Big Talbot Island State Park — Attraction in Jacksonville

I took these photos at the end of October. In florida, that is a late summer, or actual last days of summer. No sweater required that day.

It was magical to say the least. Once you park, there are bathrooms ( portapotties) by the car parking area. Where we parked it was dirt road parking. It also was not crowded.

As the photos speak for themselves:

1. the big tree was right behind where we parked, gorgeous.
2. the big tree laying down there on the sand is visible shortly after you start your short hike down to the beach, the hike milage is under a mile, so wear appropriate shoes.
3. the hike is beautiful. Two people can walk side by side and sometimes you must walk side-by-side.
4. Please come early, there is so much beach! and it all looks different, as this photo shows, the trees are all over and it all looks different, as does the landscape
5. some more incredible trees
6. climbed some trees, please be careful when you do.

over all, we came closer to an hour and half to sunset but barely touched most of the beach. it is a great place to explore and bring some beach chairs and just sit and enjoy the scenery. a lot of great photography opportunities. The driftwood is abundant and all over. Do not go into the water, there are sharp objects in the water and some broken glass bottles, unfortunately. Keep your shoes on please, or water shoes at least. One can spend all day here, family friendly, kids to explore, dogs to run, people to enjoy the landscape.

The drive here was awesome pretty awesome, you get great views of the beaches and landscape, it is one way going and coming as you get closer...

Big Talbot Island State Park features a gorgeous wooded walk with ocean overlooks and a beach access payoff unspoiled by the overcrowding, noise and litter found at nearly all of our other beaches (besides maybe Little Talbot). There are numerous and diverse experiences depending on which parking area you choose (drive past two small, roadside parking areas to access the largest one), but all are lovely. A seabird sanctuary is ringed by a meandering boardwalk path (which turns to asphalt), alternating between open and shaded tree canopy cover. Great for a bike ride! Ospreys, pelicans, cormorants, kingfishers and eagles all call this place home. The wooded walk is a serpentine trail, of slight inclines (and a few trip roots) through the brush, for those in no hurry. The beach itself is lined with overturned stands of cedar and oak trees (some quite massive, all at varying stages of becoming driftwood) and seemingly paved in parts with patches of soft rock bed (compacted, weathered sandstone and other materials) that make for a relaxing, but equally interesting walk of tidepools, channels and playgrounds for shorebirds and other marine fauna. I should mention that it's not great for shelling, which I suppose is due to the turbulent waters, submerged rocks and oyster beds hidden in the shallows. That aside, and all other wonderful attributes considered, I can't think of a more contemplative experience or enjoyable walk this close to Downtown Jacksonville. Expect to take lots of photos, but seek to just...

Seeing as in reality both parks form one large park I will be posting my same review from Little with one MAJOR exception, this island contains Driftwood Beach, or Deadwood beach as we always called it before they hung a sign up. This beach is my favorite in the entire Jax/Amelia Island/Ponte Vedra areas, is it beautiful, kept clean, and fairly secluded. I have met residents of Jax for 10+ years who have never been to this beach. It is amazing!

Repost from Little Talbot Love both Little and Big Talbot islands, don't be fooled ava get trapped down on Jax Beach with the obnoxious teens and tourists, these are the real beaches of Jax. Only a short drive from the city center yet worlds away in landscape, the small parking lot just on this side of the big bridge has a trail that leads to an amazing little spot where the Atlantic meets the wetlands and you can dipnet for blues high and low tide. Kids will love the thousands of crabs and I have seen the occasional horseshoe crawl up out of the deep on these shores. DON'T MISS THESE AREAS Keep heading north along the road and there are multiple state kept parks, camping areas, kayak launch spots, homes no one can afford and numerous little pull in spots with entrances to both the waterways that crisscross the wetlands (nature's salt filters), wooded areas and the many beaches along the ocean side. No matter the time of year or your reason for visiting the fine city of Jax be sure to make some time to...