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Picnic grounds and a mound under trees

Tallahassee

Florida’s capital city, Tallahassee, is an outdoor town. Forested and hilly, it is surrounded by thousands of acres of natural lands just waiting for exploration.

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Resources for exploring the area
Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover  
Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.


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

White azaleas blooming foreground in a woodland garden 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.
Pitcher plants 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 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 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
Camellia Garden, Dorothy B. Oven 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.
Orange blazes in a hardwood forest 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.
Expansive view of needlerush marsh on Gulf of Mexico 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 blaze on pines in forest 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.
Aucilla Rapids 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.
Aucilla Sinks 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 view 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
Bradwell Bay (Mary McKinley) 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 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 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.
Footbridge over a ravine on a slope 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.
Grassy trail with directional post 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.
Boardwalk leading to a covered bridge past cherry blossoms 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.
Forest with sunlit grassy mound behind picnic area 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.
View of lake through trees 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.
Bear Creek Tract 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
Pier on a lake with ridges on the far shore 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.
Blue blaze on tree in lush hardwood forest 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.
Interpretive sign with mound beyond 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 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
Talking tree along the Living Forest Trail 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 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 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.
Expanse of blue water and pines 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.
Pine reflections in pond 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 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 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 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
Lighthouse with palm trees and white sand beach on marsh 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.
Two track road into sandhills 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 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.
Steephead stream in bluff forest 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.
Yellow iris blooming along open water 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 St Marks NWR 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 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 River as seen from in front of Wakulla Lodge 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 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
Sunlight streaming through morning fog 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.

Articles

Ocean Pond Olustee 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
Madison Blue Springs 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.

More Articles


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

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Our recent park & trail updates in this region

View of a bay through pines

Sand Pine Trail, Bald Point State Park

Sand Pine Trail, Bald Point State Park
Pine flatwoods

Sundew Trail, Bald Point State Park

Sundew Trail, Bald Point State Park
Trail tunneling into oak scrub

Sand Pine Nature Trail

Sand Pine Nature Trail
Trail into bluff forest in deep shade

Rocky Bayou Nature Trail

Rocky Bayou Nature Trail

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