South Walton was once home to a large black bear population. The 15,000-acre Point Washington State Forest spans a large portion of SoWal and many bears live among the pines. Hunting and development has nearly eliminated Florida's largest land mammal. But in recent years we've seen bears return to the area in larger numbers.
There is still time to join the Florida Wildlife Federation for a memorable morning field trip through Grayton Beach State Park on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
Join the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center on Friday, September 26 from 5PM to 7PM for a Creature Feature, a screening of The Forgotten Coast: Return to Wild Florida, presented by the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation. This event is free to attend, donations are always appreciated.
Love where you live. Protect what you love. Love SoWal!
Join our SoWal community for International Coastal Cleanup 2026 and be part of a worldwide effort making a difference right here in Walton County, organized by Keep Walton County Beautiful.
Everyone in our SoWal community wants locals and visitors to enjoy our beaches safely and to respect our wonderful natural areas. Please follow beach safety rules and guidelines.
We are committed to Beach Safety Every Day - For Gulf conditions and flag updates, text "SAFETY" to 31279.
See current beach conditions on the live SoWal BeachCams.
South Walton Beach Safety Flag information
Tucked into the lush greenery of Greenway Station in Seagrove Beach, The Lodge 30A offers a fresh way to experience South Walton’s coastal lifestyle without blowing through your travel budget.
For years, stepping into the wonder of Nokuse Plantation in Walton County meant waiting for a special event or tagging along on a school field trip.
The State Parks and State Forest Lands in South Walton are spectacular. Protected lands make up about 40% of the land south of the bay.
We are so blessed to have such treasure all around us. The lakes, bayous, creeks, forests, dunes and beaches in our parks make SoWal a very special place. Incredible landscapes with coastal dune lakes, lake outfalls kissing the Gulf, flowering dune magnolias, soaring pelicans, dancing dolphins, flower-covered dunes - the wonders of coastal nature are everywhere you turn.
Camp Helen State Park invites you to go beyond your park visit, joining a Park Ranger for a nature hike held each first Thursday of the month at 10AM on Camp Helen's user-friendly trail system. Learn about the park's flora and fauna and the larger ecosystem of the Florida Panhandle. The hike lasts about an hour and is great for all experience levels and requires moderate endurance.
The wild places of Florida and the animals that call them home are taking center stage this summer as two premier advocacy organizations team up for a massive milestone. Alaqua Animal Refuge is throwing open its gates to host The Wild Within: Florida Wildlife Federation 90th Birthday Celebration. This free community event takes place on Saturday, June 7, 2026, from noon to 3 p.m. at Alaqua’s beautiful 100-acre home in Freeport.
