NATIONAL FOREST;
The 571,000 acre Apalachicola National Forest, the largest national forest in Florida, lies just southwest of Tallahassee. RIchly diverse, it is a landscape of ephemeral ponds, pitcher-plant bogs, endangered and threatened plant and animal species, and cultural sites that yield insights about out ancestors. In descending order of forest land area, it is located in Liberty, Wakulla, Leon and Franklin counties. It contains two Wilderness areas, Bradwell Bay and Mudswamp/New River, and several special purpose areas such as the Camel Lake recreation area, Fort Gadsden Historical Site, Leon Sinks geological area, Silver Lake recreation area, and Wright Lake recreation area. The forest offers boating and fishing along the Ochlockonee and Apalachicola rivers, and swimming in the numerous lakes. Trails and roads accommodate hiking, mountain-bike riding, horse back riding and off-road ATV and motorcycle riding. Primitive camping is allowed throuhout the forest; fee campsites provide restroom and water, picnic tables and fire rings.
FEES AND PERMITS: Costs vary by activity. Camping fees start at $10 per night. Some areas require a day-use fee of $3 per vehicle. Annual passes are $40 per vehicle. Passes are good at: day use--Silver Lake, Leon Sinks, Camel Lake; camping--Hickory Landing, Mack Landing, Whitehead Landing.
Visit www.fs.fed.us/r8Florida or contact the Apalachicola ranger District 11152 NW State Route 20, Bristol or the Wakulla Ranger District, 57 Taff Drive, Crawfordville, 850-926-3561
REGIONAL STATE PARKS
Florida state parks are open from 8 am until sundown, 365 days a year. Museums, visitor centers and historic sites may close on holidays and two days a week. Opening and closing times may vary, so check with each park for specific hours. The entrance fee into most parks is $4 - $5 per carload, up to eight people. Extra people, walk-ins, and bicyclists are $2-$5 per person. Annual individual passes are $60 plus tax, and annual family passes for up to eight people per car are $120 plus tax. Military discounts are offered. Children under 6 admitted free. There may be additional fees for camping, tours, and museum exhibitions. Parks that have Honor Stations charge $2 - $10 per vehicle. Camping and lodging reservations may be made by calling the Florida State Park central Reservation System at (800)-326-3521, 8 am to 8 pm, or visit online at www.reserveamerica.com. For more information contact the Florida State Parks Information Center at 850-245-2157, or visit www.floridastateparks.org. The website has a wealth of information to assist you in planning hiking and/or biking opportunities. Click on their Greenways and Trails to locate the designated greenways in the state. Information available includes maps, driving directions and length of trail. The Events segment will highlight "what's going on" within our section of the state. Click on Northwest to pull out that information. And, also look at the Get A Little Park on Ya! It suggests 50 different things you can do in our state parks. Florida's State Parks share with State Parks across America the Get Out And Hike event for January 1, each year. Each park in our area has a different type of ranger led hike to help you enjoy the day, and start off each New Year outdoors in a super great part of our state. Earth Day is celebrated at the Marianna Caverns State Park.
Below are details on popular state parks in our region. For additional information go to the pages entitled VITAMIN N.
FALLING WATERS STATE PARK: Hundred foot deep, 20 foot wide cylindrical pit. A small strream which drops 67 feet to the bottom of the sink, flows in the pit. Chipley 850-638-6130
FLORIDA CAVERNS STATE PARK; Caves contain dazzling formations of stalactiies, stalagmites, and other geological features. Boating, fishing, camping, nature trails and more. Nine-hole Robert Trent Jones designed Florida Caverns Gold Course. Tours run from 9:30 am - 4:30 pm. adults $8; $5 for ages 3-12; kids under 3 are free. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. 3345 Cavern Road, Marianan 850-428-9598
FOREST CAPITAL MUSEUM STATE PARK; dedicated to longleaf pines and the timber industry. Perry, 850-584-3227
ICHETUCKNEE SPRING STATE PARK; Springs discharge 233 million gallons of water a day giving rise to the clear Ichetucknee river. Tubing and canoeing rentals available. Three separate nature trails. Scuba diving permitted October through March. Fort White, 386-497-4690
LECHWORTH-LOVE MOUNDS STATE PARK; One of the tallest and most architecturally complex pre-Colombian earthen mounds in Florida. Predates the nearby lake Jackson Mounds site. 4500 Sunray Road, S., Monticello 850-922-6007
LAKE JACKSON MOUNDS STATE ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE; One of the most important archaeological sites in Florida, a former chiefdom and ceremonial center of the Fort Walton Culture (1100-1550 CE). The park includes all or part of three mounds in a complex that originally included six mounds. Among the most spectacular artifacts left behind by Florida's native people are nine copper breastplates embossed with figures of hawk dancers, birdmen, falcons, and other symbols of the Upper World. They were discovered during an archeological dig in 1975 when excavating a Lake Jackson mound that a private owner unknowingly had been using for fill dirt. It also includes a constructed and leveled public plaza. Picnic tables, shelter, bathrooms, trails. $3 per vehicle, $2 per pedestrian. Group tours may be scheduled 14 days in advance. 850-922-6007 See also Archeology/Lake Jackson
LAKE TALQUIN STATE PARK; Sport fishing, bass, shellcracker and speckled perch. 10 miles west of Capital Circle, 14850 Jack Vause Landing Road, 850-922-6007 The Lines Tract Off-Road Bicycle Trail is located on the western side of the Park.
