Used during WWII as a training ground for soldiers at Camp Gordon Johnston, the pine woods now encompassed by Bald Point State Park were planted for timber production long ago.
After acquisition from the St. Joe Paper Company for this park, the forest has undergone major restoration projects, including prescribed fires and removal of invasive species.
Prescribed burns mean showy blazing star blooms in fallThe Tucker Lake Trail completes a circuit around Tucker Lake, offering a connecting trail to the sperate Sundew Loop on the eastern side.
Foot traffic and bicycles are allowed, although patches of sandy trail may make biking difficult.
An accessible launch along Chaires Creek permits paddlers to explore the lake and a network of tidal creeks.
Kayak launch ramp on Chaires CreekResources
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Overview
Length: 5.4 miles
Trailhead: 29.930617, -84.367332
Address: Range Rd, Alligator Point
Fees: $4 per vehicle
Restrooms: Portable toilet at Chaires Creek trailhead
Land manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 850-349-9146
Open 8 AM to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome. Shade is limited on most of the trail, sun protection is recommended.
Directions
From Tallahassee, follow US 319 to US 98 at Medart. Drive west on US 98 through Panacea to Ochlockonee Bay, crossing the bay on a long bridge. Turn left in one mile at Alligator Dr, continuing for 0.7 mile before turning left onto Range Rd. In 0.8 miles, a small parking area is to the right, next to a sign with a hiking emblem.
Hike
Although a larger parking area is situated next to Chaires Creek, starting at the smaller trailhead will get the road walking portion out of the way at the beginning of the hike.
Follow the paved road east. The first glimpse of open wetlands is on the left at a quarter mile.
Hiking sign at the trailheadOddly ordered pines line Range Rd, remnants of the tree farms that previously covered much of the land.
Reaching a half mile, the trail passes the Chaires Creek trailhead and crosses a bridge. From it, enjoy spectacularly panoramic views of the grassy marshes surrounding the largest lake in the park.
Chaires CreekBlue blazed posts lead the way as the trail enters a small sand pine scrub before a slight drop in elevation gives way to scrubby flatwoods.
Shade is scarce while crossing a savanna of saw palmetto and fetterbush lyonia dotted with sporadic pines.
Sand pine scrubThe trail turns southward at 1.4 miles, tracing alongside a wide basin marsh.
Wading birds sift through the shallow waters looking for a meal while bob white quails sound their distinctive calls in the distance.
Prairie pondAt the two-mile mark, a side trail cuts eastward towards the Sundew Loop and access to the beach side of the park.
Continue straight, following blue blazes along a wide access road alongside a sandy firebreak.
Trail markerSkirting a basin swamp on the southern edge of Tucker Lake, the pathway meanders through a section of scenic wetlands. It emerges onto dry scrubby flatwoods on the other side.
Sugar sand is abundant for a stretch of trail that passes by a concrete survey marker for a former landowner, St. Joe Paper Company.
SJPC pillarTurning to the north, thick stands of pine shade the leaf-strewn trail as it winds past Little Tucker Lake, a deep freshwater pond separated from the larger lake.
Across from the water, a convenient bench sits under a cluster of live oaks. From this quiet spot, the path follows forest roads for another 0.9 miles, completing the 5.4 mile loop at the trailhead.
Shaded benchTrail Map
Explore More!
Learn more about Bald Point State Park
Bald Point State Park From its namesake point at the Gulf of Mexico to the sandy heights of St. Teresa Bluffs, Bald Point State Park protects miles of waterfront along Ochlockonee Bay while providing extensive trails to roam.Video
A virtual walk on the Tucker Lake Trail
Slideshow
See our photos from the Tucker Lake Trail
Nearby Adventures
More worth exploring while you’re in this area.
Bald Point Sundew Trail A remarkable variety of wildlife inhabits dry and wet pine flatwoods along this loop trail dotted with tiny carnivorous sundew plants.
Bald Point Sand Pine Trail Crossing a rolling landscape of sandy ridges, the Sand Pine Trail explores the largest scrub community found in Bald Point State Park. 
Bald Point Maritime Hammock Trail A remote beach, a sweep of estuary, a broad bay, and the Gulf of Mexico: the beauty that surrounds this 1.3 mile nature trail at Bald Point invites full exploration on a 2 mile hike.
Granite Point Loop Traversing ecosystems undergoing degrees of habitat restoration, the 4.8 mile Granite Point Loop at Bald Point State Park features fantastic views of Ochlockonee Bay.
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