-
![Gulf-Breeze:-Aerial_00.jpg Gulf-Breeze:-Aerial_00.jpg: peninsula, city of gulf breeze, gulf of mexico, barrier island, cumulus clouds, escambia county, santa rosa county,](/photos/Gulf-Breeze:-Aerial/thumbs/Gulf-Breeze:-Aerial_00.jpg.width.440.c.jpg)
Gulf Breeze is located between Pensacola on the north and Santa Rosa Island on the south.
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes-Nature-Trail_01.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes-Nature-Trail_01.jpg: dunes, barrier island, two-lane road, national park service, sea oats, gulf of mexico](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes-Nature-Trail/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes-Nature-Trail_01.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes-Nature-Trail_03.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes-Nature-Trail_03.jpg: boardwalk, dunes, storm, cumulus clouds, quartz sand, barrier island](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes-Nature-Trail/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes-Nature-Trail_03.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes-Nature-Trail_04.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes-Nature-Trail_04.jpg: walkway, boardwalk, parking lot, quartz sand, dunes, gulf of mexico, barrier island](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes-Nature-Trail/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes-Nature-Trail_04.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes-Nature-Trail_05.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes-Nature-Trail_05.jpg: bench, boardwalk, sea oats, barrier island, surf, waves, storm, cumulus clouds, barrier island](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes-Nature-Trail/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes-Nature-Trail_05.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes-Nature-Trail_06.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes-Nature-Trail_06.jpg: bench, boardwalk, sea oats, barrier island, surf, waves, storm, cumulus clouds, barrier island](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes-Nature-Trail/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes-Nature-Trail_06.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes:-9.2-Miles_02.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes:-9.2-Miles_02.jpg: dunes, quartz sand, gulf of mexico, surf, sea oats, surf, barrier island, escambia county,](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes:-9.2-Miles/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes:-9.2-Miles_02.jpg.width.440.c.jpg)
A diversity of gulls, terns and various shorebirds can be found year-round feeding at the shore.
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes:-9.2-Miles_03.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes:-9.2-Miles_03.jpg: dune fence, quartz sand, sea oats, gulf of mexico, surf, beach, barrier island,](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes:-9.2-Miles/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes:-9.2-Miles_03.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
The initial step in restoration of deflated sand dunes is to use structures that can accumulate sand. Dune building fences can be erected in order to trap sand and reconstruct new dunes.
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens-Road_01.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens-Road_01.jpg: storm, dunes, sea oats, two-lane road, barrier island, cucumlus clouds, white sand](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens-Road/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens-Road_01.jpg.width.440.c.jpg)
The road to the fortifications bisects the narrow barrier island.
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Aerial_01.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Aerial_01.jpg: barrier island, pass, sound, fort, civil war, naval air station, gulf of mexico, gulf breeze, pensacola, runway, escambia bay, escambia county](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Aerial/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Aerial_01.jpg.width.440.c.jpg)
Fort Pickens is located at the wide tip of the barrier island. Runways at the Naval Air Station can be seen in the lower right hand corner of the photograph.
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Battery-234_01.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Battery-234_01.jpg: barrier island, dunes, cumulus clouds, storm, sea oats, crystal sand, dunes](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Battery-234/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Battery-234_01.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Battery-234_02.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Battery-234_02.jpg: sea oats, dunes, surf, crystal white sand, barrier island, gulf of mexico, tropical storm, beach habitat, storm](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Battery-234/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Battery-234_02.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Battery-234_03.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Battery-234_03.jpg: sea oats, dunes, gulf of mexico, storm, tropical storm, surf, barrier island](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Battery-234/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Battery-234_03.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Battery-234_05.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Battery-234_05.jpg: dunes, sea oats, barrier island, dunes, surf, tropical storm, gulf of mexico](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Battery-234/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Battery-234_05.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Battery-234_06.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Battery-234_06.jpg: surf, waves, gulf of mexcio, barrier island, sea oats, sea weed, storm](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Battery-234/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Battery-234_06.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Battery-234_07.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Battery-234_07.jpg: dunes, sea oats, sea weed, surf, barrier island, gulf of mexico, crystal sand](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Battery-234/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Battery-234_07.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Langdon-Beach_25.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Langdon-Beach_25.jpg: dunes, sea oats, dune fence, quartz sand, gulf of mexico, barrier island](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Langdon-Beach/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Langdon-Beach_25.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Nature-Trail-Campstore_01.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Nature-Trail-Campstore_01.jpg: leafless sedge, sundew, sawgrass, sea oats, barrier island, dwarf trees, sand dunes, salt spray, drifting sand](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Nature-Trail-Campstore/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Nature-Trail-Campstore_01.jpg.width.440.c.jpg)
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Nature-Trail-Campstore_02.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Nature-Trail-Campstore_02.jpg: leafless sedge, sundew, sawgrass, sea oats, barrier island, dwarf trees, sand dunes, salt spray, drifting sand](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Nature-Trail-Campstore/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Nature-Trail-Campstore_02.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Opal-Beach_07.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Opal-Beach_07.jpg: dunes, sea oats, boardwalk, parking lot, mixed skies, gulf of mexico, beach habitat, barrier island, quartz sand, fiddler crab](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Opal-Beach/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Opal-Beach_07.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Opal-Beach_08.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Opal-Beach_08.jpg: barrier island, boardwalk, quartz sand, sea oats, mixed skies, surf, gulf of mexico](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Opal-Beach/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Opal-Beach_08.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Parking-Lot-9_04.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Parking-Lot-9_04.jpg: dune fence, gulf of mexico, mixed skies, quartz sand, surf, sea oats, barrier island](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Parking-Lot-9/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Parking-Lot-9_04.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Parking-Lot-9_05.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Parking-Lot-9_05.jpg: sea oats, mixed skies, quartz sand, barrier island, surf, dunes](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Parking-Lot-9/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Parking-Lot-9_05.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Perdido-Key:-Boardwalk-E_01.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Perdido-Key:-Boardwalk-E_01.jpg: sand dunes, boardwalk, cumulus clouds, barrier island, sea oats, nature trail](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Perdido-Key:-Boardwalk-E/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Perdido-Key:-Boardwalk-E_01.jpg.width.440.c.jpg)
The boardwalk leads from Johnson Beach Road to the Gulf.
