Wandering Along The Gulf Islands National Seashore
The Gulf Islands National Seashore is an expansive, beautiful place to wander.
Suppose you’re looking for something close to paradise. In that case, this part of the United States has it all. Sun-kissed white sand beaches, turquoise waters and breathtaking landscapes.
Wander along to soak it all in.
Table of Contents
In between exploring, restaurants, shopping, and even many historic sites will keep you as busy as you want to be.
Wandering the Gulf Islands National Seashore, there are several hard-to-reach islands, a dozen distinct areas, and some of the best beaches anywhere along the Gulf Coast.
The waters of this coastline are a vivid blue-green, giving it the name “The Emerald Coast.” Whether we are seasoned beachgoers or a first-time visitor, The Gulf Islands National Seashore has something for everyone.
Out Wandering Note:
During my return trip to the Gulf Shores National Seashore, I enjoyed exploring the following places:
- Exploring Fort Pickens.
- Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier.
- Watching the Blue Angels soar along the coastline and overhead.
- Santa Rosa Island’s County Road 399.
Out Wandering Gulf Islands National Seashore At Santa Rosa Island
Situated west of Navarre Beach, a significant portion of the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Florida is located on Santa Rosa Island.
Out Wandering The Gulf Islands National Seashore
Santa Rosa Island is renowned for its unspoiled natural beauty. This makes it a must-visit destination for nature lovers and beach enthusiasts alike.
Naturalists and outdoor enthusiasts adore the island because of its sandy beaches and pristine waters. Water activities on the island include snorkeling, paddleboarding and kayaking. You can be up close and personal with the island’s feathered inhabitants by birdwatching, too.
Opal Beach is the designated swimming beach in the area.
Beautiful wind-swept sand dunes stretch from the Gulf shore to Santa Rosa Sound on the Santa Rosa area of the Gulf coast. When the season is at its peak, visitors come in large numbers to enjoy the island’s stunning white beaches, crystal-clear emerald waters, and diverse flora and fauna. and diverse flora and fauna.
Opal Beach is the designated swimming beach in the Santa Rosa area along the National Seashore. During the peak season, it’s equipped with lifeguards, restrooms, and outdoor rinse-off showers.
For more information, visit the Opal Beach website.
There is a $25 fee for parking, accessing the beach, or using the restrooms in the National Park area. But you can also provide your National Park Pass for entry.
Paid access allows tons of things to do! For example, walking on the squeaky quartz sand, taking a dip in the Gulf (if it’s safe to do so- watch the flags for warnings), or just soaking up the beauty of the natural sand dunes, beaches, and waves.
Read more about the warning flags in a related article here: Kirsti Out Wandering The Meaning Behind The Beach Flag Colors
Unusual Facts About Santa Rosa Island
Out Wandering Note:
- Hurricane Opal: The area was dubbed Opal Beach after Hurricane Opal, a Category 4 storm, hit this region, causing extensive damage to the dunes in 1995.
- Barking Sand: It’s Quartz from the Appalachian Mountains that makes the sand so blazingly white. Walking along the softer sand, you’ll soon discover it creates a “barking” sound.
- Clam Milkshakes After experiencing the sand barking, look down as you walk along for clamshells with a small hole at the top. This oddity isn’t nature providing a whole for a necklace chain, but something made by sea snails. After softening the shell by secreting carbonic acid, they use a radula (their ribbon-shaped tongue) to drill a hole in the clam’s surface. The clam is then digested within its shell as the snail inserts a siphon-like straw, sucking down the remains of what some call a “clam milkshake.”
Just traveling through?
Want to dip your toes for free?
Supporting our National Parks is definitely essential. However, if you’re just passing through and want to take a quick dip in the water or walk on the beach, you can do so for free. Simply head over to the public space on either side of the national park boundary and enjoy the beach without any cost.
Navarre Beach and Pensacola Beach operate similar stretches of beach. Here, there is no charge for parking either. There’s also a dog beach on the western boundary along Highway 399.
Five Must-Explore Areas
Along the Gulf Islands National Seashore, the average temperature is 75 degrees – almost the same temperature as the 72-degree gulf water.
