Walton County Earth Day Celebration and 5K run, fun for the entire family

April 17 – 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
5K run race starts at 8:00 a.m. with registration starting at 6:45 a.m.

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park and the Friends of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, Inc. invites everyone to their 2nd Annual Earth Day Celebration in coordination with the 75th Florida State Park Anniversary. The University of Florida IFAS Extension Office along with several other participants in Walton County are coordinating the event for Walton County. Educational interactive displays, story tellers, cooking demonstrations, animal encounters, guided hiking tours along with local artists displaying and selling their work. Park at the Day-Use parking lot off of Hwy 30A or park and ride the shuttle from Van Ness Butler Elementary School. All donations from the event are given directly to the Friends of Topsail Hill to help enhance the interpretive and visitor service efforts at the park.  ::MAP::
Fees: Entrance fees to the park are waived for the day.
Contact: (850) 267-0299
Click here to download 5K run registration: Earth Day run form

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun, Parks, Trails/Hiking

Florida Trail Association – Choctawhatchee and Western Gate Chapters

Activities March/April 2010

Courtesy http://choctaw.floridatrail.org

Activity Participants Please note: Contact the activity leader well in advance for more information and/or to reserve your place (Space is limited.) Unless instructed otherwise by the activity leader, each participant should bring: day pack, plenty of water (recommended minimum, 2 quarts), sun protection (hat, glasses, screen), insect repellent, lunch and or snacks, adequate clothing for the forecast, and comfortable, sturdy close toed shoes with socks. Long pants, work gloves, and extra water are recommended for work hikes. Activity leaders may deny participation to anyone who is inadequately prepared.

The Western Gate Chapter (western area) and Choctawhatchee Chapter (eastern area) span a longitude difference greater than 80 miles. All activities are open to the public unless noted otherwise. Read More…

Posted under Kayak/Canoe, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Trails/Hiking

Plant seedlings, tour exhibit hall, take a guided hike and view a film

The E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center at Nokuse Plantation will be hosting a “Creating a Garden with Children” open house event on Sat. Mar. 27, from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  The exhibit hall will be open, guided hikes will be available, scheduled films will be featured and Master Gardeners will be on hand to assist children in planting seedlings in the center’s new vegetable garden.  Public is welcome.

Come see first hand the facility and staff in action and get a glimpse of what the center offers the students in your county.

For more information, please visit the E. O. Wilson Biophilia Center website at www.eowilsoncenter.org or call (850)835-1824.

Posted under Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Trails/Hiking

This outdoor interpretive will focus on tracking animals and finding out how many are in an area any what type with avid tracker Mike Townsend. Meet at the Day-Use parking lot off Hwy 30A and be sure to wear sunscreen and boots.  Be ready to hike at least 2 miles. $6.00 entry admission into the park

Park at the Day-Use area off Hwy 30A.

Call (850) 267-8330 for more details. Located in Santa Rosa Beach, the park is located 1/4 mi. south of U.S. Hwy 98 on western end of Scenic Hwy. 30A.  ::MAP::

Posted under Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Trails/Hiking

Waterfall at the base of the steephead at Shoal Sanctuary. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Trails, sculptures and serenity await the nature lover in Mossy Head

Tucked away off the beaten path in north Walton County there is a unique outdoor experience for nature lovers called the Shoal Sanctuary.

Located on 50 acres of trails, sculptures and serene vistas, proprietors Robert and Chris Larson welcome visitors to their retreat dedicated to sharing the beauty of the outdoor experience and appreciation of Mother Nature’s gifts.

Recorded history dates back to the 1830s. The property is believed to of been along the path of the “Trail Of Tears.” After the U.S. government’s “Indian Removal Act,” Cherokee, Seminole, Creek, Timuquan, Muskhogean, and Apalachee were forced migrate west,  and lore sites a leg of that journey along the old Indian footpath now called Crowder Chapel Road near the retreat. Local Native Americans have said that Shoal Sanctuary was once a ceremonial gathering place.

In 2000, the Larson’s acquired 35 acres of land adjacent to their existing 16-acre property, and began a reforestation project blazing trails and developed the retreat along their Shoal river property. Long-leaf pine, ash magnolia, Torreya pine and other native trees have been planted to restore the land as the Larson’s participate in Florida’s Forest Stewardship program.

