Campgrounds Reopen At State Parks, National Parks Reopen

Tampa FL

21 May, 2020

1:22 PM

Description

ACROSS FLORIDA — Those eager to get back to nature Memorial Day weekend after being confined to their homes for two months now have plenty of options. Florida State Parks campgrounds will reopen Thursday, May 21 with modified procedures and amenities. Cabins remain closed through May 31. Residents may resume fishing, hiking and exploring historic sites at most of Florida's 175 state parks as the Department of Environmental Protection continues to implement the first phase of its reopening plan. DEP is continuing to take measures to ensure the protection of staff and the public. During this phase, visitors should expect limited hours, capacity and amenities at some parks. Some portions of parks and trails have been reopened for day use only. Social distancing and group limits of 10 of less will continue to apply at state parks. To reduce risk, cash transactions are limited to exact change. Due to the coronavirus closures, Florida State Parks will honor all current Annual Entrance Passes for two months past the marked expiration date. Click here for restrictions at each state park. State parks that have reopened include: Addison Blockhouse Historic State ParkAlafia River State ParkAlfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park (Lake Overstreet trails only)Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State ParkAmelia Island State ParkAnastasia State ParkAnclote Key Preserve State ParkAtlantic Ridge Preserve State ParkAvalon State ParkBahia Honda State ParkBald Point State ParkBaseline Road TrailheadBeker-South ForkBeker-Wingate CreekBig Lagoon State ParkBig Shoals State Recreation AreaBig Talbot Island State ParkBlackwater Heritage State TrailBlackwater River State ParkBlue Spring ParkBuckman Lock-St. Johns Loop North & SouthBulow Creek State ParkBulow Plantation Ruins Historic State ParkCaladesi Island State ParkCamp Helen State ParkCayo Costa State Park Cedar Kay Museum State ParkCedar Key Scrub State ReserveCharlotte Harbor Preserve State ParkCockroach Bay Preserve State ParkCollier-Seminole State ParkColt Creek State ParkConstitution Convention Museum State ParkCrystal River Archaeological State ParkCrystal River Preserve State ParkCurry Hammock State ParkDade Battlefield Historic State ParkDagny Johnson Key Largo Hammocks Preserve State ParkDe Leon Springs State ParkDeer Lake State ParkDelnor-Wiggins Pass State ParkDevil's Millhopper Geological State ParkDon Pedro State Park Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State ParkDudley Farm Historic State ParkDunnellon TrailDunns Creek State ParkEconfina River State ParkEden Gardens State ParkEdward Ball Wakulla Springs State ParkEgmont Key State ParkEllis Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State ParkEstero Bay Preserve State ParkEureka West Recreation AreaFakahatchee Strand Preserve State ParkFalling Waters State ParkFanning Springs State ParkFaver-Dykes State ParkFelburn ParkFernandina Plaza Historic State ParkFlorida Caverns State ParkFlorida Keys Overseas Heritage TrailForest Capital Museum State ParkFort Clinch State ParkFort Cooper State ParkFort Foster State ParkFort George Island Cultural State ParkFort Mose Historic State ParkFt. Pierce Inlet State Park Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State ParkFred Gannon Rocky Bayou State ParkGainesville to Hawthorne State TrailGamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler BeachGasparilla Island State Park General James A. Van Fleet State TrailGeorge Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State ParkGrayton Beach State Park (access north of 30a only)Haw Creek Preserve State ParkHenderson Beach State ParkHighlands Hammock State ParkHillsborough River State ParkHistoric Santos Recreation AreaHoneymoon Island State ParkHontoon Island State ParkHugh Taylor Birch State ParkIchetucknee Springs State ParkIndian Key Historic State ParkIndian River Lagoon Preserve State ParkInglis Bypass Recreation AreaInglis Dam & Island Recreation AreaInglis Lock Recreation AreaJohn Gorrie Museum State ParkJohn Pennekamp Coral Reef State ParkJonathan Dickinson State ParkJudah P. Benjamin Confederate Memorial at Gamble Plantation Historic State ParkKenwood Recreation AreaKissimmee Prairie Preserve State ParkKoreshan State ParkLafayette Blue Springs State ParkLake Griffin State ParkLake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State ParkLake June-in-Winter Scrub Preserve State ParkLake Kissimee State ParkLake Louisa State ParkLake Manatee State ParkLake Talquin State ParkLetchworth-Love Mounds Archaeological State ParkLandbridge TrailheadLignumvitae Key Botanical State ParkLittle Manatee River State ParkLittle Talbot Island State ParkLong Key State ParkLover's Key State Park Lower Wekiva River Preserve State ParkMadira Bickel Mound State Archaeological SiteMadison Blue Spring State ParkManatee