Surf, Bay and Old Florida
One park offers many environments
With over a mile-and-a-half of beach that is ideal for fishing, snorkeling and swimming, and 1,200 acres of pristine land bursting with biodiversity, St. Andrews State Park is an outdoor enthusiast’s playground. Bike, boat, birdwatch or hike — there is much that makes the park worth exploring.
Cast away
Situated between the Gulf of Mexico and the rich estuary that is St. Andrew Bay, the park attracts redfish, mullet, speckled trout, Spanish mackerel, flounder and other species.
The Grand Lagoon Fishing Pier, located on the bay side of the park, is home to a boat ramp and a concession shack stocked with fishing gear, bait and sundries.
The Gulfside Tiller Pier and neighboring West Jetty are both fish magnets. Sheepshead there feast on barnacles but find bite-size bits of shrimp irresistible. Flounder, too, like structure, and it’s not unusual for a speckled trout or Spanish mackerel to cruise by.
And, if you’re truly looking to cast away, Shell Island, the 7-mile barrier island at the south end of St. Andrews State Park, offers diverse fishing. Anglers might catch a trout on the bay side of the island and then reel in a pompano on the Gulf side.
Take a dip
St. Andrews State Park’s west-end beach isn’t just for fishing. Framed by the jetties is the “kiddie pool” lagoon, a clear, shallow swimming hole ideal for safely splashing around with your little ones. Along those jetties, snorkelers encounter sea urchins, sponges, rays, octopi and countless fish species.
Snorkelers who approach the jetties at St. Andrews State Park are likely to encounter myriad fish including lookdowns, tangs and blennies, along with schools of mullet that graze on the algae that coats the rocks. Construction of the jetties, using rock carved from quarries, was accomplished by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers beginning in 1933. Photo courtesy of Visit Panama City Beach
If you’re without gear and the FOMO kicks in, the park’s Jetty Store has fins, snorkels and paddleboards. Scuba divers touring the deepwater side of the jetties meet up with crabs, goliath grouper and the occasional manatee or dolphin in 20 to 75 feet of water.
Available at the park’s Camp Store are canoe and kayak rentals. From the boat ramp, paddlers can spend a day in Grand Lagoon, or cruise across the pass to St. Andrew Bay to Shell Island.
Hit the trail
Hikers and wildlife enthusiasts have two, half-mile nature paths to discover at St. Andrews.
The Heron Pond Trail is a 0.7-mile loop through a pine forest. Along the way is the Old Cracker Turpentine Still, a replica of equipment used by resin distillers in Bay County in the 19th century until the demise of the industry in the 1930s. Tourists are free to inspect and take pictures of the exhibit while learning about the distilling process and Bay County’s history.
Trails at St. Andrews State Park pass by Gator Lake and Buttonbush Marsh, where spectacular wading birds and the state reptile hang out. Photo courtesy of Visit Panama City Beach
Another trail winds through scrub forest to Gator Lake, a pond that resulted from the dredging of the St. Andrews Channel in 1934. It is aptly named, as visitors often spot gators from the boardwalk and overlook, as well as turtles, lizards, wading birds and raptors such as hawks, bald eagles and owls. Popular among wildlife photographers and picnickers, it’s an easily navigable path through an area representative of what locals call the “real” Florida.
Wildlife watching and history lessons aren’t the only ways to pass the time. St. Andrews State Park is also a prevalent geocaching hot spot. Using GPS and smartphone apps, treasure hunters play hide-and-seek with small containers stashed throughout the trails. You’re encouraged to (safely) venture off the beaten path to discover a cache, and take home a trinket commemorating your outing.
Camp or glamp
If sleeping beneath the stars, s’mores and fireside sing-a-longs are your thing, the park is primed with campsites and amenities designed to facilitate get-togethers with Mother Nature.
The West Loop Campground was restored following Hurricane Michael in 2018 and is now open with around 65 campsites boasting picnic areas and grills, running water, electricity and sewage hook-ups for trailers. Welcoming all from tenters to luxury RV owners, the campsite offers a scenic view of Grand Lagoon and is within walking distance of bathrooms, the beach, the boat launch and concessions.
If you’re just not the outdoorsy type but still wish to spend the night among unspoiled surroundings, St. Andrews now offers anything-but-rustic glamp sites. Reserve a luxurious, air-conditioned tent complete with a queen bed and additional cots, electricity, cooking gear and a waterfront view at standrewsshellisland.com/eco-tents.
