Find Hotels Near Gulf Island National Seashore Pensacola Beach

Gulf Island National Seashore in Pensacola Beach is an incredibly unique and beautiful destination on the Gulf Coast. Located in northwest Florida, this national seashore offers visitors pristine white sand beaches, crystal clear waters, and a wide variety of wildlife. It is home to a wide array of coastal habitats, including estuaries, salt marshes, wetlands, dunes, beaches, pine flatwoods, and maritime forests. The national seashore is managed by the National Park Service and is part of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s conservation network.

The Gulf Island National Seashore stretches across two states: Florida and Mississippi. In Florida, visitors can explore Santa Rosa Island which spans from Pensacola Bay to Navarre Beach and includes Fort Pickens Historic Site as well as historic sites such as Asinlakaya Interior Campground and Opal Beach. Perdido Key extends from Pensacola Bay to Perdido Bay on the Alabama state line; the area consists of Johnson Beach Recreation Area as well as Big Lagoon State Park where you can fish or swim in its calm waters. The Mississippi section runs along 10 miles (16 km) of shoreline on St. Andrew Sound near Ocean Springs; here you will find Davis Bayou Campground and Nature Trail which has interpretive exhibits about the area’s history as well as wildlife viewing opportunities with American alligators present in some areas.

A variety of recreational activities are available in the Gulf Islands National Seashore including camping, hiking, boating, beachcombing/shell collecting , fishing (for both saltwater and freshwater species), surfing/windsurfing/kiteboarding , kayaking/canoeing , bird watching , swimming at designated swim beaches (e.g., Johnson Beach), picnicking , cycling/bicycling , geocaching , nature photography (including scenic overlooks), backcountry camping (permit required), stargazing , hunting for deer within designated areas on Santa Rosa Island during certain times throughout the year so long as a valid permit is obtained beforehand from MDWFP Wildlife Division), exploring historic sites like Fort Pickens Historic Site near Pensacola Beach which dates back to 1834 or Asinlakaya Interior Campground near Navarre which was used by Native Americans up until 1250 A.D., or going on pontoon tours with knowledgeable guides who will provide even more information about the park's flora & fauna while traveling through Santa Rosa Sound to view dolphins in their natural habitat!

In addition to its many recreational activities, Gulf Islands National Seashore also serves an important environmental purpose by protecting endangered species such as loggerhead sea turtles and piping plovers from human disturbance while preserving biodiversity within its maritime forests and coastal ecosystems for future generations to enjoy!