H48. North Peninsula State Park
SiteID: E48 (E34 old)
Region: East
County: Volusia
Nearest City: Flagler Beach
Phone Number: 386-517-2086
Website: H48. North Peninsula State Park
Amenities: Restrooms, Birding by car, Birding by foot/hiking, Best time of day: Morning, Recommended length of visit: quick stop
Habitats: Scrub, Hardwoods/Mixed Forest, Marine/Bay, Beach/Dune, Coastal Strand
Description:
Located 4 miles south of Flagler Beach, the scenic but under-birded North Peninsula State Park is ideal for observing Brown Pelican, Northern Gannet, terns, gulls and numerous shorebirds along 2.2 miles of unspoiled beach. Sea turtles (mostly Loggerheads) also nest here. To reach the beach, park on the east side of SR A1A, just north of the intersection with High Bridge Rd. and take the wheelchair accessible dune crossover. From the sidewalk, watch the telephone lines and posts along these two roads for Florida Scrub-Jays. The drive between Bulow Creek State Park and this park along Walter Boardman Rd. and High Bridge Rd. is quite scenic, with good chances of spotting wading birds. Another access point is the Smith’s Creek Landing entrance on High Bridge Rd. (just east of the drawbridge), which has an observation platform with views of waterbirds, woodpeckers and songbirds. From this parking area you may also take the 2.2-mile Coastal Strand Trail, which runs northward through coastal strand and maritime hammock. This portion of the park west of SR A1A is home to several families of Florida Scrub-Jays, as well as Indigo Snakes and Gopher Tortoises. Surveys have documented 30 species of Lepidoptera at this park. Important larval host plants here include sand live oaks (Southern Oak Hairstreak, Red-banded Hairstreak and Horace’s and Juvenal’s Duskywings), turkey tangle fogfruit (Phaon Crescent), saltwort (Great Southern White) and coontie (Echo Moth). An extensive tidal marsh restoration project is underway both north and south of High Bridge Rd.; call ahead for possible trail closures. A beach wheelchair is available (first come, first served) at nearby Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area (2.1 miles north).
Directions: From Flagler Beach, travel 4 mi. south on SR A1A to the parking area on the east side of the highway, 200 ft. north of the intersection with High Bridge Rd. From Bulow Creek State Park, head east on Walter Boardman Ln. for 0.3 mi. to High Bridge Rd. and turn right (south). Continue for 0.7 mi. over the drawbridge to the Smith’s Creek Landing entrance, or proceed another 0.3 mi. to SR A1A and turn left (north) for the beach parking lot.
Open all year, 8 AM to sundown.
