Big Lagoon State Park
Encyclopedia
First acquired in 1977, Big Lagoon State Park is a 705 acres (2.9 km²) Florida State Park
located on the northwestern Florida
coast, approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) southwest of Pensacola
on Gulf Beach Highway. It encompasses the northern boundary of Big Lagoon as it snakes toward Pensacola Bay
to the east. Wild Grande Lagoon and its minor tributaries lay within the boundaries of the park, as does the alligator-inhabited Long Pond, a man-made freshwater pond.
The park is a 'gateway site' for the Great Florida Birding Trail
. It features nine distinct natural communities including estuarine tidal marsh, mesic flatwoods, wet flatwoods, and is dominated by scrubby flatwoods. The park features a number of threatened and endangered species such as the Large-leaved Jointweed, Gopher Tortoise, migratory shorebirds such as Snowy Plover, Least Tern among some twenty other listed species.
From Big Lagoon, the Florida Park Service manages two neighboring state parks - Perdido Key State Park
to the southwest and Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park
to the north.
es along the shoreline of Big Lagoon, bicycling down the 2.6 miles (4.2 km) park drive, boating
from a boat ramp on the Intracoastal Waterway, canoeing
along Big Lagoon, fishing
, hiking
along 4 miles (6.4 km) of trails, kayaking
in Grande Lagoon, wildlife viewing from a four story observation tower and footbridge overlooks at Long Pond and Grande Lagoon, picnic
king at 17 shelters, swimming in Big Lagoon and 75 electrified camping
sites and a group camp.
Florida State Parks
The Florida State Parks encompass the majority of the lands that fall under the authority of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. There are 160 such entities, including nature reserves, recreation areas, and historic sites, which can be found in every corner of the state...
located on the northwestern Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
coast, approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) southwest of Pensacola
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
on Gulf Beach Highway. It encompasses the northern boundary of Big Lagoon as it snakes toward Pensacola Bay
Pensacola Bay
Pensacola Bay is a bay located in the northwestern part of Florida, United States, known as the Florida Panhandle.The bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico, is located in Escambia County and Santa Rosa County, adjacent to the city of Pensacola, Florida, and is about 13 miles long and 2.5 miles ...
to the east. Wild Grande Lagoon and its minor tributaries lay within the boundaries of the park, as does the alligator-inhabited Long Pond, a man-made freshwater pond.
The park is a 'gateway site' for the Great Florida Birding Trail
Great Florida Birding Trail
The 2000 mile long Great Florida Birding Trail is a collection of more than 400 locations in the U.S. state of Florida...
. It features nine distinct natural communities including estuarine tidal marsh, mesic flatwoods, wet flatwoods, and is dominated by scrubby flatwoods. The park features a number of threatened and endangered species such as the Large-leaved Jointweed, Gopher Tortoise, migratory shorebirds such as Snowy Plover, Least Tern among some twenty other listed species.
From Big Lagoon, the Florida Park Service manages two neighboring state parks - Perdido Key State Park
Perdido Key State Recreation Area
Perdido Key State Park is a Florida State Park located on a barrier island fifteen miles southwest of Pensacola, off S.R. 292, in northwestern Florida. The address is 12301 Gulf Beach Highway.- Perdido Key State Park :...
to the southwest and Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park
Tarkiln Bayou
Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park is a preserve, a unit of Florida State Park located southwest of Pensacola, in northwestern Florida. It is home to four species of endangered pitcher plants, as well as other rare and endangered plant species. The rare, carnivorous white–top pitcher plant is...
to the north.
Recreational activities
The park has such amenities as beachBeach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
es along the shoreline of Big Lagoon, bicycling down the 2.6 miles (4.2 km) park drive, boating
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
from a boat ramp on the Intracoastal Waterway, canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
along Big Lagoon, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
along 4 miles (6.4 km) of trails, kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
in Grande Lagoon, wildlife viewing from a four story observation tower and footbridge overlooks at Long Pond and Grande Lagoon, picnic
Picnic
In contemporary usage, a picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors , ideally taking place in a beautiful landscape such as a park, beside a lake or with an interesting view and possibly at a public event such as before an open air theatre performance,...
king at 17 shelters, swimming in Big Lagoon and 75 electrified camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
sites and a group camp.