Think of Big Lagoon State Park as a gateway. It 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. The top half of a kayak embedded in sand 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.
There is also great fishing at Big Lagoon. Fishing here brings in redfish, bluefish, flounder, and sea trout seasonally. Crabbing and cast netting for mullet in the lagoon are also popular.
- All fishing within the park must conform to regulations concerning size, number, method of capture and season.
- A fishing license may be required. More information is available at the Florida Wildlife Commission’s Fishing in Florida.
Big Lagoon is also a great place to camp. Camping is available in designated areas. Surrounded by beautiful pine flats, the campground has 75 sites, each equipped with 30/50 amp electricity, water, a picnic table, and a fire ring/ground grill. Three full-service restrooms and a dump station are available.
- Pets are welcome in the campground.
- Maximum RV length = 40 feet.
- For reservations, visit the Florida State Parks reservations website or call 800-326-3521 or TDD 88-433-0287.
Know before you go:
Hours are 8 a.m. until sunset daily
$6 per vehicle to enter
Location: 12301 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola, FL 32507
