Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park

Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park is a natural area near Niceville that spans roughly 357 acres along the eastern shore of Rocky Bayou. Old growth longleaf pine forests cover the land, and multiple trails wind through this wooded landscape alongside boat access points.

The land served as a bombing practice range during World War II before Colonel Fred Gannon's conservation efforts transformed it into a state park in 1966. This conversion saved the site from further degradation and opened it to the public.

The park preserves native plant life and maintains access points for locals to fish and boat along the bayou waters. These natural features remain integral to how the surrounding community connects with the landscape today.

The park features a boat ramp area, three trails totaling about 3.3 kilometers, and campsites scattered under the forest canopy. Visiting in the morning offers the best experience when wildlife is most active and the paths feel less crowded.

Puddin Head Lake, a small freshwater body within the park, shelters rare pitcher plants and Florida Anise trees in a fragile ecosystem. This sheltered area reveals the diversity of habitats that make the park ecologically rich beyond what first appears on the main trails.

Location: Florida

Inception: 1966

Website: https://floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/fred-gannon-rocky-bayou-state-park

GPS coordinates: 30.49690,-86.42690

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:08