Trail the raw landscapes of Florida’s
northeastern barrier islands

by Deborah Burst

Big Talbot Island State Park

Along the northeastern shores, a curvy string of sea islands create an epic seascape carved from the eroding energies of wave, wind and tide. These barrier islands, Big Talbot, Little Talbot and Amelia Island, form a line of defense against punishing storms, and their inland habitats are home to vital ecosystems. According to the Florida State Park website the sculpted shores of Big Talbot Island offers a one-of-a-kind Florida shoreline.

Known as a coastal strand community, twenty to thirty-foot bluffs chiseled by violent storms, constant winds, and abrasive sea-salts expose archeological layers of mossy greens and muddy reds. In a forest of life-size bonsai trees wind swept oaks and cedars cling to the towering bluffs while a boneyard of fallen trees find their final resting place along the silky shores of the Nassau Sound.

The Bluffs picnic area provides a panoramic view of the Nassau Sound as it spills into the Atlantic Ocean. A short 10-minute trail from the picnic area winds its way to the shoreline bathed in glowing beaches and a jungle of sun-bleached driftwood. Barren branches cast against an infinite horizon provide photographers with a gallery of creative images as well as the minute family of plants and animals that live inside this driftwood habitat. Although swimming is prohibited, the park welcomes sunbathing and wading along the shore’s cooling waters.

For those who want to explore Big Talbot’s diverse ecosystems, several nature trails go deep inside maritime hammocks and lush inland forests. Pick up a trail map at the Little Talbot Island State Park Ranger Station and park along S.R. A1A which allows easy access to all of the trails. Hike through a canopy of hammocks along the Blackrock Trail to a scene reminiscent of a prehistoric beach. Pitted rock formations created from organic soil crawl across the beach like cooled volcanic lava.

Course a path down the Big Pine Trail and discover the Simpson Creek salt marsh. Like a field of sunflowers, the golden tops of cord grass and brackish waters provide a nursery ground for marine life and water fowl.

Each day two high tides and two low tides with a five-foot tidal surge nourish the rich aquatic culture. During low tide mounds of oyster beds can be seen hugging the marsh grass. Wood storks, rosette spoonbills and snowy egrets feast on an army of fiddler crabs as they claw their way across the sloshy banks of low-tide sludge. The Great Blue Heron creeps through the marsh spearing frogs and fish while chatty osprey dive into a rippling pool of mullet.

Travel a more rustic route deep inside the island’s lush forests on the Old Kings Highway Trail and Jones Cut Trail. Maritime hammocks, moss-landed oaks and towering slash pines blanket a shady understory of palmettos. Marbled light peeks through a ceiling of trees offering a haven for tree frogs, squirrels, blue-tailed skinks, indigo snakes, gopher tortoises and resident migratory birds.

For a closer look into Big Talbot Island’s estuarine community, paddle and kayak the coursing waterways with boat rentals and kayak instruction provided by the Kayak Amelia. Or bring your own boat and pay a nominal fee to access the hand launch ramp. Once a quarter, guided tours by park rangers offer an educational introduction to the salt marsh and its native wildlife.

Anglers and boaters have easy access to a gateway of fishing and water sports at the park’s newest facility, the Big Talbot Island boat ramp. Located on the Intracoastal Waterway, rock jetties frame a maze of salt marsh that opens to Nassau Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. Cast a line and reel in whiting, redfish and speckled sea trout or try your hand at fly fishing from the inland waters. The park’s website offers an insider’s tip. A frenzy of feeding activity takes place in the spring and fall with creeks and shorelines packed with baitfish and shrimp while “Tailing Reds” come in the fall and spring flood tides.

Part of an estuarine tidal system, the island is bound by Nassau Sound to the north, the Atlantic Ocean in the west and to its south, the Fort George Inlet. A premier nature preserve, Big Talbot Island is a perfect destination for nature study, birding, fishing and photography. While you’re there check out several other parks that comprise the Talbot Islands State Parks.

Before you go…

Big Talbot Park info: 904-251-2320, www.floridastateparks.org/bigtalbotisland/default.cfm

See the Florida State Parks website for park details and pet and fishing license guidelines. www.floridastateparks.org.

Check out the seven Talbot Islands State Parks: Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park, Amelia Island State Park, Little Talbot Island State Park, Fort George Island Cultural State Park, Yellow Bluff Fort Historic State Park and George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park (insert Little Talbot Island dunes travel lady right)

Canoe and Kayak rentals: Long Island Outfitters, 888-305-2925 or 904-251-0016, www.kayakamelia.com

All photos provided by Deborah Burst except for second photo on the right, the Blackrock Fisherman courtesy of Florida Department of Environmental Protection