Florida Hikes

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

Wakulla Springs Trail

Wakulla Springs Trail

Immersed in dense forests along the Wakulla River floodplain, the Wakulla Springs Trail wraps together several named trails through picturesque landscapes near the big spring.

Wakulla (30.233667, -84.302028)   9.9 miles   Wakulla Springs State Park

A stone’s throw from the historic lodge at Wakulla Springs State Park, the Wakulla Springs Trail leads into floodplains and upland forests near one of the largest springs in the world.

Starting at the lodge, visitors can follow a 1.5 mile loop out to Sally Ward Spring Run or explore deeper into the park along a 9.9 mile round-trip.

From the lodge trailhead, visitors are welcome to hike or bike. A separate trailhead outside the park gates along Rock Road allows equestrian use on the Multiuse Loop.

Boardwalk in dense woods Boardwalks carry the trail over frequently flooded terrain

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 Paddlers Guide Florida The Hiking Trails of Floridas National Forests Parks Preserves book cover
 
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Overview

Location: Wakulla
Length: 9.9 miles
Trailhead: 30.233639, -84.302111
Address: 465 Wakulla Park Drive, Wakulla Springs
Fees: $6 per vehicle
Restrooms: at the lodge
Land manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 850-561-7276

Open 8 AM to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome. Do not take them into the lodge, the swimming area, or on tour boats.

Ticks are a known problem in this area. Use full precautions against tick bites and check yourself thoroughly after hiking.

Directions


 
From Tallahassee, follow US 319 / SR 61 south of Capital Circle. Turn left to stay on SR 61 as it heads south into Wakulla County. At SR 267, turn left. The park entrance is on your right. From US 98, follow CR 365 (from the west) or SR 267 (from the east) to SR 267 west of CR 363. The park entrance is on the left. Follow the park road back to Wakulla Lodge. The trailhead kiosk is at the lodge parking lot.

Hike

Beginning at a prominent trailhead across from the lodge entrance, follow an accessible concrete sidewalk leading towards a boardwalk at the edge of the forest.

The wooden walkway spans a swampy area, passing an overlook with benches alongside a small sinkhole.

Trailhead kiosk with signage and map Trailhead kiosk

Nearing a tenth of a mile, step off the boardwalk before crossing the main park drive and joining a well-worn pathway.

In two hundred feet, stay to the right at the first trail junction with the Hammock Loop to follow the Sally Ward Trail northward.

Seating area with overlook in woods Sinkhole overlook

Blue blazes mark the route as it winds through an impressively diverse forest under a shady canopy of sweetgum, hickory, beech, magnolia, and oak trees.

The trail crosses over a low area on a lengthy boardwalk before passing the half mile mark and a northern junction with the Hammock Spur.

Long boardwalk in woods Scenic boardwalk

In a few hundred feet, the trail spans Sally Ward Spring Run on a sturdy bridge with metal guardrails.

Herons wade in the shallow, glassy water as it flows to join the start of the Wakulla River, surrounded by a lush floodplain forest.

Waterway in woods Sally Ward Spring Run

Beyond the bridge, the trail continues as a boardwalk over the broad floodplain of the spring run. Heavy rains in Tallahassee can cause these springs to gush.

In this part of the forest, the cypresses are huge. The stumps of even larger cypresses speak to an era long past, before loggers found these ancient trees and floated them away.

Warning sign about entering wilderness Wilderness sign

At 0.6 mile, a sign informs visitors about the remote nature of the trail as it continues east. The habitat shifts to a hardwood forest with an open understory.

This is a spectacular example of a hardwood forest in North Florida, with a nice variety of trees and surface limestone breaking through the forest floor.

Large trees with open understory and leafy forest floor Hardwood hammock north of the river

Downhill and to your right is denser forest. It’s closer to the spring run, transitioning into the floodplain, the edge of which is defined by towering cypress trees.

Trailside markers count off the miles as blue blazes lead past huge hardwood trees, spruce pines, and clusters of saw palmettos.

Large woodpecker along trail with blue blaze behind it Piliated woodpecker among the big trees

Approaching the 2.7 mile mark, the trail joins an access road before crossing North Side Spring Run and McBrides Slough Run on a pair of vehicle bridges.

The water in McBrides Slough originates from several small springs in neighboring Wakulla State Forest to the north.

Signposted bridge over spring run Mcbrides Slough Run bridge

A multi-use loop begins at 3.6 miles, where the trail follows forest roads through upland pine habitats for 2.2 miles before returning to the main trail.

Much of this section within the park is undergoing restoration efforts through regular prescribed burns.

Scorched pine forest Pine flatwoods restoration

When the loop ends, stay with the blue blazes to retrace your hike through the majestic hardwood forest to Sally Ward Spring Run.

At 8.9 miles, turn right on the Hammock Spur after crossing the boardwalk and bridge. This showy pathway crosses the park entrance road.

Cypress swamp Cypress swamp

Circle around expansive views of an ancient cypress swamp under the dense canopy of trees.

Cross the park road a second time and rejoin the Sally Ward Trail at 9.6 miles. Turn right.

Retrace your steps another quarter mile along the footpath, crossing the park road once more before emerging from the forest next to the lodge at 9.9 miles.

Odd shelf fungus with little puffballs all over it with footpath in background Unusual fungus not far from the trailhead

Trail Map

Wakulla Springs State Park Trail Map
Red: Sally Ward Trail. Green: Hammock Loop. Blue: Multiuse Trail. Purple: Cherokee Sink Trail.

Explore More!

Learn more about Wakulla Springs

Fog above swimming area behind cypress knees Wakulla Springs State Park A 1930s resort turned nature park surrounding one of the world's largest springs, Wakulla Springs State Park is a step back in time with a historic waterfront lodge.

Video

Hiking the Sally Ward Trail and Hammock Loop

Slideshow

See our photos from this hike

Nearby Adventures

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.
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.
Rounded spring surrounded by forest Florida Trail, Shepherd Spring Visit a pair of natural treasures along the Forgotten Coast on this 6 mile hike along the Florida Trail within St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.
Greenish but clear spring basin in forest Horn Spring Trail Four miles upriver from Natural Bridge Battlefield as the trail winds, scenic Horn Spring is a destination within an expansion of the park protecting springs of the St. Marks River.

Trail Map (PDF) Reserve a Room Official Website

Chris Stevens
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