Big Lagoon State Park along with the Escambia Amateur Astronomer Association would like to invite you to spend an evening gazing at the skies! Clear skies permitting, members of the Association will set up telescopes and binoculars to capture views of the moon, planets, and other celestial objects. The gaze will be held at the East Beach Parking Area at the end of the park drive, telescopes will be set up in the parking area. All participants MUST have entered the park prior to closing time; which is sunset, this time varies throughout the year. The front gates will be locked at that time, and visitors will NOT be permitted to enter the park after closing time. The gazes themselves are free; however normal park entry fees do apply. NOTE: as sunset times do change throughout the year, please contact the Ranger Station at (850) 492-1595 ahead of time to find out when the front gates will be locking for the evening Event dates: January 10 and 24, February 7 and 21, March 14 and 28, and April 11

Big Lagoon State Park along with the Escambia Amateur Astronomer Association would like to invite you to spend an evening gazing at the skies! Clear skies permitting, members of the Association will set up telescopes and binoculars to capture views of the moon, planets, and other celestial objects. The gaze will be held at the East Beach Parking Area at the end of the park drive, telescopes will be set up in the parking area. All participants MUST have entered the park prior to closing time; which is sunset, this time varies throughout the year. The front gates will be locked at that time, and visitors will NOT be permitted to enter the park after closing time. The gazes themselves are free; however normal park entry fees do apply. NOTE: as sunset times do change throughout the year, please contact the Ranger Station at (850) 492-1595 ahead of time to find out when the front gates will be locking for the evening Event dates: January 24, February 7 and 21, March 14 and 28, and April 11

Big Lagoon State Park along with the Escambia Amateur Astronomer Association would like to invite you to spend an evening gazing at the skies! Clear skies permitting, members of the Association will set up telescopes and binoculars to capture views of the moon, planets, and other celestial objects. The gaze will be held at the East Beach Parking Area at the end of the park drive, telescopes will be set up in the parking area. All participants MUST have entered the park prior to closing time; which is sunset, this time varies throughout the year. The front gates will be locked at that time, and visitors will NOT be permitted to enter the park after closing time. The gazes themselves are free; however normal park entry fees do apply. NOTE: as sunset times do change throughout the year, please contact the Ranger Station at (850) 492-1595 ahead of time to find out when the front gates will be locking for the evening Event dates: February 7 and 21, March 14 and 28, and April 11

Big Lagoon State Park along with the Escambia Amateur Astronomer Association would like to invite you to spend an evening gazing at the skies! Clear skies permitting, members of the Association will set up telescopes and binoculars to capture views of the moon, planets, and other celestial objects. The gaze will be held at the East Beach Parking Area at the end of the park drive, telescopes will be set up in the parking area. All participants MUST have entered the park prior to closing time; which is sunset, this time varies throughout the year. The front gates will be locked at that time, and visitors will NOT be permitted to enter the park after closing time. The gazes themselves are free; however normal park entry fees do apply. NOTE: as sunset times do change throughout the year, please contact the Ranger Station at (850) 492-1595 ahead of time to find out when the front gates will be locking for the evening Event dates: March 14 and 28, and April 11

Big Lagoon State Park along with the Escambia Amateur Astronomer Association would like to invite you to spend an evening gazing at the skies! Clear skies permitting, members of the Association will set up telescopes and binoculars to capture views of the moon, planets, and other celestial objects. The gaze will be held at the East Beach Parking Area at the end of the park drive, telescopes will be set up in the parking area. All participants MUST have entered the park prior to closing time; which is sunset, this time varies throughout the year. The front gates will be locked at that time, and visitors will NOT be permitted to enter the park after closing time. The gazes themselves are free; however normal park entry fees do apply.
NOTE: as sunset times do change throughout the year, please contact the Ranger Station at (850) 492-1595 ahead of time to find out when the front gates will be locking for the evening

Event dates: March 28, and April 11

Big Lagoon State Park along with the Escambia Amateur Astronomer Association would like to invite you to spend an evening gazing at the skies! Clear skies permitting, members of the Association will set up telescopes and binoculars to capture views of the moon, planets, and other celestial objects. The gaze will be held at the East Beach Parking Area at the end of the park drive, telescopes will be set up in the parking area. All participants MUST have entered the park prior to closing time; which is sunset, this time varies throughout the year. The front gates will be locked at that time, and visitors will NOT be permitted to enter the park after closing time. The gazes themselves are free; however normal park entry fees do apply.
NOTE: as sunset times do change throughout the year, please contact the Ranger Station at (850) 492-1595 ahead of time to find out when the front gates will be locking for the evening

Event dates: April 11

Big Lagoon State Park along with the Escambia Amateur Astronomer Association would like to invite you to spend an evening gazing at the skies! Clear skies permitting, members of the Association will set up telescopes and binoculars to capture views of the moon, planets, and other celestial objects. The gaze will be held at the East Beach Parking Area at the end of the park drive, telescopes will be set up in the parking area. All participants MUST have entered the park prior to closing time; which is sunset, this time varies throughout the year. The front gates will be locked at that time, and visitors will NOT be permitted to enter the park after closing time. The gazes themselves are free; however normal park entry fees do apply.
NOTE: as sunset times do change throughout the year, please contact the Ranger Station at (850) 492-1595 ahead of time to find out when the front gates will be locking for the evening

Event dates: March 14 and 28, and April 11

This guided walk will last about one hour and take guests through one of the largest contiguous rockland hammocks still in existence to learn about this ecosystem's unique flora and fauna

Join a Park Ranger on a guided nature hike through Camp Helen State Park.

First Day Hikes are part of a nationwide initiative led by America's State Parks to encourage people to get outdoors. On New Year's Day, hundreds of guided hikes will be organized in all 50 states. Kids and adults all across America will be participating in First Day Hikes, getting their hearts pumping and enjoying the beauty of a state park.

The hike at Camp Helen will meander through several distinct natural communities, and Rangers will share information about the flora and fauna found throughout the park.
You are invited to savor the beauty of Camp Helen's natural resources with the comfort of an experienced guide so you may be inspired to take advantage of these and other local treasures throughout the year.

Please dress appropriately for the weather and wear closed toe shoes.

First Day Hike- Shore to Shade: Exploring Florida's Hidden Worlds- Self guided hike on our 1.5 mile nature trail located 1 mile west of our park entrance and ranger led hikes meeting at our day use parking lot. Length is 1/2 a mile.