Straddling the Jefferson and Leon county lines, the 2,589-acre St. Marks River State Park encompasses old trade routes that were used in the first exploration and settlement of the region along the St. Marks River, including the Old Plank Road between Tallahassee and Newport.
Resources
Overview
Location: Tallahassee
Lat-Lon: 30.370300, -84.087100
Fees: Free
Open: 8 AM until sunset daily
Leashed pets welcome
Location
Address: 11950 Tram Rd, Tallahassee FL 32311. The park is bounded by US 27, CR 154, CR 59, and CR 259 near Wacissa. From Tallahassee, drive approximately 9.5 miles east from SE Capital Circle along CR 259 (Tram Road) and look for the park entrance on the left.
Details
The park awaits someone to go in and fully map the extensive network of forest roads left behind from prior timber company ownership, since they are now open for exploration. Sinkholes and other karst features are hidden along the river, which is wrapped in a lush floodplain forest. Birding is excellent in the uplands.
Meanwhile, take a GPS or compass and fix a point at the trailhead before you start poking around this little-known park east of Tallahassee near Wacissa. The trails are open to mountain biking, hiking, and equestrian use.