Located along Bear Creek, a major tributary to Lake Talquin, the Terry L. Rhodes Trail System has nearly five miles of trails spanning almost 500 acres of protected natural lands.
Bear Creek Educational Forest is truly focused on education. Dozens of informative signs flank the trails.
Signs identify key plants like this rare Chapman’s rhododendronThe footpaths lead visitors across very rugged terrain through unique slope forests, dry uplands, and floodplain swamps.
The 0.4 mile Living Forest Trail is an accessible option to view one of the most impressive features of the forest, a large steephead ravine.
Pond behind a dam inside the steephead ravinePart of the Florida State Forest Trailwalker Program, the Ravine Trail circles this curious geological formation on a 1.4 mile loop.
Primitive group camping is available along the 2.2 mile Bear Creek loop with advance reservation.
The air-conditioned Bear Creek Education Center offers free educational programs to school groups, and youth organizations.
The hike starts on an accessible walkwayResources
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Overview
Length: 4.8 miles
Trailhead: 30.477157, -84.625806
Address: 8125 Pat Thomas Pkwy, Quincy
Fees: $2 per person
Restrooms: At the trailhead
Land manager: Florida Forest Service
Phone: 850-681-5892
Open sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome.
Directions
From Interstate 10 exit 181, Quincy, drive south 4.7 miles on SR 267 to the entrance of the Bear Creek Tract on the left at a large state forest sign.
From Tallahassee via SR 20, pass the Bloxham Cutoff near the Jackson Bluff Dam and continue to where SR 267 heads north. Turn right and drive north 7.5 miles, passing through Wetumpka, to the Bear Creek Educational Forest entrance on the right.
Hike
Starting at the trailhead, a large double paneled kiosk displays information about the state forest, along with several paper brochures and trail guides.
Following an accessible paved pathway past the education center, the Living Forest trail leads into a mixed canopy of American beech and magnolia trees.
Trailhead kioskA series of electronic posts along the trail activate a speaker at the push of a button, where “talking trees” provide facts about the surrounding native plant life.
The paved trail winds along a few switchbacks while descending towards the ravine, passing flowering dogwoods, live oaks, and American hollies.
Paved trailNear the bottom of the slope, a wooden observation deck provides opportunities for bird watching and quiet reflection.
From the platform, turn to the right, following blue blazes as the trail slowly climbs alongside a steep ravine on the Ravine Trail.
Observation deckA variety of wildflowers bloom trailside in the warmer months, including violets, oakleaf hydrangea, and redwing milkweed.
One mile into the hike, the trail winds along the top of the ravine before making a quick descent while paralleling a clear steephead stream.
Steephead streamAn impoundment pond at the bottom of the ravine comes into view through tall mountain laurels. Bordering the trail, they produce showy white and pink blooms in the springtime.
Near the end of the Ravine Trail loop at 1.7 miles, a junction of trails is marked by color coded signs. Turn to the right, where orange blazes lead uphill on the Bear Creek Trail.
Mountain laurelPines become more prominent as the hardwood forest mixes with historic sandhill habitat.
Reindeer moss and wiregrass line the path as turkey oak saplings sprout from clay-colored sandy soils.
Side loopAt 2.6 miles, the option for a side trip presents itself at an intersection with the Pitman Dam Spur trail.
As it traversing the steep grade of a ravine bluff, yellow blazes indicate the direction of the Pitman Dam Spur as it weaves south, then north.
Bear CreekIt reconnects with the Bear Creek Trail after a half mile, where you resume following the orange blazes.
The elevation slowly drops through impressive stands of stately magnolia trees to the sandy banks of Bear Creek in one mile.
Group campsiteAt 3.6 miles, a side trail to the primitive group camp leads along a forest road for 0.1 mile to a spacious campsite in a clearing complete with fire ring, benches, and picnic tables.
Continuing west, Bear Creek Trail provides plentiful scenic views of the creek while crossing wetlands in its floodplain forest on a series of boardwalks and bridges.
BoardwalksCompleting the loop, the Bear Creek Trail meets the Ravine Trail at the impoundment pool. Cross the dam at 4.5 miles.
Make a right on the Creek Bottom Trail for an alternative option to the Living Forest Trail to return to the trailhead.
Crossing the damFollowing purple blazes down to the creek, the path becomes muddy in spots where the forest is seasonally flooded.
Near the end of this 0.4 mile loop, the trail ascends quickly, passing through a sandhill community before emerging from the woods in front of the educational center.
Bench on the Creek Bottom TrailTrail Map
Explore More!
Learn more about Lake Talquin State Forest
Lake Talquin State Forest With ten distinct tracts surrounding Lake Talquin, a reservoir along the Ochlockonee River, this state forest provides recreation opportunities just west of TallahasseeVideo
Slideshow
See our photos from the Terry Rhodes Trails
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Fort Braden Trails Showcasing bluff forests and deep ravines above Lake Talquin, the Fort Braden Trails at Lake Talquin State Forest offer enough hiking along a tiered trio of trails for a weekend in the woods.