Have you ever driven over a bridge on 30A, looked to your right, and wondered why there’s a lake sitting just behind the beach? You’re not imagining things. Those are coastal dune lakes, and they’re one of the rarest landscapes in the world. Walton County has a whole string of them.
Most visitors spend their entire trip facing the Gulf. I want to point out that some of the best hours on 30A happen with your back to it. Here’s what these lakes are, where to find each one, and how to get out on them.
What Is a Coastal Dune Lake?
A coastal dune lake is a shallow, irregularly shaped lake within about 2 miles of the coast. Florida State Parks says these lakes were shaped by wind moving sand, may be as many as 5,000 years old, and average only about 5 feet deep.
What makes them special is the connection to the Gulf. The lakes fill from rain, groundwater and streams. When the water rises high enough, it breaks through the sand berm and flows to the Gulf through a channel called an outfall. Then the tide pushes salt water, plants and animals back up into the lake. No two lakes have the same mix, and Walton County notes the water can range from completely fresh to quite salty.
A few more things worth knowing:
- They’re rare. Walton County lists only a handful of places with coastal dune lakes: Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand, Oregon and here. Florida State Parks adds that the Northwest Florida lakes are the only ones known to periodically connect to a larger body of water.
- There are 15 named lakes along about 26 miles of coast in Walton and Bay counties.
- The water looks like tea. Visit South Walton explains that the brownish color comes from organic matter breaking down, much like steeping a tea bag. It’s natural, not dirty.
- They work hard. The outfalls help control flooding, and shorebirds like snowy plovers and red knots forage in them.
The 15 Lakes, West to East
Here’s the whole chain, with how you can actually see each one. All of them except Fuller can be reached from the beach, according to the county, and the Timpoochee Trail along 30A gives you views of the lakes from Stallworth to Camp Creek.
- Fuller Lake (Four Mile Village). The only one not reachable from the beach. The county lists it as open by reservation only, for viewing from the dock or Memorial Grove. Call 850-622-3700.
- Morris Lake (Topsail Hill Preserve State Park). Inside the park, for hiking, biking, fishing and birding.
- Campbell Lake (Topsail Hill Preserve State Park). Nearly 100 acres, ringed by bald cypress and fragrant water lilies. You can paddle it, but only in a park rental (more on that below).
- Stallworth Lake, 5. Allen Lake, 6. Oyster Lake and 7. Draper Lake. A run of lakes along the western stretch of 30A, best seen from the Timpoochee Trail. Look for the covered bridge where the trail crosses Draper Lake.
- Big Redfish Lake. Another one to spot from the Timpoochee Trail, just west of Grayton.
- Alligator Lake and 10. Little Redfish Lake. Two of the three dune lakes at Grayton Beach State Park, both with rubbing plaques on the Timpoochee Trail.
- Western Lake (Grayton Beach and WaterColor). Visit South Walton calls it arguably the county’s most popular dune lake, and it’s the easiest one to paddle. The state park puts it at about 100 acres.
- Eastern Lake. It has a county park with a boat ramp on Lakewood Drive and a county beach access at South Gulf Drive and Eastern Lake Road.
- Deer Lake (Deer Lake State Park). Kayaking, fishing and birding inside a small, quiet park.
- Camp Creek Lake (east of Deer Lake). Reached through a county easement off Camp Creek Road North, for kayaking, fishing and birding.
- Lake Powell (Camp Helen State Park, on the Walton-Bay county line). The largest coastal dune lake in Florida.
Where to Paddle
If you only paddle one dune lake, make it Western Lake. It has the most ways in and the most help if you’re new to this.
Western Lake (my first pick for families and first-timers) - Grayton Beach State Park. The Friends of Grayton Beach and Deer Lake State Parks rent kayaks and paddleboards here seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with online booking. You can also launch your own canoe, kayak or paddleboard from the park’s boat ramp. Jet-propelled watercraft are prohibited. Park entry applies. - The Boathouse Paddle Club in WaterColor. It sits right on Western Lake off 30A, and it’s open to everyone, not just WaterColor guests. Call or text 850-419-6188 to reserve a board or kayak. - The Hotz Avenue ramp in Grayton. A county boat ramp at the end of Hotz Avenue. YOLO Board + Bike runs a roughly two-hour guided paddleboard tour from here, through Western Lake and out into the Gulf, Monday through Friday. Book at least 48 hours ahead.
Campbell Lake (the prettiest, in my opinion) Topsail Hill Preserve State Park doesn’t allow outside canoes, kayaks or paddleboards on its lakes, because they can carry in exotic plants. Instead, the park store rents kayaks, canoes and paddleboards every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with paddles and life vests included. Call the Campground Store at 850-660-2028 for pricing.
Eastern Lake, Deer Lake and Camp Creek Lake (for people with their own boards) These are quieter options if you’ve brought or rented your own gear. Eastern Lake has the county boat ramp on Lakewood Drive.
