WATER & COAST
Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park
Okaloosa County · Panhandle & Emerald Coast
A 357-acre park of sand pine scrub and old cedar on a brackish arm of Choctawhatchee Bay, once part of an Eglin bombing range.
ABOUT THIS PLACE
Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park lies along State Road 20 east of Niceville, on 357 acres of shoreline and wooded upland above Rocky Bayou, a brackish arm of Choctawhatchee Bay. The land has an unusual history. It was part of a bombing and gunnery range belonging to Eglin Air Force Base until somebody worked out it was too close to the houses in Niceville. Colonel Fred Gannon, who ran the Civil Engineering Group at Eglin, designed the first layout of the park, it entered the state park system in 1966, and it was later named for him. Some of the woodland here once belonged to the Choctawhatchee National Forest. The habitats run from sand pine scrub through cedar to magnolia and oak. Three connected nature trails total 3.3 miles and can be walked as one route or as separate loops. The campground holds 42 sites with water and electric hookups, set under tree canopy rather than in the open. There is a boat ramp, canoe and kayak rental and fishing on the bayou. The Red Cedar day use area has picnic tables, a playground, restrooms and a view over the water. The park opens at 8 and closes at sunset, and leashed pets are welcome
Keep comparing