State Parks Things To Do Volunteers Links
Accessibility Information

For more information on trail conditions please visit TrailExplorer.org

Get Adobe Reader
Official Florida Department of Environmental Protection Logo

Privacy Statement
Exit Disclaimer

Designed for screen resolution 1024 x 768 and the following web browsers:
Internet Explorer 7.0+
Firefox 2.0.0.20+
Safari 4.0+

Henderson Beach State Park - Destin, Florida

The first two-time Gold Medal winner honoring the nation's best state park service, Florida's state park system is one of the largest in the country with 160 parks, most of which are open 365 days a year. Florida's state parks, which span more than 700,000 acres and include more than 100 miles of sandy white beach, provide an affordable outing for people of all ages.

New Day. New Adventure.

Lake Kissimmee State Park Offers Cow Camps

Two deer at Lake Kissimmee State Park. Photo by N. Clements.

Florida's cowboy heritage comes alive with living history demonstrations of the early Florida 'cow hunters' in an 1876-era cow camp, open 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., weekends and holidays (except Christmas) from now through May 1.

Visitors can enjoy boating, canoeing, kayaking and fishing in the upper Kissimmee chain of lakes. Tour the waterways within the park and/or along the shores of Lake Kissimmee, Lake Rosalie and Tiger Lake. View some of the incredible birds and wildlife inhabiting the area known as the 'headwaters' to the Everglades. Park visitors can hike more than 13 miles of trails and observe or study the abundant plant and animal life found within the parks boundary. More than six miles of trails are currently open to equestrians on Buster Island.

A large, shaded picnic area with pavilions, restrooms and playground can be found in the main use area near the boat ramp.

The park has 60 campsites, as well as two primitive campsites for backpackers and a youth camping area that can accommodate up to 50 people.

An observation tower is located in the picnic area and provides views of Lake Kissimmee and its marsh lands. The pine and scrubby flatwoods found in the park host long leaf pines, scrub oaks, Florida scrub jays, Sherman fox squirrels, gopher tortoises, white-tailed deer, bald eagles, sandhill cranes, turkeys, bobcats and the gray fox.


Before you go... Park Information.

Florida Park Service Offers New Annual Pass Program Benefits

Tallahassee – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service today announced the expansion of its statewide annual entrance pass program. The program expansion will now allow both individual and family annual entrance pass holders access to Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park and Weeki Wachee Springs State Park.

Holders of a family annual entrance pass will now be granted entrance for two individuals at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park and Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. Please note; Skyway Fishing Pier State Park will continue to offer a 33 percent discount on entry fees to annual pass holders. For all other state parks, a family annual pass provides entrance for up to eight people.
 
For season access to Buccaneer Bay, the water park at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, statewide individual entrance pass holders may purchase a $15 individual Buccaneer Bay entrance pass endorsement, and family annual entrance pass holders may purchase a $30 endorsement for two people.
 
Pricing for statewide annual entrance passes:
  • $60 individual annual entrance pass.
  • $120 family annual entrance pass.
 
The first two-time Gold Medal winner honoring the nation’s best state park service, Florida’s state park system is one of the largest in the country with 160 parks, which are open 365 days a year. Florida’s state parks, which span more than 700,000 acres and include 100 miles of sandy white beach, provide an affordable outing for people of all ages.
 
To learn more about Florida’s state parks, visit www.floridastateparks.org or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/FLStateParks.