With a whopping 325 days of sunshine each year, walking along the turquoise water is like getting a big warm hug from Mother Nature.
Let’s look closer at Fort Pickens, Pensacola Beach, Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier, The Blue Angels, and Santa Rosa Island’s County Road 399—five popular attractions to visit in the Pensacola area.
#1 The Fort Pickens Area
If you’re up for a bit of adventure, why not check out the legendary Fort Pickens? It was constructed way back in the early 1800s to protect the beautiful Pensacola Bay from any potential threats.
Now, this historic site is a must-visit for anyone interested in American history.
- Construction of Fort Pickens. In 1816, to protect essential waterways and seaports, the U.S. began building Third System Forts along its coastline. Five years later, the federal government started fortifying areas along Florida’s 3,500-mile seaboard; Pensacola Bay was one of them.
Today, historic Fort Pickens is a National Park.
Visitors can explore the historic fortsand learn more at the Fort Pickens Discovery Center.
The Fort Pickens Campground offers modern and primitive sites, bathhouses, laundry facilities, and group camping. Spots fill quickly year-round, so it’s best to make reservations early. The standard entrance feeinto the park is $15.00 – $25.00, or you may purchase an annual pass for $45.00
Keep an eye out for the secret serpentine sand trail.
There are many hiking trails throughout the dunes with beautiful views and miles of exploration. If you are observant, you will find the secret serpentine sand trail that leads to a deep salty lake a few yards from the Gulf.
Created by freshwater welling up from the underground sandstone aquifer, it’s a unique opportunity to swim in the salty Gulf while jumping into near-fresh water moments later.
Read a related article about that trail here: Out Wandering The National Seashores
#2 Pensacola Beach
Santa Rosa Island is a barrier island located off the coast of Florida, which stretches for about 40 miles.
The island on both the east and west sides of Pensacola Beach is protected from development, ensuring that its natural beauty and unique ecosystem remain preserved. In fact, driving south, several large condominium complexes mark the end of the development area.
The relatively small city of Pensacola Beach serves as the central public hub for accessing the island. This area provides visitors with a range of amenities. You will find plenty of parking, restrooms, lots of shopping, food and drink options, and public access to the beautiful white sandy beaches.
#3 Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier
The Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier on Casino Beach is a massive structure that stretches an impressive 1,471 feet into the water. This pier is located in a prime location, just a few seconds away from a range of restaurants, shops, and recreational activities.
The pier offers breathtaking, panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico, the sugar white sand beaches, and stunning sunrises or sunsets.
The pier is equipped with everything you will need to fish here.
Local fishermen have reported a diverse range of fish species they can catch during the summer months, too. These include Bluefish, Pompano, Redfish, Spanish Mackerel, and Spotted Seatrout. For fishing enthusiasts, the pier is equipped with all the necessary facilities, including bait and tackle shops and cleaning stations.
Learn more: Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier
Out Wandering Note:
Picture this – it was a beautiful evening, and I decided to wander along the pier. As I looked down, I was absolutely mesmerized by the sight of hundreds of pink jellyfish gracefully floating in the waters below. I was in awe of this rare and stunning sighting, and it only added to the already breathtaking natural beauty of the area.
I found out that visitors to the pier can also take advantage of nearby recreational activities, such as paddleboarding, kayaking, and jet skiing, which are sure to make your visit to the pier and the surrounding area an unforgettable experience.
#4 The Blue Angels
If you’re planning a trip to the Gulf Islands National Seashore at Santa Rosa Island, there are a few things you should do to make the most of your visit.
The first thing to do is check the schedule for the Blue Angels, the renowned flight demonstration squadron of the U.S. Navy, before you arrive. The squadron typically practices on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, and the practice sessions are open to the public.
Watching the Blue Angels in action is unforgettable.
Located at the Pensacola Naval Air Station, the Blue Angels are known for their breathtaking aerial maneuvers and flying displays. These displays can be seen along the coastline that stretches from Fort Pickens to Pensacola Beach.
