• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Florida Hikes logo

Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

  • Trails
  • Maps
  • Guidebooks
  • Search
  • Hike
    • Scenic Hikes
    • Loop Trails
    • Dog-friendly Hikes
    • Hikes for Kids
    • National Parks in Florida
    • Florida State Parks
  • Bike
    • Major Bike Trails
    • Paved Bike Trails
    • Off Road Biking
    • Biking Articles
  • Paddle
    • Canoe & Kayak Rentals
    • Paddling Destinations
    • Paddling Articles
  • Camp
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Car Camping
    • Primitive Camping
  • Florida Trail
    • Plan your Hike
    • Best Scenic Hikes
    • Best Backpacking
    • Section Hiking
    • Thru-Hiking
    • Trail Updates
  • Travel
  • Hike
    • Scenic Hikes
    • Loop Trails
    • Dog-friendly Hikes
    • Hikes for Kids
    • National Parks in Florida
    • Florida State Parks
  • Bike
    • Major Bike Trails
    • Paved Bike Trails
    • Off Road Biking
    • Biking Articles
  • Paddle
    • Canoe & Kayak Rentals
    • Paddling Destinations
    • Paddling Articles
  • Camp
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Car Camping
    • Primitive Camping
  • Florida Trail
    • Plan your Hike
    • Best Scenic Hikes
    • Best Backpacking
    • Section Hiking
    • Thru-Hiking
    • Trail Updates
  • Travel
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.

Wakulla      ( 30.242791, -84.279725 )      2.9 miles

130 shares

Located near the center of Florida’s Big Bend region, Wakulla State Forest protects nearly 5,000 acres of land adjacent to Wakulla Springs State Park.

A network of trails is available for hiking, biking, and equestrian use. The route described below is one of the more interesting hikes possible.

Several small springs within the forest empty into a depression known as McBride Slough, eventually draining into the Wakulla River.

Spring as seen at cypress knee level Double Spring at Wakulla State Forest


Resources

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.


Overview

Location: Crawfordville
Length: 2.9 mile loop
Trailhead: 30.243130, -84.279809
Address: Rosa Shingles Rd, Crawfordville, FL 32327
Fees: $2 per person.
Restrooms: No
Land manager: Florida Forest Service
Phone: 850-421-3101

Open Sunrise – Sunset. Dogs are allowed on a leash.

Grassy road in pine forest


Directions

 
From the intersection of SR 61 and US 319 in Tallahassee, head south on US 319 for 2 miles, before turning left onto SR 61 S. In 1.8 miles, take the second right at the traffic circle, continuing on SR 61. In 2 miles, turn left onto SR 267, and the parking area will be to the left in 2 miles. SR 267 (Bloxham Cutoff) can also be accessed from US 98, SR 20, or Woodville Hwy (SR 363).

Hike

A large information kiosk stands at the southeast corner of the parking area, displaying maps and information about the forest.

From the kiosk, head eastward through a fence gap marked with a trailhead sign.

Trailhead kiosk with roof Information kiosk


The hike begins along a service road slicing through highly diverse mixed hardwood habitats.

Southern magnolias and sweetgum trees offer plentiful shade as the sandy path leads deeper into the woodlands.

Beam of light between hardwood trees Hardwood hammock


Morning glories vine around tree trunks alongside ironweed and beautyberry, displaying vibrant bouquets of white and purple flowers in the warmer months.

Follow the wide dirt pathway for 0.9 mile, as the clearly defined road turns toward the east.

White morning glory blooms with purple throats Wild potato vine, a type of morning glory


Reaching an intersection with the red blazed trail, turn right for a detour to the spring.

In a tenth of a mile, a sign indicates the direction of Double Spring, leading down a short path to a waterside picnic table and kiosk.

Kiosk and bench in woodland clearing Double Springs kiosk


A shallow, crystal-clear stream emanates from the grayish-blue hued waters of Double Spring, trickling along the forest floor towards a nearby slough.

Cypress knees protrude from the water’s edge, shaded by a dense hardwood hammock.

Shallow clear edge of a Florida spring Double Springs


Retrace steps when leaving the spring, turning left in after a tenth of a mile, reaching the red trail intersection in another tenth of a mile.