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Perdido-Key:-Boardwalk-E_02.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Perdido-Key:-Boardwalk-E_02.jpg: boardwalk, barrier island, gulf of mexico, cumulus clouds, sea oats,](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Perdido-Key:-Boardwalk-E/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Perdido-Key:-Boardwalk-E_02.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
Gulf Islands National Seashore is open year-round. A dune crossover is recommended to save vegetation and wearing
down of the dune.
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Perdido-Key:-Boardwalk-I_01.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Perdido-Key:-Boardwalk-I_01.jpg: sand dunes, sound, beach, cumulus clouds, sea oats, barrier island](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Perdido-Key:-Boardwalk-I/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Perdido-Key:-Boardwalk-I_01.jpg.width.440.c.jpg)
There is little wave action on the sound side.
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Perdido-Key:-Boardwalk-I_02.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Perdido-Key:-Boardwalk-I_02.jpg: sand dunes, cumulus clouds, sea oats, barrier island, national park, quartz sand](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Perdido-Key:-Boardwalk-I/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Perdido-Key:-Boardwalk-I_02.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Perdido-Key:-Johnson-Beach-Road-Turn-Around_01.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Perdido-Key:-Johnson-Beach-Road-Turn-Around_01.jpg: dune fence, sand dune, sea oats, gulf of mexico, cumulus clouds, boardwalk, barrier island](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Perdido-Key:-Johnson-Beach-Road-Turn-Around/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Perdido-Key:-Johnson-Beach-Road-Turn-Around_01.jpg.width.440.c.jpg)
There is a boardwalk on the Gulf side of the turn-around leading to the beach.
-
![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Perdido-Key:-Johnson-Beach-Road-Turn-Around_02.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Perdido-Key:-Johnson-Beach-Road-Turn-Around_02.jpg: dune fence, sand dune, sea oats, gulf of mexico, cumulus clouds, boardwalk, barrier island,](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Perdido-Key:-Johnson-Beach-Road-Turn-Around/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Perdido-Key:-Johnson-Beach-Road-Turn-Around_02.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
For nature lovers, the park is a good place to begin an exploration of the barrier island ecosystem.
-
![Pensacola-Beach:-Quietwater-Beach_02.jpg Pensacola-Beach:-Quietwater-Beach_02.jpg: gulf coast, gulf of mexico, bandshell, boardwalk, concert stage, shopping center, escambia county, santa rosa island, barrier island, emerald water](/photos/Pensacola-Beach:-Quietwater-Beach/thumbs/Pensacola-Beach:-Quietwater-Beach_02.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
The boardwalk area adjacent to the bandshell features small shops and restaurants.
-
![Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_10.jpg Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_10.jpg: santa rosa island, gulf of mexico, seashore, dune, road, white sand, quartz sand crystal, wave, surf, barrier island, santa rosa sound, aerial view](/photos/Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront/thumbs/Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_10.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
This aerial shows the road that goes the length of Santa Rosa Island. All beach areas can be reached by road, but the road can't be seen from the water.
-
![Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_34.jpg Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_34.jpg: gulf of mexico, barrier island, dunes, via de luna drive, santa rosa island, coast, seashore](/photos/Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront/thumbs/Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_34.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
A two lane road runs through the middle of the island.
-
![Perdido-Key:-Pine-Barrens_25.jpg Perdido-Key:-Pine-Barrens_25.jpg: lichen, gulf coast, florida rosemary, sand pine scrub forest, open canopy forest, perdido key, barrier island](/photos/Perdido-Key:-Pine-Barrens/thumbs/Perdido-Key:-Pine-Barrens_25.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
Lichens and mosses grown on the scrub pine trucks.
-
![Santa Rosa Island Lake lake_01+WEB.jpg lake_01+WEB.jpg: brackish, sand pine, barrier island, scrub, lake, turtle grass, shoal grass,](/photos/Santa+Rosa+Island+Lake/thumbs/lake_01+WEB.jpg.width.440.c.jpg)
The sand pine scrub is a xeric, or exceedingly, dry, sandy community with a sparse understory of shrubby, evergreen oaks and an overstory of the sand pine.