Watersound Monarch Art Trail

The Watersound Monarch Art Trail is a mile-long outdoor sculpture walk along South Watersound Parkway, the road connecting US-98 and Scenic Highway 30A. Created by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County with The St. Joe Community Foundation and The St. Joe Company, it opened in 2021 with eight original sculptures inspired by the migration of the monarch butterfly and the local landscape.

The trail follows the existing paved walking and bike path on South Watersound Parkway in Watersound, FL 32461, and it’s free to explore on foot or by bike. Details and a sculpture map are on the Cultural Arts Alliance website, culturalartsalliance.com. Seating, lighting, signage and native landscaping line the route.

The eight works are Tetelestai by Jeffie Brewer, Kaleidoscope by Jonathan Burger, The Grandchildren Return by Grace Cathey, Dancing Monarchs by Peter Hazel, The Golden Flight by Rachel Herring, Roost and Puddle by Anthony Heinz May, The Milkweed by Mark Metz and Friend of Mine by Andrew Hamilton Reiss. Each one is numbered on the map, and the trail’s website offers a short audio recording for each piece with insight into the artist’s creative process. In summer, walk it early or late in the day for cooler temperatures, and bring water for the mile-long route.