Turn right, heading westward down a mowed path tracing the perimeter of a large clearing.

A lone cabbage palm stands in the center in this open space as the trail meanders across, entering thick tree cover on the other side.

Cabbage palm standing alone amid low shrubs Lone palm


At 1.7 miles, turn right onto the Nemours Trail, following a corridor northward through mixed pine, magnolia, hickory, and oak trees.

Grasses and ferns emerge sporadically from a carpet of pine needles while the trail skirts along the edge of a cypress dome.

Dark tree trunks and reflections of water Trailside swamp


Passing a directional sign, the trail turns toward the south to follow a section designated for hiking only.

Orange blazes lead the way along a well-defined corridor through clusters of shrubs competing for limited sunshine under the thick canopy.

Sunlight streaming between tree trunks in forest Sunlight through the trees


The trail snakes though abundantly forested landscapes for 0.7 mile before emerging at the main service road.

Turn right, following red blazes for 0.2 mile before completing the loop at the parking area.

Picnic pavilion Pavilion at the entrance


Trail Map

Wakulla State Forest Trail Map


Explore More!

Video

A virtual walk through Wakulla State Forest


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

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

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

St Marks NWR Forest Road 200

St. Marks Coastal Loop

Using the Tallahassee-St Marks Trail, the Coastal Trail, and the Florida Trail, ride a scenic 22-mile loop between the St. Marks and Wakulla River floodplains along the Big Bend

St Marks NWR

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.

Trail Map (PDF) Official Website

Category: Biking, Day Hikes, Equestrian, Hikes, Loop Hikes, Northwest Florida, Off Road Biking, Springs, TrailsTag: Crawfordville, Florida State Forests, Picnic, St. Marks, Tallahassee, Wakulla

Have an update? Contact us.

Primary Sidebar

NORTHWEST FLORIDA

NORTHWEST FLORIDA OVERVIEW
Florida Trail

Apalachicola. Apalachicola National Forest. Blackwater River State Forest. Blountstown. Bonifay. Bristol. Cape San Blas. Carrabelle. Chattahoochee. Chipley. Crawfordville. Crestview. DeFuniak Springs. Destin. Ebro. Eglin Air Force Base. Fort Walton Beach. Freeport. Gulf Islands National Seashore. Madison. Marianna. Milton. Monticello. Mossy Head. Navarre Beach . Niceville. Panama City Beach. Pensacola. Ponce De Leon. Port St. Joe. Sopchoppy. South Walton. St. Marks. St. Marks NWR. Tallahassee. Vernon. Wakulla. Wewahitchka

Our Newest Books

The Florida Trail Guide

The Florida Trail GuideOur definitive guidebook to planning backpacking trips on the Florida National Scenic Trail, now in its fourth edition. Full data charts and maps. B&W, 356 pages. $19.95 + tax & shipping.

Order Now


Florida Trail Hikes

Florida Trail Hikes 2nd edition coverFifty of the best day hikes, overnights, and weekend trips on the Florida Trail. Full hike descriptions and maps, full color. 376 pages. $24.95 + tax & shipping.

Order Now


Discovering the Florida Trail

Florida Trail mini coffee table book cover of trail into palm hammock
A visual journey the length of the Florida Trail, covering more than 1,500 miles from the Everglades to Pensacola Beach. Hardcover, 196 pages. $24.95 + tax & shipping.
Order Now


50 Hikes in Central Florida 3rd edition
Explorer's Guide North Florida & The Panhandle guidebook
Five Star Trails Gainesville & Ocala guidebook

Florida Trail Apps

Farout GuidesFarout Guides Comprehensive logistics and offline maps for the
Florida National Scenic Trail (1,500 miles), the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail (108 miles), and the ECT Florida Connector (92 miles).

