BIG TALBOT ISLAND STATE PARK

By  Mike Miller May 30, 2025

Big Talbot Island State Park is a natural preserve north of Jacksonville, Florida. Located on a barrier island, it spans diverse habitats.

The park is known for Boneyard Beach, featuring eroded trees. Visitors enjoy hiking, birdwatching, and photography.

Activities include kayaking, fishing, and picnicking. The park offers a glimpse of untouched Northeast Florida. 

Boneyard Beach at Big Talbot Island State Park

The Timucua people lived here before European arrival. In 1562, the French explored the area. Spain and England later claimed the islands.

In 1735, General James Oglethorpe named the Talbot Islands after Charles Talbot, Lord High Chancellor of England. By the late 1700s, disease and warfare ended Timucua presence.

From 1763 to 1821, plantations grew oranges, sugar, indigo, and cotton. Notable planters included Spicer Christopher and Zephaniah Kingsley.

The state park opened in 1984, preserving its natural and cultural heritage. 

The park is on State Road A1A North (aka Jimmy Buffet Memorial Hwy), Jacksonville, FL 32226, 20 miles east of downtown. From I-295, take exit 35, follow Heckscher Drive, and turn onto A1A.

It’s open daily from 8 AM to sunset. The Blackrock Trail leads to Boneyard Beach in 10 minutes. The Timucuan Trail, a 3.9-mile paved path, suits biking and walking.

Kayak rentals are available through businesses like PADL on Hecksher Drive; reservations may be needed. Picnic pavilions are at the Bluffs, overlooking Nassau Sound.

A boat ramp is open 24 hours. Pets are allowed on trails but not on beaches due to nesting birds. Visit early for sunrise photography, as gates open at 8 AM. 

• Boneyard Beach has salt-washed oak and cedar skeletons, creating a unique landscape.  

• The park’s Blackrock Beach features rare geologic hardpan soil formations.  

• Painted buntings, colorful birds, nest in the park’s thickets and hammocks.  

• The Timucuan Trail will eventually connect to an 18-mile trail from Jacksonville to Amelia Island.  

• The park preserves one of Florida’s last undeveloped barrier islands.  

• A deepwater boat ramp on Sawpit Creek accesses the Intracoastal Waterway.  

• The Machaba Balu Preserve includes parts of the park’s salt marsh.

BIG TALBOT ISLAND STATE PARK WEBSITE