LEON SINKS GEOLOGICAL AREA; Incredible thickets of oak, magnolia, ash, hickory, longleaf pine, and several other species of trees. Sinkholes are common place, and you can find water-filled grottos. Wildlife photography is better in the am. 850-922-6007
NATURAL BRIDGE BATTLEFIED STATE HISTORIC SITE; Site of the Battle of Natural Bridge, which preserved Tallahassee as the only Confederate Capitol east of the Mississippi River never to fall into Union hands. Re-enactment of battle held in March. Woodville 850-922-6007
SAN MARCOS de APALACHE STATE HISTORIC SITE: Nature trails through historic ruins. No admission fee for trails. Museum, $2 entry. 48 Old Fort Wildlife includes the Barbours map turtle. Extensive trails. Bristol 850-643-2674
LEON COUNTY PARKS;
One of Leon County's best kept secrets is the 30 or so public recreation areas found along its magnificent array of lakes and rivers. Designed for passive use, such as boating, picnicking and bird watching, the areas do have restrictions. Swimming and liquor are prohibited. Shooting, hunting, and loud stereos are taboo. Pets must be leashed. Some fees and reservations may be required at some locations. Except for overnight campers, parks are off-limits from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise. To reserve a pavilion or for more information, call 850-487-3070 or Pat Polcek, 850-606-1470 or visit the website: www.leoncountyfl.gov
CANOPY OAKS; Two Little League fields, (one lighted) two lighted tennis courts, lighted multipurpose field, concession/restroom building, playground. 3250 Point View Drive
J.LEE VAUSE PARK; Six picnic pavilions, 1-mile paved trail, boardwalk, playground, restroom facility, volleyball net, 6024 Old Bainbridge road
TOWER ROAD PARK; Multipurpose field, playground, picnic shelter 5971 Tower Road
STONELER ROAD PARK; Baseball field, picnic shelter, playground, basketball hoop, trail. Off Capital Circle NW
J.LEWIS HALL ST. WOODVILLE PARK AND RECREATION COMPLEX; Multi-purpose field, four Little League fields (two lighted), full-size baseball and softball fields, two basketball courts, two picnic pavillons, tot lot and playground, concession/restroom building. 7575 Old Woodville Hwy. Branch library adjourns park.
LAKE MUNSON PARK; Picnic shelter, nature trail, dock, restroom facility. 5800 Crawfordville Hwy.
BEN STOUTAMIRE LANDING PARK; Playground, landing, restroom facility 2552 Ben Stoutamire Road.
MICCOSUKEE; Lighted adult baseball multipurpose field, two picnic pavillions, two lighted basketball courts, playground, concession/restroom bilding, walking trail. 15011 Cromartie Road.
KATE IRELAND PARK; Picnic shelter, playground, trail, restroom facility 12271 Iamonia Landing Road
LAFAYETTE HERITAGE TRAIL PARK; 3 miles of shared-use trail through forest or along the shore of Piney Z Lake. Some trails connect to Tom Brown Park. Picnic shelter, boat, kayak ramp, only electric motors allowed, fishing fingers, dock, restroom facility, chickee, bicycle prep course. At end of Plantation Rd., Piney Z, designated paddling trail in and around Piney Z Lake, connecting to Lower Layaette Lake. Construction of a bridge connecting the J.R. Alford Greenway and Lafayette Heritage Trail Park is being planned. This is a safety connection, allowing for people to safely cross the railroad tracks. With this link, the two recreational spaces will have a combined 1600 acres.This will be a 133 foot, steel and wood bridge that will stand more than 30 feet above the railroad tracks. It will include a gradually upward-sloping canopy walkway that will put you in the treetops and offer views out across Lake Piney Z and the surrounding forest, marshland and trails
APALACHEE PARKS/FORMER SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY PROPERTY: By entrance to Solid Waste on Apalachee Parkway, several soccer, ball fields, concession stand, restroom facility, connects to Cross Country Trail and Remote controlled planes field. The Cross Country Trail has been designed to be a competive running trail. Hosts most FSU's cross country/NCAA tournament events. Has stage, access to electric for awards ceremonies. Available to public for walking, hiking, running. Is capable of being a 10k trail
TALLAHASSEE PARKS;
The City of Tallahassee operates and maintains a number of parks, many with amenities such as playground, open grass areas, picnic tables, sports fields, tennis courts and more. To get additional information on any of the city parks, call 850-891-FUNN, or visit www.talgov.com/parks where detailed information and downloadable maps of each park may be found.
A.J. HENRY PARK; 71.4 acres, picnic tables, playground, trails, overlooks at lakes edge. A. J. Henry Drive
BRINKLEY GLEN PARK; 8.2 acres, North Meridian Road
CARTER HOWELL STRONG PARK; 11.4 acres, picnic tables, West Georgia St.
