Protecting a patchwork of archaeological sites along the shores of Lake Jackson north of Tallahassee, Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park interprets the complex at a central location surrounding two large mounds.
Two trails radiate from the parking area as well. The Butler Mill Trail delves into the ruins of Robert Butler’s waterworks, while the Old Orchard Trails are a series of short nature trails through former pecan orchards.
Resources
Resources for exploring this area
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Overview
Location: Tallahassee
Trailhead: 30.501509,-84.313847
Address:
Fees: $4-5 per vehicle
Restroom: In the picnic area
Land manager: Florida State Parks
Phone:
Open 8 AM to 5 PM. Leashed dogs welcome. Do not climb on the mounds except by using the provided staircases.
Directions
From the US 27 (Monroe St) exit of Interstate 10, drive north on US 27. Follow signs.
About the Park
Part of the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex, this series of six earthen temple mounds and a burial mound have offered up pre-Columbian artifacts for archaeologists to study.
In more “modern” times, the land was a plantation that belonged to Florida’s first Surveyor General, Colonel Robert Butler.
A portion of the Butler Mill Trail traverses the old plantation’s waterworks along an earthen dam adjoining a sluiceway once used to irrigate the fields.
Water trickles and splashes down the steephead ravines deep in the forest.
Between the mounds and the ravines, a walk in this park offers some physical challenges.
Trail Map
Explore More
Video
An overview of the park and its trails.
Nearby Adventures
More worth exploring while you’re in this area.
Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park
In late winter, azaleas create ribbons of bright color beneath the live oak canopy across the grounds of Maclay Gardens, a series of formal gardens along the hillsides sweeping down to Lake Hall.
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