Tunneling through the shade of coastal cedars between open marshes and the boat channel from the saltwater boat ramp to the Gulf of Mexico, the Cedar Point Trail is a short walk to the Gulf ‘s shores.
St. Marks NWR
One of Florida's best birding locales, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge sweeps along the Gulf of Mexico south of Tallahassee.
Florida Trail, Apalachee Bay
Slipping out of the jungle-like floodplain forest that surrounds the tributaries of the Aucilla River into the coastal salt marshes along Apalachee Bay, this 13.4 mile hike offers some of the most breathtaking panoramas you’ll find along the Florida Trail – and a profusion of wildlife.
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, 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.
Hiking to Marsh Point
At St. Marks NWR, Marsh Point captures the essence of Florida’s Gulf coastline. But hikers are missing it because the bridges are out. Vote for a $25K grant to restore this piece of the Florida Trail.
Lighthouse Levee Trail
A windswept walk along the Gulf of Mexico, the Lighthouse Levee Trail provides scenic panoramas of both the Gulf and marsh impoundments near the St. Marks Lighthouse.
Plum Orchard Pond Trail
Starting adjacent to the Visitor Center at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, the Plum Orchard Pond Trail is an easy loop that takes you out along Plum Orchard Pond, a great birding stop.
St. Marks
A fishing village at the confluence of the St. Marks and Wakulla Rivers, the town of St. Marks is also the end point of the Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail.
St. Marks Lighthouse
Built in 1842, the St. Marks Lighthouse played a pivotal role during the Civil War. Despite its light being quenched during the war, it remains a working lighthouse marking the location of the St. Marks River.
St. Marks River
Flowing 36 miles from swamps southeast of Tallahassee towards the Gulf of Mexico, the St. Marks River was one of the earliest water routes followed by explorers along the Big Bend.