Read More…

Posted under Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Trails/Hiking

Campbell Lake at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Take a hike along a coastal dune lake at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

Come and join the park folks for a hike. Visitors will be guided down the paved bike path leads you to a rare, pristine coastal dune lake for a 3.5 mile hike where park rangers will discuss coastal dune lakes.  Park at the Day-Use Area off Hwy 30A. $6.00 entry admission into the park.

Park at the Day-Use area off Hwy 30A.

Call (850) 267-8330 for more details. Located in Santa Rosa Beach, the park is located 1/4 mi. south of U.S. Hwy 98 on western end of Scenic Hwy. 30A.  ::MAP::

Posted under Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Trails/Hiking

Dunes at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Take a hike and learn about the dune ecosystems

Come and join the park folks for a hike. Visitors will be guided down the paved tram path to get to the beach where they will  learn about the plants and animals that live in a dune ecosystem and then walk back on the tram path.  Park at the Day-Use area off Hwy 30A. $6.00 entry admission into the park.

Call (850) 267-8330 for more details. Located in Santa Rosa Beach, the park is located 1/4 mi. south of U.S. Hwy 98 on western end of Scenic Hwy. 30A.  ::MAP::

Posted under Nature, Trails/Hiking

Justin Hansen hugged by family after rescue.

Rapidly rising water created dire situation for two hikers in Walton County

Eglin Air Force Base Reservation, FL (January 21, 2010) –  Two Crestview men survive rapidly rising floodwaters from this morning’s heavy rainfall by climbing a tree on the Eglin Air Force Base Reservation.

At around seven o’clock this morning, 32-year-old Justin Hansen and his friend, 26-year-old Ray Coles Jr., were leaving their campsite when they found flash flood waters breaching the banks of several tributaries.

Within minutes, the water was up to their necks.  That is when the two friends began climbing trees to avoid being swept downstream.  Hansen and Coles used a cell phone to call 911.   The Walton County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center was then able to get a location by using the cell phone’s GPS and mapping feature.
Read More…

Posted under Trails/Hiking

Several Panhandle area park fees reduced to 75 cents Mon. – Thurs. Jan. 18 – Feb. 25

TALLAHASSEE— The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Florida Park Service will begin a new promotion, Go Play Weekday, starting Monday, January 18, 2010 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Throughout the year, Go Play Weekday specials will highlight parks in each region of the state. During the promotional months, visitors pay 75¢ admission Monday through Thursday at featured state parks.

The first of several promotions planned in celebration of Florida State Parks’ 75th Anniversary, Go Play Weekday allows residents and visitors to explore featured parks for a ‘trial size’ price. The price is right for budget watchers, home schoolers and anyone ready for some outdoor recreation.

The Panhandle is the first area to be highlighted in the Go Play Weekday promotion. The six featured state parks offer bluffs, beaches, trails, rivers and lakes that provide ideal locations to hike, camp, fish, ride bicycles and enjoy the cool weather.
Parks offering entrance for 75 cents beginning Monday, January 18, 2010 through February 25, 2010, include:
• Blackwater River State Park, Holt Click here for park information
• Camp Helen State Park, Panama City Beach Click here for related story
• Grayton Beach State Park, Santa Rosa Beach Click here for related story
• Falling Waters State Park, Chipley Click here for related story
• Three Rivers State Park, Sneads Click here for park information
• Torreya State Park, Bristol Click here for park information Click here for related story

How it works: Mention ‘Go Play Weekday’ at the ranger station to get the special price. If the park has an honor box, just write ‘Go Play Weekday’ on the envelope and put in 75¢ instead of the full fee.
Promotions will change throughout the year, so check for updates on the Florida State Parks Web site at www.FloridaStateParks.org

Posted under Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Parks, Trails/Hiking

New improvements to trail head include parking, picnic pavilion and restroom with solar panel.

Parking, picnic area and restroom at western trailhead on Satinwood Drive

The U.S. Forestry is developing the trailhead on the west end of Point Washington State Forest Greenway Trail on Satinwood Drive in Santa Rosa Beach.

Parking is now available for 10+ cars and includes a picnic area pavilion, and bathroom for users of the Longleaf Trail system.
Construction should be finished by Jan. 31. ::MAP::

For a related story with the local area hiking trails, Click here
For more information about the Point Washington State Forest Greenway trail, you may contact 850-267-8325

Posted under Trails/Hiking