Explore More

Our recent park & trail updates in this region

Pitcher plant slope

Florida Trail, Hutton

Florida Trail, Hutton
Waterfall at Weeping Ridge

Weeping Ridge Trail

Weeping Ridge Trail
Blooming season at Maclay Gardens

Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park

Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park
Oaks and pines

Torreya Challenge Loop

Torreya Challenge Loop

Footer

FIND A TRAIL OR PARK

NORTHWEST FLORIDA
Apalachicola. Apalachicola National Forest. Blackwater River State Forest. Blountstown. Bonifay. Bristol. Cape San Blas. Carrabelle. Chattahoochee. Chipley. Crawfordville. Crestview. DeFuniak Springs. Destin. Ebro. Eglin Air Force Base. Fort Walton Beach. Freeport. Gulf Islands National Seashore. Madison. Marianna. Milton. Monticello. Mossy Head. Navarre Beach . Niceville. Panama City Beach. Pensacola. Ponce De Leon. Port St. Joe. Quincy. Sopchoppy. South Walton. St. Marks. St. Marks NWR. Tallahassee. Vernon. Wakulla. Wewahitchka

NORTH FLORIDA
Alachua. Amelia Island. Baldwin. Branford. Bunnell. Cedar Key. Chiefland. Crescent City. Dowling Park. Ellaville. Fernandina Beach. Flagler Beach. Gainesville. Green Cove Springs. High Springs. Jacksonville. Keystone Heights. Lake Butler.Lake City. Live Oak. Mayo. Macclenny. Micanopy. Olustee. Orange Park. Osceola National Forest. Palatka. Palatka-Lake Butler Trail. Palm Coast. Perry. Salt Springs. St. Augustine. Starke. Steinhatchee. Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. Suwannee Springs. Talbot Islands. Timucuan Preserve. Trenton. Welaka. White Springs. Williston

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo

MULTI-REGION
Big Cypress Swamp. East Coast Greenway. Everglades National Park. Florida National Scenic Trail

CENTRAL FLORIDA
Apopka. Belleview. Brandon. Brooksville. Bushnell. Canaveral National Seashore. Christmas. Chuluota. Clearwater Beach. Clermont. Coast to Coast Trail. Cocoa Beach. Cross Florida Greenway. Crystal River. Dade City. Daytona Beach. De Leon Springs. DeBary. Deland. Deltona. Dunedin. Dunnellon. Frostproof. Geneva. Inverness. Kenansville. Kissimmee. Lake Mary. Lake Wales. Lakeland. Largo. Leesburg. Longwood. Melbourne. Melbourne Beach. Merritt Island. Merritt Island NWR. Mims. Mount Dora. New Port Richey. New Smyrna Beach. Ocala. Ocala National Forest. Ocklawaha. Orlando. Ormond Beach. Osteen. Oviedo. Palm Bay. Ridge Manor. Sanford. Silver Springs. Spring Hill. St. Cloud. St. Petersburg. Tampa. Tarpon Springs. Titusville . Walt Disney World. Weeki Wachee. Winter Springs. Withlacoochee State Forest. Withlacoochee State Trail. Yeehaw Junction

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Bradenton . Charlotte Harbor. Ding Darling NWR. Englewood. Estero. Fort Myers. Immokalee. Naples. Pine Island. Port Charlotte. Punta Gorda. Sanibel Island. Sarasota. Venice

SOUTH FLORIDA
Arcadia. Basinger. Big Cypress National Preserve. Big Cypress Seminole Reservation. Clewiston. Everglades City. Fisheating Creek. Lake Okeechobee. Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail. Lake Placid. LaBelle. Lakeport. Moore Haven. Okeechobee. Pahokee. Port Mayaca. Sebring. South Bay

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
Big Pine Key. Biscayne Bay. Biscayne National Park. Boca Raton. Boynton Beach. Coral Gables. Davie. Delray Beach. Northeast Everglades Natural Area. Florida Keys. Fort Lauderdale. Fort Pierce. Hobe Sound. Hollywood. Homestead. Islamorada. Jensen Beach. Jupiter. Juno Beach. Key Biscayne. Key Largo. Key West. Marathon. Miami. Ocean to Lake Greenway. Overseas Heritage Trail. Palm Beach. Port St. Lucie. Redland. Sebastian. Stuart. Vero Beach. West Palm Beach

  • Trails
  • Parks
  • Beaches
  • Gardens
  • Springs
  • Ecotours
  • Attractions
©2006-2023, Sandra Friend & John Keatley | Disclosure | Site Index | Work with Us | Advertise with Us
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy | Florida Hikes PO Box 93 Mims FL 32754| Contact