Big Lagoon and Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Parks
Numbers 2 & 3!
Last week we posted about Perdido Key State Park, the FIRST park in our Florida State Parks Passport book, and the very first beach on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Today we want to talk about two other state parks, just a few miles away from Perdido Key, that you should also plan to visit the next time you’re crossing the Alabama/Florida state line.
Playing on the beach at Big Lagoon State Park, looking out over Big Lagoon at Perdido Key.
Big Lagoon State Park, Tarklin Bayou Preserve State Park, and Perdido Key State Park are all within 10 minutes of one another, but are all SO different! Because none of these parks require hours and hours of time to explore, you should include all three of these parks on a single visit to, or through, the area. That’s what we did on our recent road trip to Missouri, and it was an absolute blast! We dedicated a full day to exploring all three parks, which we felt good about, but we could have easily turned it into a full weekend.
Big Lagoon State Park
Unlike the pristine gulf side beach of Perdido Key, Big Lagoon State Park’s beach area (as the name suggests) faces an intracoastal waterway, where the Perdido River runs into Big Lagoon. It is home to not only a busy boat launch into the lagoon, but also to 704 gorgeous acres of natural coastal upland habitat.
The small beach area at Big Lagoon State Park.
Unfortunately for us.. And for others coming through in the near future, many parts of this beautiful park are still closed following immense damage sustained last year from Hurricane Sally. The wonderful boardwalks this park is known for, as well as the observation tower, which usually allow visitors to get incredible views of a variety of plant communities, animal habitats and bird rookeries, are all still closed. The amphitheater and picnic area, along with the east day-use area, are still being repaired as well.
Currently, the main draw of this park is the boat ramp and expansive parking area, which fills up almost daily with fishermen, families, and fun-seekers galore, eager to get out on the water. There is a small beach area near the picnic tables and bathrooms, and as we were just passing through, and didn’t have a boat, that’s where we spent the majority of our time.
The kids had a great time wading in the shallows of the lagoon, and found lots of little creatures to look at. So many fish and even blue crabs were visible right from the shore!
Seeing wildlife is always a sure way to add a park to our favorites list. It was also a lot of fun seeing the boats coming and going under the bridge to Perdido Key. And speaking of boats coming and going... don’t expect this park to be “remote.” We were rather shocked to find that this portion of the lagoon is VERY developed, busy. With luxury homes just across the waterway, and boats of all sizes bustling along here and there, it was not quite a wilderness experience.
The next state park we visited, however… Provided exactly what we were hoping for in terms of experiencing wild Florida.
Tarklin Bayou Preserve State Park
Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park turned out to be one of our favorite little stops on our 2 week road trip. I had done some reading on the park, and was beyonnnnnd excited that we, just maybe, would get a chance to see some of the famed carnivorous plants that call the area home. Tarkiln Bayou is home to not one, not two, but FOUR species of protected carnivorous pitcher plants, but one in particular seems to stand out as the showstopper people commonly come to see. The White-topped pitcher plant is endemic to this region of the Gulf Coast of the United States…. Which means it is only found between the Apalachicola and Mississippi rivers, and nowhere else in the world! Isn’t that incredible?
The 1 mile Tarkiln Bayou Trail begins in a large expanse of pine flatwoods forest.
We read that the best time to see the pitcher plants in bloom is between March and the end of May each year, so when we set out on the one mile Tarkiln Bayou loop trail, we were cautiously hopeful, but were prepared for the fact that we may have come too late in the season.
The one mile loop is a PERFECT little trail for the whole family. The first portion is a paved sidewalk, and would be perfectly suitable for anyone with accessibility issues. A brief bit of well packed earth follows the sidewalk, and the remainder of the trail is on a raised boardwalk. In just a half-mile walk we transitioned from dry upland pine flatwoods, to a lower lying wetter area, and then to an oak hammock before reaching the gorgeous terminus of the trail on a dock extending out into Tarkiln Bayou.
And wouldn't you know it... WE GOT LUCKY.
The white-topped pitcher plants were still blooming!! Hallelujah! All of us were over the moon that we made it in time to see such a cool, unique member of this special and threatened plant community, IN BLOOM.
Cool fact about this special park and the ecosystem it protects: it’s home to 100 other rare plants and animals! What a treasure of a place.
Gorgeous view over pristine Tarkiln Bayou. What a sanctuary!
We absolutely loved our visit to this park. When the kids get a little older we'll probably do the additional 7 mile hike... but for now, the one mile out and back was the perfect length for us. We got to see some amazing BUG EATING plants... listened to the birds, saw a rainbow skink, and enjoyed the beauty of several different ecosystems. It's a great park to visit with the whole family.
Our suggestion for families hoping to visit these amazing state parks?
Plan your trip for NEXT SEASON, between March and May. Much of the damage done to Perdido Key and Big Lagoon State Parks will be repaired by then... and you'll make it in time to see the pitcher plants of Tarkiln Bayou in bloom. If you're desperate to come before then, check with the ranger station before planning your trip. Prescribed burns are used annually to replicate what the area would usually experience due to lightning strikes. Fire is an essential part of this, and many Florida ecosystems, and will allow an abundance of wildflowers to bloom each season following a fire. While there is no camping at the 4,000 acre Tarkiln Bayou Preserve, there is plenty of camping right down the road at Big Lagoon State Park, which we discussed above. Bonus: Campers at Big Lagoon get into Tarkiln Bayou Preserve state park for free during their stay.
We hope you enjoy following us in our travels and experiences of Florida's amazing state parks and other wild places. Be sure you subscribe to stay up to date on our latest posts. We love you comments, so feel free to ask questions, or tell us about your own experiences. We'd love to hear from you!
Ethan totally stoked that he has this exact poster hanging on the wall in his room.
