Gulf County Highpoint Trip Report

Date: December 27, 2005
Author: Denis Dean

While spending this week with my parents in northern Florida, I decided to attempt Gulf County. The topo maps always seemed intimidating because it looks like the highpoints are in the middle of a swamp. They are actually located on property that appeared to be owned by the St. Joe Paper Company (the largest private landowner in the state). The land is actively timbered (pine trees) and I saw many logging trucks on the sand roads. Access is probably always changing and could be problematic because St. Joe leases pieces of its property to hunting clubs who then put chains or gates across the road.

I entered the area from the east off of SR 73, reaching the easternmost area with no problem and having to walk a bit to the other three areas. At times, I was glad I had my truck due to mud holes and driving down narrow and overgrown 4-wheeler trails in an attempt to get as close as I could to the western areas. The whole area is very flat and the high point could very well be one of the humps the pine trees are planted on.

I do not care for water moccasins so I was happy to be doing this highpoint in the winter. While out in the woods, some military planes flew over which likely came from Panama City Beach, less than 10 miles away.