Safely Enjoy South Walton's Beaches

Current Conditions:

For Gulf conditions and flag updates, text "SAFETY" to 31279
Message frequency may vary. Message and data rates may apply.

Beach Flag Warnings

*Entering the Gulf during double red flag conditions can result in a $500 fine and criminal charges.

View our Beach Safety Toolkit – Giveaway Items and Downloads

RULES

For more info: www.VisitSouthWalton.com

Violation of beach rules may result in fines or penalties per Walton County municipal code.

Leave No Trace. Overnight, unattended items will be removed.
Glass Containers, camping and charcoal grills are prohibited (Propane grills must be smaller than 225 sq. inches)
Vehicles, dogs and fires all require permits
Solicitation prohibited
Stay off dunes
Removal of vegetation, sand or Gulf water prohibited
Please allow a 15 ft setback from dunes and water’s edge for emergency vehicles
To prevent crowding, tents larger than 10'x10' are prohibited, and all tents are limited to the top 1/2 of open beach. 4-foot walkway between tents, except Grayton Beach.
No metal shovels allowed. Large holes create dangerous situations for beachgoers and marine life
Fill in holes dug in sand. Holes cannot be larger than 3 feet x 3 feet and no deeper than 2 feet. Holes cannot be left unattended.
No littering, nudity, or excessive noise

To view our official Beach Guide for information and safety, click here.

Rip Current Information

How to Identify a Rip Current

Darker color surf, indicating deeper water
Murky brown water caused by sand stirred up on the bottom
Smaller unorganized waves, alongside more evenly breaking waves over a sand bar
Waves breaking further out to sea on both sides of the rip current

How to Help Someone Caught in a Rip Current

Notify a lifeguard
Have someone call 911, give accurate landmarks
Do not enter the water, you too will be caught in the current
Throw them a flotation device
Try not to lose sight of the victim

What To Do If You Are Caught in a Rip Current

Don’t panic or swim against the current
Relax, float with the current until it dissipates
Swim parallel to shore and back in
Of course, the best way to avoid a rip current is to know the surf conditions before entering the water!
Know the conditions and watch the flags!

Lifeguard Information

"Lifeguards are available at Regional Beach Accesses March 1 - October 31 with limited roving coverage year-round. Lifeguards are provided by South Walton Fire District and funded as a part of the Visit South Walton Beach Safety Program. Regional Beach Accesses include Miramar Beach, Dune Allen, Fort Panic, Ed Walline, Gulfview Heights, Blue Mountain, Santa Clara and Inlet Beach."

Beach Wheelchairs

The South Walton Fire District (SWFD) offers beach wheelchairs at the following beach accesses: Miramar Beach Regional Beach Access (Pompano Joe's), Ed Walline Regional Beach Access (Gulf Place), the Santa Clara Regional Beach Access (Seagrove), and Inlet Beach Regional Beach Access from 10 a.m. until 5.30 p.m. daily, through the lifeguard season. An interactive map of lifeguard towers and beach wheelchair locations is available here.

Each chair must be operated by an on-duty lifeguard and a beach wheelchair waiver must be signed by the beach wheelchair patron or their caregiver. It is requested that the beach patron limit the usage of the beach wheelchair to the beach area in the immediate area of the public beach access. In order to facilitate the possible need for multiple patrons, it is recommended that the beach patron's personal chair be used once the patron has reached their beach location.

Drone Information

What are the rules you need to know before flying your drone in South Walton? From FAA rules, regulations and guidelines to ordinances specific to Walton County, you can find a round-up of pertinent drone regulations by clicking here.

Other Services

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office can provide assistance through Project Lifesaver which makes it possible to locate lost Alzheimer's patients. Parties considering the service should call (850) 478-7790.