Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park spans 30,784 acres of salt marsh along Florida’s Gulf coast from Cedar Key to Yankeetown, protecting the seaward edge of the Gulf Hammock wetlands where freshwater systems meet the Gulf. Accessible only by boat from coastal points and nearby rivers, it preserves marshes and shallow waters that sustain abundant fish, shellfish, and wildlife such as manatees, alligators, bald eagles, and black bears. Its greatest importance lies in conservation, as it provides habitat for endangered and threatened species, including the Florida salt marsh vole, a highly endangered rodent found only in this area.