point State Park offers access to one of North Florida’s most undeveloped and scenic Gulf Coast beaches. Swimming, sunbathing and windsurfing are popular activities on the sandy shores along the Apalachee Bay coastline. Fishing Pier Directions Overlook Three beach access points offer accessible picnic pavilions along with grills and restrooms. Outdoor showers are available. A beach wheelchair is available by reservation. From Tallahassee, travel 30 miles to Medart on State Road 363 S./County Road 61/U.S. Highway 319. Drive south on U.S. Highway 98 about 11.8 miles from the 319/98 intersection to County Road 370; proceed 3.8 miles on County Road 370 to Bald Point Road and travel 3 miles to the park entrance. Western Mullet Pond Double Pond ad int Ro Sand Pond Bridge o Bald P Chaires Creek Surrounded by water, the park is a popular spot for canoeing and kayaking. A canoe/kayak launch on Tucker Lake allows exploration of the park’s interior. Anglers can enjoy surf fishing and wading out to oyster bars, and an accessible fishing pier at Ochlockonee Bay is a great spot for catching flounder, redfish, trout and mullet. Mullet Pond Canoe/Kayak Launch Little Tucker Lake Bald Point’s biological diversity makes it a popular destination for nature lovers. Discover the tidal marsh wildlife – jumping mullet, wading birds and an occasional alligator basking in the sun. Tucker Lake Inset 1 Hike or bike along 18 miles of nature trails and see Bald Point’s pine flatwoods and other natural communities. Wildlife species include crabs, deer, raccoon, bobcats and coyotes. Al lig Bald Point State Park has a well-deserved reputation as a top spot on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. Fall and winter are the best seasons for birding. Bald eagles, osprey and migrating falcons are common sights in season. The park is also a staging point for migratory butterflies in the fall. at or Apalachee Bay Dr ive r Drive Alligato Gulf of Mexico Inset 2 Canoe/Kayak Launch Primitive Camping Fishing Restrooms Hikiing Outdoor Showers Parking Sunbathing Picnicking Swimming Bald 00201_Rev_10.19 ad t Ro Poin Boardwalk d Pavilion Roa Biking Inset 2 Inset 1 Inset 1 Poin t Paddling Bald Beach Access