Gap Point Trail

The Gap Point Trail stretches to the remote eastern tip of St. George Island, one of the most pristine barrier islands remaining on the Gulf Coast. At nine miles round-trip this is the longest and most demanding hike in the park, rewarding determined walkers with a true sense of barrier island solitude rarely encountered in the modern era. The eastern unit of the park sees far fewer visitors than the developed western side, and hikers often have miles of shoreline entirely to themselves.

The route alternates between Gulf-side beach walking and bay-side bayhead swamps, offering dramatically different scenery within a single outing. Gap Point itself sits at the convergence of the Gulf of Mexico and Apalachicola Bay, a biologically rich meeting zone where tidal currents deposit impressive shell accumulations. Bay scallops, lightning whelks, and sand dollars are commonly found. Wading birds including roseate spoonbills, tricolored herons, and snowy egrets forage along the bay margins. Loggerhead sea turtles nest on the Gulf beach. The lack of shade makes this hike most comfortable in cooler months; bring ample water and sun protection year-round. This trail represents Florida wild Gulf Coast at its most elemental and unspoiled.