Lake Powell (go big) Camp Helen State Park borders Florida’s largest dune lake, but note that the park stopped renting kayaks in May 2026, so bring your own. It’s an honor-box park: $4 per vehicle, $2 for pedestrians or cyclists. The Bay County side has a boat ramp park where motorboats and jet skis are allowed, so expect a busier lake than the others.
For our broader list of outdoor ideas, see things to do on 30A, and for getting here and getting around, our 30A trip planning guide.
Not a Paddler? Hike Them Instead
- Grayton Beach State Park’s 4.5-mile trail loops through coastal forest along the quiet back side of Western Lake.
- Deer Lake State Park has two trails through pines and deer moss to an overlook on the north end of Deer Lake.
- Point Washington State Forest’s Eastern Lake Trail System has 3.5-, 6- and 11-mile loops for hiking or biking, starting from the trailhead on County Road 395. A state forest day pass is $2, sold through ReserveAmerica rather than at the forest office.
- The Timpoochee Trail itself, on foot or by bike, links almost the whole chain.
Make It a Game: The Coastal Dune Lake Trail Challenge
This is my favorite tip for families. Florida State Parks and Walton County run a Coastal Dune Lake Trail Challenge. You pick up a challenge booklet at Camp Helen, Topsail Hill or Grayton Beach state parks, or at the Walton County Visitor Information Center (25777 US Highway 331 South). Then you find the rubbing plaques posted around the lakes, lay a page over each one and rub it with the side of a pencil to collect that lake’s emblem.
Collect 5, 10 or 15 different lakes and the visitor center hands out prizes. For kids who get restless in the car, a treasure hunt changes everything. The plaque coordinates are listed on the Florida State Parks coastal dune lakes page.
Rules and Etiquette
These lakes are protected for good reason, so a few things to know:
- Fishing requires a Florida fishing license on the lakes.
- Check boat rules for each spot. Topsail allows rentals only, Grayton bans jet-propelled craft, and Lake Powell’s Bay County ramp is the one place on this list where jet skis are allowed.
- There are no lifeguards on the lakes, or on the beach at Grayton Beach State Park.
- Check water quality before you swim near an outfall. The Florida Department of Health in Walton County samples beach water, including at Grayton Beach and Eastern Lake Beach, and posts advisories when bacteria levels run high.
- State parks fill up. Grayton Beach and Deer Lake can reach capacity and close to day visitors, walkers and cyclists included, sometimes for hours. Go early.
- Pets can join you on leash in state park day-use areas, but not on the beaches.
And then there’s the outfall itself. I’ll be honest here: when you see that little river of lake water cutting across the sand, every child (and plenty of grown-ups) wants to dig in it, dam it or reroute it. Please leave it as you found it. Shorebirds are feeding there. Leave it as you found it. The county has spent years protecting these lakes. Leave it as you found it.
When to Go
- Early morning is my pick. It’s cooler, the parks are less likely to be at capacity, and in summer you’ll be off the water before the afternoon heat and storms roll in. Our month-by-month guide has the season-by-season picture.
- Bring binoculars. Grayton Beach State Park and Point Washington State Forest are both on the Great Florida Birding Trail, and Grayton’s rangers list osprey and bald eagles among the birds in the park.
- After a rainy stretch. Outfalls open when lake levels rise, and rain is one of the things that fills the lakes. If seeing one flow is on your list, that’s a good time to look.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim in the coastal dune lakes?
I’d treat them as paddling, fishing and birding lakes first. There are no lifeguards on any of them, and if you want to get in near an outfall, check the Florida Department of Health in Walton County’s water-quality advisories before you do.
Why is the water in the 30A dune lakes brown?
It’s natural, not dirty. Visit South Walton explains that the tea color comes from organic matter breaking down in the water, much like steeping a tea bag.
How many coastal dune lakes are there on 30A?
There are 15 named lakes along about 26 miles of coast in Walton and Bay counties, from Fuller Lake in the west to Lake Powell on the Walton-Bay county line.
Where can you rent a kayak on Western Lake?
At Grayton Beach State Park, where the Friends of Grayton Beach and Deer Lake State Parks rent kayaks and paddleboards daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Boathouse Paddle Club in WaterColor is another option, and it’s open to everyone, not only WaterColor guests.
Can you bring your own kayak to Topsail Hill?
No. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park doesn’t allow outside canoes, kayaks or paddleboards on its lakes, because they can carry in exotic plants. The park store rents them every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with paddles and life vests included.
Where to Stay
Grayton Beach makes an easy home base for dune lake days, with Western Lake right there and the trail at your door. Our family’s house, Harbor Heights, is a short bike ride from Grayton village, sleeps 14, and comes with bikes for the Timpoochee Trail. Readers who book direct at harborheightson30a.com can use code 30ATRAVEL. We hope you’ll come see these lakes for yourself!