Watching the Blue Angels in action is an unforgettable experience that you don’t want to miss.
#5 Santa Rosa Island's County Road 399
Highway 399 is a public road that runs through the middle of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. However, it cannot be gated like the Fort Pickens area entrance.
Opal Beach’s Highway 399 offers a breathtakingly scenic drive, and the best part is that it won’t cost you a dime! The road is completely free to drive down, allowing you to soak in the natural beauty of the coastline and marvel at the stunning views that surround you.
The views are absolutely stunning along Highway 399!
Great news for all you biking enthusiasts out there! If you love to bike while enjoying scenic views, you’ll be happy to know that there’s a fantastic seven-mile bike lane along Highway 399. Get ready to experience some of the most glorious surroundings right here in the United States.
Out Wandering Note:
After first discovering this area at the end of my Radical Sabbatical, it was in exploring this section of highway that I found the space and time to recuperate from the many challenging albeit enlightening miles that journey provided.
For more than 18 miles, grassy dunes and a thin, remote, unspoiled beach are all that separate the road from the emerald-green surf.
As someone who doesn’t like to explore the same place twice, I will unquestionably come back to this area again and again. It has a special feeling that offers solace and peace.
My favorite pastime is to wander along beautiful highways. Santa Rosa Island’s State Road 399 is one of my top ten driving experiences. This secluded, two-lane stretch of Emerald Coast highway is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.
Read more about my first trip to this area during my Radical Sabbatical.
Before You Go
To get the most out of your visit, it’s recommended to plan ahead and check for any park alerts or closures before you go.
Here are some things to know before heading to explore this part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, Fort Pickens and Santa Rosa Beach.
- Entrance passes are good for one to seven days, but the best value if you explore often is the annual national parks pass for $80.
- To park at Opal Beach on both the Gulf side and the Santa Rosa Sound side of the island, you must have a Gulf Islands National Seashore entrance pass, which will include fees for the National Park Service.
- If you’ve already bought an entrance pass at another section of the park, it will be valid here as well (within seven days of purchase). There is no fee to access the beach at other parking lots.
- Most of its major facilities are located on the Gulf side of the road, with picnic tables and pavilions available for reservation at a fee. Additional parking can be found on the bay side of this area.
- There are plenty of parking areas along this whole area. You will find it very easy to stop off and walk the beach or shop and eat in town. Note: Parkapedia is an excellent app for finding parking just about anywhere in the world.
Entrance fees are required at Gulf Islands National Seashore in the following areas: Fort Pickens, Opal Beach, Okaloosa, and Perdido Key in Florida.
Visit the Gulf Islands National Seashore Fees and Passes website for the current prices.
Protected Area
It is important to note that the marine life and sand dunes at the Gulf Islands National Seashore are protected. This means that visitors must be respectful of the natural environment and take care not to disturb the wildlife or damage the sand dunes.
It is a natural paradise that supports a wide range of wildlife, including sea turtles and dolphins, as well as numerous bird species, such as the endangered Piping Plover.
Marine life and sand dunes at the Gulf Islands National Seashore are protected.
Visitors should also be aware of any regulations or restrictions that apply to activities like fishing or camping. Overall, Gulf Islands National Seashore and Santa Rosa Island are unique and beautiful places that offer an unforgettable experience for anyone who loves nature.
Keep out of the doghouse. Dogs are welcome at designated dog beaches only. Casino Beach, Opal Beach and all other parks and beaches on the island are off-limits.
Out Wandering The Gulf Islands National Seashore
Being a good wanderer means saying YES to as many new experiences as possible. There are thousands of things to do and see on the Gulf Islands National Seashore at Santa Rosa Island.
Here are a few more places to check out or help while exploring this area:
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. Explore. Dream. Discover.
Share this post
Kirsti Out Wandering aspires to illustrate well-being in mind, body & spirit, giving unconditional love to self and others, and pursuing all of the wild possibilities life serves up while living full-time from a sprinter van.
Follow along! Be sure to sign up for my monthly newsletter filled with stories and tips on travel, exploring, van-living, self-care & yoga, photography and life on the road.