Created by the installation of a hydroelectric dam on the Ochlockonee River in 1927, Lake Talquin is a large artificial lake near the state capital, Tallahassee.
Adjoining Lake Talquin State Park, the state forest protects a sizable area of land on the western side of the lake.
Orange blazes mark the trailThe Fort Braden Trails are maintained by the Florida Trail Association as part of their trail system.
Two primitive backpacking campsites are next to the lake, providing multiple options for hiking different distances and staying overnight.
As Fort Braden is one of the Florida State Forest Trailwalker trails, hiking any one of the three trail loops counts as a hike for the Trailwalker program.
Trail junction in the middle of the woodsResources
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Overview
Location: Tallahassee
Length: Up to a 9 mile loop
Trailhead: 30.439778, -84.495425
Address: Blountstown Hwy, Tallahassee
Fees: $2 per person
Restrooms: Vault toilet at trailhead.
Land manager: Florida Forest Service
Phone: 850-681-5953
Open sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome.
Campsites must be reserved in advance through Reserve America. A nightly camping fee and cancellation fees apply.
Directions
From the intersection of SR 20 and Capital Circle SW in Tallahassee, head west on SR 20. In 8.7 miles, turn right on Fort Braden Trail Rd, continuing for 100 feet to the trailhead parking area.
Hike
From the trailhead kiosk, head north and look to the left for a trail entrance marked with signs for the Central and West Loops.
In less than a hundred feet, turn left at the marked trail intersection to begin the main loop in a clockwise direction.
Trail entranceLeaves crunch underfoot as orange blazes lead the way into a deeply shaded hardwood hammock.
Approaching one mile, the trail dips into a small bayhead swamp, crossing a tannic stream on the first of many water crossings.
Boardwalk over stream crossingClimbing a slope after the next creek bridge, the trail begins to track over gently rolling steephead ravines.
Pine saplings grow in clusters alongside American holly in the higher areas where sunlight filters through the dense canopy of southern magnolia and beech trees.
Sloping terrainAs the trail traces the edge of a ravine bluff, the lake comes into view through the leaves, revealing a wide expanse across the flooded forest.
At 2.6 miles, one of two primitive backpacking campsites sits trailside on a bluff overlooking the water, complete with a picnic table and fire ring.
Lakeside campsiteCross a cool, clear stream at the 3.2 mile mark. A trail junction with ample signage indicates the direction of loops and nearby campsites.
Turning right at this intersection leads back to the trailhead in 0.3 mile.
Loop intersectionContinuing along the outer loop, the trail sweeps to the left, following alongside a ravine leading back out to the lake.
Reach the shoreline at four miles. A fire pit surrounded with benches rests on a scenic bluff overlooking the water.
A large day use pavilion provides shelter, and a spot to rest near the halfway point.
Picnic pavilionPass the second of two primitive campsites at the water’s edge. Orange blazed trees parallel a deep ravine before crossing a stream and reaching the East Loop intersection.
From this point, turning right will lead back to the trailhead, closing the Central Loop in one mile.
Stream crossingStaying on the East Loop, the path winds along a ravine’s edge, passing a steephead outflow and crossing a swampy area on a short boardwalk.
Approaching seven miles, the terrain is especially steep while traversing a series of deeply carved streams on tall bridges.
Water spilling from a steephead ravineWinding through patches of pine flatwoods and sandhill habitat, the trail passes the southern East Loop intersection, before dipping into two more ravines and emerging on high ground.
Turkey oaks sprout from dry sandy soils carpeted with deer moss as the trail is bathed in sunlight for the final half mile, completing the 9 mile loop at the trailhead.
SandhillTrail 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 Tallahassee.Video
Hiking the Fort Braden Trails
Nearby Adventures
Lake Talquin State Park On the shores of Lake Talquin, a vast reservoir filling gaps in a deeply folded landscape west of Tallahassee, it's easy to imagine you're in the Appalachians.
Terry Rhodes Trail System Featuring steep topography and a high biodiversity of plant life along its network of five loop trails, Bear Creek Educational Forest is the crown jewel of Lake Talquin State Forest.
Leon Sinks Geological Area In the Apalachicola National Forest just south of Tallahassee, Leon Sinks Geological Area offers a delightful introduction to the wonders of karst topography on its trails.
Silver Lake Trail A popular spot in the Apalachicola National Forest near Tallahassee, Silver Lake Recreation Area offers a quiet hiking-only loop around glassy waters lined with stately cypress trees.
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