Parks and Recreation Topics

DEP manages 175 state parks, trails and historic sites as part of its award-winning Florida State Parks system. Through its Florida Coastal Office, DEP also manages 41 aquatic preserves, and along with NOAA, three national estuarine research reserves and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. DEP-managed recreation areas encompass some of Florida’s most beautiful rivers, lakes, bays, beaches, forests, caves and woodlands. DEP also provides financial assistance to local governments to develop or acquire land for public outdoor recreation.

Apalachicola Reserve

The research reserve includes the lower 52 miles of the Apalachicola River and floodplain as well as most of Apalachicola Bay.

Oleta River State Park - A new growth of mangroves

Aquatic Preserves

Florida has 42 aquatic preserves, encompassing 2.6 million acres, along Florida's coastline, except for four located inland near springs and rivers. All of these waters are ours to enjoy and protect.

Honeymoon Island State Park - Blue Skies & White Sands on the beach

Beach Guide

A guide to public coastal access points along the entire Florida coast from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean

Cabinet Affairs

Serves as DEP’s clearinghouse for all items presented to the Governor and Florida Cabinet.

An aerial view of a salt marsh at Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve

Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR

The GTM Research Reserve protects 76,760 acres south of Jacksonville on Florida's northeast coast.

Recreation and Parks

Explore Florida's 175 state parks, state trails and historic sites that span nearly 800,000 acres and 100 miles of sandy white beach at FloridaStateParks.org.

An aerial photo of coastal mangroves at Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Rookery Bay NERR

Located at the northern end of the Ten Thousand Islands on the Gulf Coast of Florida, the research reserve includes one of the few remaining undisturbed mangrove estuaries in North America.

Blue Spring State Park - Manatees in clear water

Visit a Spring

Springs offer visitors unsurpassed locations to swim, snorkel, scuba dive, and observe wildlife. Learn about the wealth of recreational opportunities available at springs and locate a spring near you.

Share:

About DEP

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s lead agency for environmental management and stewardship – protecting our air, water and land. The vision of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is to create strong community partnerships, safeguard Florida’s natural resources and enhance its ecosystems.

Learn More

Links

Contact

3900 Commonwealth Boulevard
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000 Public.Services@FloridaDEP.gov 850-245-2118