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Outdoors

Point Washington State Forest keeps 30A close to pines

Point Washington State Forest gives South Walton a pine-forest side, with loop trails sitting close to the beach towns and Scenic 30A.

Point Washington State Forest is a good reminder that South Walton is not only beach towns and rental houses.

The forest sits close to Scenic 30A, but the feeling changes quickly once the sand roads, pines, palmettos, and flatwoods take over. FDACS points visitors to the Eastern Lake Bike/Hike Trail system, with double-track loops that can be short or long depending on the day.

That makes the forest useful in two ways. A visitor can use it as a quieter break from the beach crowd. A person thinking about living nearby can see how much conservation land, trail access, fire-managed habitat, and sandy forest sits just behind the postcard version of 30A.

Treat it like state forest land, not a beach park. Check the Florida Forest Service page before you go. Look for trail details, fees, hours, hunting-season notices, prescribed-fire notes, and road conditions. Bring water, sun cover, bug spray, and a route plan.

The forest helps South Walton feel more complete. The beach is the headline, but the pine woods explain a lot about the land behind it.

Where to see it

Point Washington State Forest in South Walton. Check Florida Forest Service information for trail loops, fees, hours, closures, hunting seasons, and current notices before visiting.

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Official sources

Last checked against these sources: July 5, 2026.

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