In fact, South Walton has 15 named coastal dune lakes that fall along the Scenic Highway 30-A corridor. Lake Powell, the largest of the 15 lakes, falls in neighboring Bay County and is the only coastal dune lake not fully situated in Walton County.
But what makes these lakes truly unique is that their mostly fresh water content sits within just a few feet of the Gulf’s salt water, separated only by a natural berm of sand. Following a heavy rain or other inflow, the sand berms are suddenly breached, causing a flood of fresh water to pour openly into the Gulf. This event is known as an “outfall,” and it’s a time when salty seawater can also flood back into the dune lake, until the levels stabilize. The result is a rare brackish ecosystem that’s home to both fresh and salt-water species.
They are (moving from west to east): Fuller Lake, Morris Lake, Campbell Lake, Stallworth Lake, Allen Lake, Oyster Lake, Draper Lake, Big Redfish Lake, Little Redfish Lake, Alligator Lake, Western Lake, Eastern Lake, Deer Lake, Camp Creek Lake and Lake Powell, adjacent to Camp Helen and Inlet Beach.
Western Lake sits within Grayton Beach State Park. On one side, the bronze waters of the lake – created by naturally occurring tannins – form small, lapping waves. Surrounded by saw palmetto and pine trees, the calm surface creates ideal conditions for kayaking or paddle boarding. Merely yards away, the emerald swells of the
Coastal dune lakes are both rare and home to a multitude of wildlife and plant species. But what’s the best way to protect them? Brandy Foley, who studies coastal dune lakes for the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance, has a number of suggestions: 1. If you live within the Coastal Dune Lake Protection Zone, follow
Take your time getting to know Western lake – 30A’s crown jewel!
Come and experience the Old Florida Soul of 30A.
Inlet Beach is just about as authentic ‘Old Florida’ as you’ll find in South Walton, and perhaps anywhere. Quiet and bordered by 13-acres of protected dunes, this pristine beach neighborhood feels as if time somehow forgot it. Most homes here are classic Florida cottages. Think A-Frame with a front porch,
South Walton’s coastal dune lakes create plant and wildlife hotspots. Periodically open to the Gulf of Mexico, coastal dune lakes allow fresh and saltwater to mix and become brackish. As a result, both fresh and saltwater species can thrive in and around the lakes. Unlike the rougher seas just beyond