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ALLIGATOR POINT VACATION RENTALS, FLORIDA |
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Outdoor Recreation in Alligator Point |
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Alligator Point is a dream for outdoor enthusiasts and naturalists. With state parks, national forests and wildlife refuges, who would want to miss a single moment enjoying a tranquil communion with nature? |
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Bald Point State Park
Wakulla Springs State Park
Apalachicola National Forest
Fishing
Hiking and Biking
Horseback Riding and Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Trails
Boating, Canoeing and Kayaking
Bird and Butterfly Watching |
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| Bald Point State Park |
| Located on Alligator Point where Ochlockonee Bay meets Apalachee Bay, Bald Point State Park offers a multitude of land and water activities. A diversity of
biological communities makes the park a popular destination for birding and wildlife viewing. Every fall, bald eagles
and monarch butterflies are commonly sighted as they head south for the winter. Bald Point offers access to two Apalachee Bay beaches for swimming, sunbathing, and fishing.
Other activities include canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing and hiking. Facilities include a fishing dock and picnic pavilions. The park is open from 8 AM until sundown, 365 days a year. Entrance fees to the park are $3 per car and $1 per pedestrian or bicyclist. |
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| Wakulla Springs State Park |
You can see one of the world's largest fresh water springs at the Wakulla Springs State Park. The bowl of this spring covers 3 acres and the water stays at an amazing 70°
F year-round. From a glass-bottom boat, you can see the cavernous depth of the spring as well as a great range of wildlife. Florida state parks are open from 8 AM until sundown, 365 days a year. Admission fees are $4 per vehicle and $1 for pedestrians and bicyclists. |
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| Apalachicola National Forest |
| Apalachicola National Forest has several attractions that might interest you. One warning, though, is to be aware that alligators are present in this park. |
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Leon Sinks: Leon Sinks, a designated geological area, offers educational and, interpretative programs. Be sure to watch for the views of sinkholes from a system of boardwalks and
trails. Picnic tables, a kiosk, a water fountain and a restroom with flush toilets are available. There is a $3.00 per vehicle fee. |
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Fort Gadsden: Fort Gadsden in Franklin County is the site of an historic fort and several battles. Interpretive exhibits and artifacts are displayed along a level pathway on the banks of
the Apalachicola River. |
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Silver Lake: Silver Lake has a designated swim area with a white sand beach. A nearby bathhouse includes flush toilets and hot showers. Picnic shelters, picnic tables and barbecue grills are
available and the leveled terrain makes it ideal for people in wheelchairs. A small boat ramp is available, but motorized boat use
is limited. A 1-mile interpretive trail encircles the lake. A volunteer host lives on site. |
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| Fishing |
Fish from the beach, charter a boat or bring a boat along. Reel in redfish, speckled trout and Spanish mackerel from the shore. From a boat, you can also catch grouper, snapper, king mackerel, cobia and lots more. You can go fresh-water fishing at the Ochlocknee River State Park, or try the 35 miles of waterways located in Tate’s Hell Swamp.
Temporary 12-month, 7-day and 3-day fishing licenses are available online or in the Alligator Point area for both residents and non-residents. Children under the age of 16 do not need a license to fish in Florida. Be sure to check the regulations for freshwater versus saltwater fishing, as the licenses for each must be purchased separately. |
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| Hiking and Biking |
The Apalachicola National Forest has approximately 85 miles of designated hiking trails, including 6 marked interpretive trails. These trails are
Camel Lake, Fort Gadsden, Leon Sinks, Silver Lake, Trail of Lakes and Wright Lake. Hikers are welcome anywhere in the Forest. Pets are allowed, but must be restrained or on a leash.
Bicycles are welcome on public roads in the Apalachicola National Forest. There is a designated mountain bike trail at Munson Hills. Public parking for Munson Hills Trail is available at the St. Marks Bicycle Trailhead on Woodville Highway, just south of Capital Circle. The mountain bike
trail is on sandy soil with gently rolling slopes through narrow pine trees. The trail is marked by blue blazes and divided into two loops---an 8-mile loop and a 5-mile loop. A bike rack, water fountain and restrooms are available near the trail entrance. There are no fees. |
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| Horseback Riding and Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Trails |
The Apalachicola National Forest has one designated horse trail, although horse riders are welcome almost anywhere in the forest. Horses are not allowed on the Florida National Scenic Trail, as it is for hiking only, or in developed recreation areas. There are few designated trailheads, so
many individuals choose to park alongside a forest road near where they want to ride. As long as vehicles do not obstruct traffic or destroy natural resources, this is permitted. There are no fees for horseback riding.
The Apalachicola National Forest also offers many enjoyable locations to ride off-road vehicles. While the Forest Service has not designated or marked specific ORV trails, many unnumbered roads zigzagging
throughout the forest where you may ride. There are restricted areas are designated to protect the ecology and wildlife. All unlicensed vehicles are prohibited on numbered forest roads. All vehicle traffic is prohibited in the following areas: all Wilderness Areas, Florida National Scenic Trail and the Munson Hills Bicycle Trail. |
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| Boating, Canoeing and Kayaking |
Take a ride on a glass-bottom boat at
Wakulla Spring State Park. Fees for boat tours are $6 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under. Charter a boat for
$200 or a pontoon for $50.
Kayaks and canoes are also available to rent in the area. The Ochlocknee River is ideal for boat rides. Tate’s Hell Swamp also offers 35 miles of
waterways for canoeing and boating. A concrete boat launch is located at Cash Creek, with other sites located
throughout the forest. If you are lucky, you will see alligators, birds, turtles, white-tailed deer and wild
turkey.
If you bring your own boat, there are 2 ramps in Alligator Point. One of these is located next to
the marina. It is supposed to be a public launch, but as the marina owns the land on which you must turn around and park, they may charge a fee. The marina sells gas, supplies and offers short-term slip rentals. |
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| Bird and Butterfly Watching |
| St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is a great place to spot migrating birds such as anhinga, white ibis, blue herons, snowy egrets and tri-colored herons. St.
Vincent National Wildlife Refuge is home to several endangered species, like the bald eagle, and migrating
species, like wood storks and peregrine falcons. Bald Point State Park is full of beautiful wildflowers, and in autumn,
the Monarch butterflies pause here before making their long journey across the Gulf. The park is also known for its several species of birds including bald eagles, osprey and falcons, that stop here as they migrate. |
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