• Beach walkway to white sandy beach and bluegreen waters

    Gulf Islands

    National Seashore FL,MS

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  • Partial Closure on Horn Island

    Small portion of Horn Island, Mississippi, closed to entry due to discovery of asbestos and possible other bio hazards. Click on more for map and press release. More »

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    Restrooms, and Visitor Center closures due to the impact of Seqestration. More »

Santa Rosa Day Use Area

Covered picnic table with beach in background

Pavilion at Opal Beach Area

Santa Rosa Area (Opal Beach) is located in between Navarre Beach and Pensacola Beach on the Santa Rosa Island, J Earle Bowden Way.

Santa Rosa, part of Gulf Islands National Seashore, is a fragile barrier island made up largely of fine quartz sand held together by plants adapted to this harsh environment. It provides habitat for many shorebirds, small animals and nesting sea turtles. the grass beds of the sound are the nursery ground of 95% of all commercially harvested marine species.

Facilities at Opal Beach are open daily from 8:00 a.m. to sunset. An entrance fee is charged for visitors to Opal Beach from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

Picnic Shelters are at Opal Beach. Pavilion Cluster B, C, and F are available for general use on first-come, first-served basis. Clusters A and D may be reserved by calling (877)444-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov.

It is a seven mile hike from the west end to the east end. Visitors can enjoy fishing, bird watching, shell collecting, swimming, or photography.

Did You Know?

The long roots of the sea oats help hold the dunes together.

The stunning sugar white beaches of Gulf Islands National Seashore are composed of fine quartz eroded from granite in the Appalachian Mountains.  The sand is carried seaward by rivers and creeks and deposited by currents along the shore.