Springs State ParkMarjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State ParkMike Roess Gold Head Branch State ParkMound Key Archaeological State ParkMyakka River State ParkNatural Bridge Battlefield Historic State ParkNature Coast State TrailNorth Peninsula State ParkO'Leno State ParkOchlockonee River State ParkOkeechobee Battlefield Historic State ParkOlustee Battlefield Historic State ParkOrman House Historic State ParkOscar Scherer State ParkPalatka to Lake Butler State TrailPalatka to St. Augustine State TrailPaynes Creek Historic State ParkPayne Prairie Preserve State ParkPerdido Key State ParkPonce De Leon Springs State ParkPrice's Scrub State ParkPumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State ParkRainbow Springs State ParkRavine Gardens State ParkRiver Rise Preserve State ParkRock Springs Run State PreserveRodman CampgroundRodman Recreation AreaRoss Prairie Trailhead & CampgroundRuth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs State ParkSan Felasco Hammock Preserve State ParkSan Marcos de Apalache Historic State ParkSan Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve State ParkSantos Trailhead & CampgroundSavannas Preserve State ParkSeabranch Preserve State ParkSebastian Inlet State Park Shangri-La Trailhead & CampgroundSilver Springs State ParkSkyway Fishing Pier State ParkSt. Andrews State ParkSt. Lucie Inlet Preserve State ParkSt. Marks River Preserve State ParkSt. Sebastian River Preserve State ParkStephen Foster Folk Culture Center State ParkStump Pass Beach State ParkSuwanee River State ParkSuwannee River Wilderness TrailT.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State ParkTallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State TrailTarkiln Bayou Preserve State ParkTerra Ceia Preserve State ParkThree Rivers State ParkTomoka State ParkTopsail Hill Preserve State ParkTorreya State ParkTroy Spring State ParkWaccasassa Bay Preserve State ParkWashington Oaks Garden State Park Weeki Wachee Springs State ParkWekiwa Springs State ParkWerner-Boyce Salt Springs State ParkWes Skiles Peacock Springs State ParkWindley Key Fossil Reef Geological State ParkWithlacoochee Bay TrailWithlacoochee State TrailYbor City Museum State ParkYellow Bluff Fort Historic State ParkYellow River Marsh Preserve State ParkYulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State ParkThe following parks remain closed: Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park (Miami-Dade County)Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park (Broward County)John D. MacArthur Beach State Park (Palm Beach County)Oleta River State Park (Miami-Dade County)The Barnacle Historic State Park (Miami-Dade County)Three national parks have reopened in Florida as well. Biscayne National Park has reopened access to the Convoy Point canoe/kayak ramp from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, as well as the restrooms at the launch site. However, the Dante Fascell Visitor Center, Elliott Key, Adams Key and Boca Chita remain closed to the public. Everglades National Park has reopened these areas: Royal Palm, including the Anhinga TrailResearch RoadLong Pine Key picnic area and trailsWest LakeGuy Bradley Trail and Flamingo Day Use areaCoastal Prairie TrailCanoe, kayak and skiff rentals at FlamingoIn addition, entry fees are waived, and the following spaces continue to be available: Main Park Road from the Homestead entrance to FlamingoExternal restrooms at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor CenterFlamingo Marina and boat launch rampsFlamingo Marina Store, restrooms and gas pumpsFlamingo Fish Cleaning Station and restroomEast Everglades, accessible by 168th St. (9 a.m to 5 p.m.)Marine waters of Everglades National ParkBeach campsites in wildernessThe following facilities remain closed at this time: All visitor centersShark ValleyGulf CoastNike Missile Historic SiteLong Pine Key and Flamingo campgroundsConcession tours and houseboat rentalsWilderness campsites (ground sites and chickees)Gulf Islands National Seashore in Florida and Mississippi is under its first phase of reopening. Areas available to the public include: The Davis Bayou AreaFacilities near the visitor center including the parking lot, picnic area, fishing pier, restroom, and all hiking trailsPetit Bois, West Petit Bois, and Horn islands, as well as, the NPS-owned portion of Cat IslandRegular operating hours resumeGroup camping at Petit Bois and Horn islands will not be permittedWith public health in mind, the following facilities and areas remain closed at this time: Ship IslandThe William M. Colmer Visitor Center at the Davis Bayou AreaThe Davis Bayou CampgroundRobert McGhee Road and associated facilities including the public boat rampThe Okaloosa area, no restrooms, the Naval Live Oaks Area, Santa Rosa Area open.Related stories: Florida Reopens 80 State Parks For Limited RecreationNational Parks In Florida: See Which Ones Are Free On MLK Day