I was staying in Wakulla County last week while attending meetings in Tallahassee, and I took advantage of the time shift by enjoying some rambling about in the late afternoons. I stopped at the Wakulla County Visitor Center, along US 98 across from the historic springs in Panacea (or, more easy to see from the […]
Apalachicola
Around Apalachicola, the “Forgotten Coast” is dotted with parks, forests, and refuges along US 98 and the barrier islands, none of which are easily accessed from Tallahassee or Panama City.
Apalachicola National Forest
The Apalachicola National Forest is the largest National Forest in Florida, sweeping around the southern edge of Tallahassee. It is noted for its botanical beauty.
Bald Point Beach Walk
Where Ochlockonee Bay meets the Gulf, Bald Point State Park protects the tip of the peninsula. Off the beaten track, it’s a quiet place, perfect for a seaside stroll with a bit of estuarine exploration.
Bald Point State Park
Where Ochlockonee Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico along the Forgotten Coast, quiet Bald Point State Park protects the tip of the peninsula, providing beaches to roam and estuaries and uplands to explore.
Blountstown
A small town along the Florida Trail, Blountstown got its start as a destination along the Apalachicola River. It is the seat of Calhoun County.
Florida Trail, Apalachicola
77.4 miles. Florida’s largest national forest, the Apalachicola National Forest is a very wet, very lush environment, and the trail here goes through one of the wildest virgin forests in Florida in Bradwell Bay. Pitcher plant prairies and vast titi bogs also mean soggy feet.
Florida Trail, Big Bend
117.1 miles. From the Suwannee River, the trail is now a 56-mile roadwalk before rejoining public lands along the mysterious Aucilla River. In St. Marks NWR, there is a river crossing where you must hail a boat.
Florida Trail, Bradwell Bay
You’re guaranteed to get wet on Florida’s roughest, wildest swamp walk on the Florida Trail in Bradwell Bay, a wild place where hiking with friends is a smart idea
Florida Trail, Shepherd Spring
Hugging coastal swamps and marshes before plunging into them at the Cathedral of Palms, this popular 5.3 mile hike along the Florida Trail centers on Shepherd Spring, a natural treasure within St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.