Tallahassee

Exploring Tallahassee

A largely canopied city, Tallahassee is one of Florida’s premiere destinations for access to a broad range of outdoor adventures.

Florida’s largest national forest, the Apalachicola National Forest, sits to its west, and a corridor of lands along Lake Lafayette and the headwaters of the St. Marks River to its east.

To the south is vast acreage protected in state and federal lands in Wakulla County, all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.

As Florida’s center of state government, building connectivity around Tallahassee has been high on the agenda for state agencies.

It’s possible to jump on a bike within sight of the Capitol in Cascades Park and ride all the way down to the Gulf Coast at Ochlockonee Bay via paved bike paths.

Off-road cyclists can quickly access the Apalachicola National Forest for rides in Munson Hills.

Within city limits, numerous parks feature rugged ravines for hikers and cyclists to traverse.

Gentler trails can be found in parks and gardens throughout the urban core, but they still provide a workout: Tallahassee is Florida’s hilliest city.

Trails and Parks in Tallahassee

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.

Apalachicola National Forest Noted for its botanical beauty, the Apalachicola National Forest is the largest National Forest in Florida, sweeping south and west of Tallahassee.

Butler Mill Trail Lake Jackson Mounds is best known for being one of the largest ceremonial temple mound complexes in the Southeast, but it offers a cool, shady nature trail, too

Cherokee Sink Trail A window into the watery world of the Woodville Karst Plain, Cherokee Sink is a large, deep water-filled sinkhole in a less-traveled section of Wakulla Springs State Park

Dorothy B. Oven Park Only seven acres in size, Dorothy B. Oven Park is a Tallahassee city park beloved by locals but little known outside the city, developed on a former nursery established by one of Florida's earliest camellia growers.

Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park Ancient magnolias, massive tulip poplars, and sinuous alluvial streams are all part of the delights of hiking the extensive loops at Tallahassee's most expansive and wild urban park.

Florida Trail, Apalachee Bay 14.3 miles. Hugging the Big Bend coastline, this hike through Aucilla WMA and St. Marks NWR offers some of the most breathtaking panoramas you'll find along the Florida Trail, and a profusion of wildlife.

Florida Trail, Apalachicola 77.9 miles. Florida’s largest national forest, Apalachicola is a very lush place, which means soggy feet and spectacular botanical diversity south of Tallahassee.

Florida Trail, Aucilla River 9 miles. Endearingly scenic, surprisingly rugged in places, and unlike any other piece of the Florida Trail statewide, this trek along the Aucilla River showcases some of Florida's top natural features in one hike.

Florida Trail, Aucilla Sinks 4.4 miles. Winding through a geologically weird and archaeologically significant part of Florida, the most fascinating segment of the Florida Trail is the Aucilla Sinks

Florida Trail, Big Bend 116.2 miles. After crossing rural farms and forests in the Big Bend, the Florida Trail reveals the secrets of the Aucilla River before tracing the Gulf coastline at St. Marks NWR

Florida Trail, Bradwell Bay 12.3 miles. You're guaranteed to get wet on Florida's roughest, wildest day hike. Situated south of Tallahassee, the Bradwell Bay Wilderness is one of the most majestic and wild places in Northwest Florida.

Florida Trail, Sopchoppy 8.9 miles. Slipping through pine flatwoods and sandhills to the east of Sopchoppy, the Florida Trail plays tag with a network of forest roads that criss-crosses the southern portion of the Apalachicola National Forest.

Florida Trail, Sopchoppy River 4.1 miles. Following the gentle curves of the Sopchoppy River in the Apalachicola National Forest, this section of the Florida Trail is one of the most scenic hikes on the trail.

Fort Braden Trails Showcasing bluff forests and deep ravines above Lake Talquin, the Fort Braden Trails at Lake Talquin State Forest offer enough hiking along a tiered trio of trails for a weekend in the woods.

J.R. Alford Greenway Preserving a peninsula in the Lake Lafayette basin for recreational use, the J.R. Alford Greenway is the eastern gateway to the Lafayette Heritage Trail.

Lafayette Heritage Trail Park Hike, bike, paddle, or fish along the well-marked trails of Lafayette Heritage Trail Park in a deeply wooded landscape east of downtown Tallahassee.

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.

Lake Talquin Nature Trail Deeply forested, the interpretive trail at Lake Talquin State Park edges ravines and bluffs high above Lake Talquin, a reservoir along the Ochlockonee River.

