Florida Hikes

Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

Lake beyond peninsular picnic area

Maclay Gardens Lake Hall Trails

Walk among towering trees along a pair of nature trails starting at opposite ends of Lake Hall Recreation Area to savor the hardwood forests overlooking the lake.

Tallahassee (30.51859, -84.25042)   1.4 miles   Maclay Gardens State Park

A lesser-visited corner of Maclay Gardens State Park, Lake Hall Recreation Area perches along a sweep of shoreline near the southeast corner of the lake.

A picnic area anchors the peninsula, flanked by a swimming area, fishing dock, boat ramp, and kayak launch.

Sidewalk past bench towards picnic table on lake Sidewalk along the lake

Even lesser known are the two nature trails exploring the lakeshore. The showy Magnolia Loop Trail begins at the boat ramp.

A separate round-trip starts below the playground at treeline. Connect them using the waterfront sidewalk for a 1.4 mile hike along Lake Hall.

Bench above lake with big tree beyond Bench along the Magnolia Loop Trail

Resources

Resources for exploring the area
Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide book cover Paddlers Guide Florida The Hiking Trails of Floridas National Forests Parks Preserves book cover
 
Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.

Overview

Location: Tallahassee
Length: 1.4 miles
Trailhead: 30.51859, -84.25042
Address: 3540 Thomasville Rd, Tallahassee
Fees: $4-6 entrance fee at gate
Restroom: Flush toilets
Land Manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 850-487-4556

Open 8 AM to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome; pick up after your pet. Do not take pets on the swimming beach.

Directions


 
From Interstate 10 exit 203, head north on Thomasville Rd (US 319) to a left on Maclay Rd. For the trailhead within the gardens, turn in at the park entrance. After paying the entrance fee, follow the park road to the first right turn. Drive down a steep hill into the large parking area for the recreation area. Park at the end closest to the boat ramp.

Hike

Descend the boat ramp to the signposted Magnolia Loop Trail. It leads into a bluff forest on the hillside above this natural lake.

An unofficial side path tempts a short loop down to the shoreline for a closer look at the placid waters.

Signage and footpath into woods Start of the Magnolia Loop

In the winter months, the green leaves of the southern magnolias stand out among the oaks, hickory, and elms in this mixed hardwood forest.

Curve past the cut-to-the-ground stump of a large live oak and stand beneath the towering majesty of a spruce pine.

These are the true giants of this bluff, thriving in a terrain underlain by karst bedrock.

Lake view between trees Side path past towering trees

Winter means ongoing views of the lake through the forest as the trail progresses; those views are obscured by leaves the remainder of the year.

Along a curve, a bench adjoins a side path to a scenic panorama from the bluff.

Bench along a curve in front of lake Bench on curve

Roots intrude into the footpath as the trail climbs, passing an extraordinarily tall double-trunked spruce pine at a quarter mile.

Not far past it is a bench overlooking the lake at the loop junction for this hike.

Staring upwards at an enormous pair of pine trunks Double-trunked spruce pine

Turn right, following the arrow, and continue to ascend the hill above Lake Hall.

With leaves like mountain laurel but understated blooms in starbursts of white, horse sugar thrives in the understory.

Trees with illuminated leaves Horse sugar illuminated by sunlight

Climbing steadily, the footpath then makes a curve back towards the lake above the basin of a tributary flowing towards it.

Views continue across this little valley until a scramble up the hillside.

Sloping woodland Tributary basin

Ascend through the bluff forest, facing the lakeshore again at a section of split-rail fence. Turning left, walk beneath the tall trees to finish the loop at a half mile.

Walk past the double-trunked pine and follow the familiar path, the lake at the base of the hillside the entire way.

Tall pine at junction of trails Sealing the loop

Exit the trail at 0.8 mile and cross the boat ramp to follow the shaded lakefront sidewalk through the recreation area. Stairs lead to the swimming beach.

Past the swimming area, a self-service kiosk enables you to rent kayaks and equipment by scanning a QR code and following instructions.

Shaded pavilion along lake Lakefront picnic pavilion

Follow the sidewalk as it sweeps by picnic tables and benches along the peninsula and passes a large picnic pavilion.

Where the path reaches a pavilion with a grill adjoining the playground, walk downhill to find the unmarked start of the Lake Hall Nature Trail.

Opening in forest at base of hill Trail opening in treeline

After plunging downhill, the footpath may be damp in low spots as it winds through the lake-level forest.

A few curves later, it climbs into a bluff forest with tall magnolias and taller laurel oaks.

Footpath uphill under magnolia trees Magnolias

Descending to lake level again, wind towards the lakeshore. At 1.1 miles into your walk, the end of this linear trail is in a clearing surrounding a large live oak.

A bench in the shade overlooks Lake Hall. Return the same way, reaching the parking area to conclude a 1.4 mile hike.

Bench overlooking lake from forest Bench at trail’s end

Trail Map

Maclay Gardens Lake Hall Trail Map
Red: Magnolia Loop Trail. Light Blue: Sidewalk. Dark Blue: Lake Hall Nature Trail. Green: Gardens.

Explore More!

Learn more about Alfred B. Maclay Gardens

White azaleas blooming foreground in a woodland garden Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park Explore a true Tallahassee treasure on gentle garden paths amid plantings dating back to 1923 or along well-trodden trails into wild woodlands along Lake Hall and Lake Overstreet.

Video

Hiking the Lake Hall Nature Trails at Maclay Gardens

Slideshow

See our photos from Lake Hall Recreation Area

Nearby Adventures

Beech-magnolia forest Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park A hiker's paradise in Tallahassee, Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park offers miles of trails exploring contoured terrain and winding streams under a tall, shady canopy of majestic trees.
Camellia Garden, Dorothy B. Oven Park Dorothy B. Oven Park Only seven acres in size, Dorothy B. Oven Park is a Tallahassee city park developed on a former nursery established by one of Florida's earliest camellia growers.
Picnic grounds and a mound under trees Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park A clearing in the deep forest along the north shore of Lake Jackson reveals reminders of a civilization long gone from the face of Florida.
Tallahassee Museum Tallahassee Museum In a setting of natural beauty along Lake Bradford, the Tallahassee Museum is a largely outdoors educational center highlighting the natural and cultural history of the region.

Trail Map (PDF) Official Website

Sandra Friend
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