Florida Guide > State Parks
BALD POINT STATE PARK
Bald Park does not conjure up a very glamorous image does it? But it is a minomer, as it is one of the most beautiful beaches in a state that is loaded with great beach areas.
Bald Point is on Alligator Point which is where the Ochlocknee Bay meets the Apalachee Bay.
Bald Park State Park is located 13 miles from Panacea just off the U S 98 and is particularly famed for its many and varied bird life.
Many and various shore birds are found on the water and wading birds and birds of prey in the marshes. Warblers are found in the hammock areas. Migrating and nesting birds are best looked for at Bald Point. Mid April is the best time to catch the birds on their long journey from central America.
This is a great place to spy the monarch butterfly who also likes living in this gorgeous natural world.
In 2002 the St Joe Co generously donated 2851 acres of land to add to the existing park which has almost doubled the acreage.
This philanthropic gesture has helped this State Park look after the worlds most endangered species of turtle; the juvenile kemps ridley. Also inhabiting the park are the similarly endangered Florida Black Bear, the gopher tortoise and falcons and eagles.
A drawback of this park are the mosquitos and no-see-ums so be sure to pack some insect repellant.
Anglers can wade right out to the oyster bars to fish and among their catch could be flounder, mackerel, red fish and trout. This coastal waterway is brackish which is a good clue to which varieties of fish may be there.
You will need a license and these are available from sports shops, the larger Walmarts with a sporting section and also on line. Check with the ranger on current limits on size and amount of fish you can take.
Best to take a picnic and there are 3 pavilions with picnic tables for this and for the more ambitious cooks there are a few barbecues too (grilled trout anyone? yum yum!).
The beach is a surprising shade of reddish brown (surprising to those of us more used to the brilliant white sands of the Gulf).
The rangers are working hard to restoring this park to its first European roots and are managing the terrain with controlled burning of the wire grass which actually results in increasing the amount and diversity of the vegetation.
The park costs $3 per car for admittance and is open 365 days a year from 8 am to dusk.
146 Box Court
Alligator Point
Florida
32346
Tel 850 349 9146
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