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

Lake Talquin State Park On the shores of Lake Talquin, a vast reservoir filling gaps in a deeply folded landscape west of Tallahassee, it's easy to imagine you're in the Appalachians.

Leon Sinks Geological Area In the Apalachicola National Forest just south of Tallahassee, Leon Sinks Geological Area offers a delightful introduction to the wonders of karst topography on its trails.

Letchworth-Love Mounds Archaeological State Park Tucked in a leafy glade near Lake Miccosukee, Letchworth-Love Mounds Archaeological State Park preserves one of the state's greatest archaeological treasures, Florida's tallest ceremonial mound.

Letchworth-Love Mounds Nature Trail At Letchworth-Love Mounds Archaeological State Park you can walk around the base of the tallest and most complex ceremonial mound in Florida, the largest mound rising 46 feet high

Living Forest Trail An accessible trail at the Bear Creek Tract, this short but educational trail offers "talking trees" for a unique learning experience in a Florida forest.

Mission San Luis Although this rugged little nature trail at Mission San Luis doesn’t top a half mile, it gives you a good excuse to go play in the woods in Tallahassee—and learn about Florida’s history

Myron B Hodge City Park Myron B. Hodge City Park offers a nature trail where you can linger along the Sopchoppy River amid the sweet spring scent of Florida azalea.

Ochlockonee River State Park At Ochlockonee River State Park waters meet, the tidal bore of the estuary pushing upstream to meet two rivers draining the vast swamps of the Apalachicola National Forest.

Ochlockonee River State Park Trails Create a 2.6-mile loop around scenic Ochlockonee River State Park by linking the Pine Flatwood Nature Trail and the Ochlockonee River Nature Trail.

San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park With a historic timeline dating back five centuries, San Marcos de Apalache protects layers of history accumulated at the confluence of the Wakulla and St. Marks Rivers

San Marcos de Apalache Interpretive Trail The site of the first coastal fortress in Northwest Florida, San Marcos de Apalache has a 0.6-mile interpretive trail at the confluence of two major rivers

Silver Lake Trail A popular recreation area in the Apalachicola National Forest west of Tallahassee, Silver Lake is looped by a nature trail that provides scenic views of the lake

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Stretching across 70,000 acres in Florida's Big Bend, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge protects one of Florida's longest wild shorelines, more than 43 miles in three counties.

St. Marks River Preserve State Park Explore both uplands and river bottom forest around the St. Marks River on a 7 mile network of old forest roads that traverse St. Marks River Preserve between Tallahassee and Wacissa.

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.

Terry Rhodes Trail System Featuring steep topography and a high biodiversity of plant life along its network of five loop trails, Bear Creek Educational Forest is the crown jewel of Lake Talquin State Forest.

Tom Brown Park Gateway to two notable Tallahassee trails, Tom Brown Park has its own network of trails and a variety of recreation for all.

Tower Pond Trail At St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, the Tower Pond Trail loops a mile through vast impoundments and marshes along the Gulf of Mexico, providing scenic panoramas and great birding.

Wacissa Springs One of a vanishing breed of old-time swimming holes within an easy drive of Tallahassee, Wacissa Springs is the birthplace of the Wacissa River and home to more than a dozen springs.

Wakulla Springs State Park A 1930s resort turned nature park surrounding one of the world's largest and deepest springs, Wakulla Springs State Park leads you back in time at Florida's only state park lodge

Wakulla Springs Trail Looping around the floodplain of Wakulla Springs, the Wakulla Springs Trail provides up to 12 miles of hiking showcasing the variety of habitats along the river’s shores

Wakulla State Forest Forest roads and multi-use trails form a loop in Wakulla State Forest, navigating a variety of natural environments including a small freshwater spring.

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National Forests in Florida Implement New Fees (7/24/2019) Effective July 26, 2019, fees go up at many National Forest campgrounds, boat ramps, and recreation areas

Spring Hopping Around Tallahassee (7/1/2019) Between Madison and Marianna and across Wakulla County, explore a colorful collection of natural springs for swimming and snorkeling, all within an hour of Tallahassee.

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NEARBY: Apalachicola National Forest, Blountstown, Crawfordville, Marianna, Monticello, Perry, Quincy, Sopchoppy, St. Marks, St. Marks NWR | PART OF: Northwest Florida