CHAIN OF PARKS: This is a long strip containing seven parks within downtown Tallahassee. Originally the strip was a 200-foot wide buffer zone that surrounded the city, and was intended to protect residents from the Indians in the area. At that time, it was a wide road, among groves of trees. The northern boundary of what was once known as Two Hundred Foot Street is todays Park Avenue. At that time, Lewis Park was known as TheGreen. This is where the May Day ceremonies were held, along with the traditional May Pole. The western edge of the park area was designated as a Public Burying Ground, and was purchased many years ago by the City and St. John's Episcopal Church. It is the oldest cemetery in the area. During the 1880's, with the building of the old Leon Hotel, a park opposite the hotel was created and it was named Leon Park. In 1885, Capt. W. Lewis asked for and got permission to plant a second park near his home. This was what we now call Lewis Park. During the next 10 years, a group of local women planted and named five more city parks. The park between Gadsden and Meridian was named for the leader of the group, Genevieve Randolph. Then, the park between Calhoun and Monroe streets honored Wm. Bloxham, who had served as governor in the late 19th century. The last of the parks were named Lafayette, Cherokee, and Duval, later the names of some were changed. The Tallahassee Women's Club along with the Tallahassee Garden Club permanently named and planted all seven of the downtown parks. They are a delight to stroll along, and to enjoy the plantings, the fresh air, and the soft sounds of the breezes flowing through the trees. Starting at Bronough Street, the parks are named Cheerokee, Peck Greene, McCarthy, Ponce de Leon, Bloxham, Lewis, and Randolph Parks.
CHITTENDEN PARK; 1.5 acres, Spruce Ave.
DOROTHY B. OVEN PARK AND MEETING HOUSE; 7.5 acres, Picnic tables, trails, meeting house may be rented. 3205 Thomasville Road. Visit it during the winter holidays, the decorations are dazzling.
ELINOR KLAPP PHIPPS PARK; 656.1 acres, picnic tables, tennis courts, swimming pool, gym, trails, ball fields, soccer fields, 4000 North Meridian Road
GOVERNOR'S PARK; 200 acres of land north and east of Governor's Square Mall. Is a passive park, with no amenities, but lots of wide open spaces to run, hike, play. The Myers house, 601 TyTy Road is located on the property, and is not open to the public. The blog: myershouseproject.blogspot.com will give the history of the house. The park can be accessed by using the road that goes under Blair Stone Road.
GUYTE P. McCORD PARK; 21.2 acres, picnic tables, Thomasville Road
HARRIMAN CIRCLE PARK; 8 acres, picnic tables, Harriman Circle
JOHN G. RILEY PARK; 4.8 acres,. picnic tables, Alabama Street.
LAKE ELLA PARK; 16 acres, picnic tables, gazebo, walking trails, the Cottages are in front of the park. Monroe Street.
LEVY PARK; 609 WestTharpe St.
LOS ROBLES PARK; 1.7 acres, picnic tables. Los Robles neighborhood, at the intersection of Thomasville and Meridian Roads.
MACON COMMUNITY PARK; 12.9 acres, picnic tables, playground, Henderson Road
MABRY MANOR; 2.1 acres, Villamore Avenue
MABRY PARK; 21.5 acres, Roberts Ave. and Mabry St.
NINTH AND TERRACE PARK; 2 acres, playground. Corner of Ninth Ave. and Terrace St.
PARK AVENUE CHAIN OF PARKS; Park Avenue, downtown, all of the parks have an extensive history. Are the site of the Downtown Marketplace, Just One More Art Show, and the annual Winter Festival.
RUTHENIA PARK; 3.1 acres, Ruthenia road
SANLUIS MISSION PARK; 69.1 acres, playground, picnic tables, dog park, trails, 1313 San Luis Road
SPRINGSAX PARK; 35.4 acres Springsax Road
SWEETBAY SWAMP PARK; Yaupon Drive.
TOM BROWN PARK; 297.3 ACRES, playgrounds, dog park, disc golf, trails, pavillions, picnic tables, under construction a sand volldyball, ball fields, soccer fields, 1125 Easterwood Drive, off Capital Circle, SE
WAVERLY POND; 7.5 acres, picnic tables, Waverly Road.
WINTHROP PARK; 14.4 acres, picnic tables, playground. Mitchell Avenue
GREENWAYS AND TRAILS;
J.R. Alford Greenway, located at the end of Pedrick Road is a treasure for walkers, joggers, cyclists. It has multiple trails, forests, swampy areas, and connects with Lafayette Heritage Trail Park. It connects with Piney Z Lake, has boardwalk, facilities, and the Tallahassee Astronomy group can be found some evenings with their telescopes, since it is a unique spot to view the skies within city limits.
Alfred B. Macclay Gardens State Park Trails: Alfred B. Maclay Park is located between urban Tallahassee and suburban Leon County. The park has formal gardens, two lakes, and a series of trails, all on former plantation lands at the foot of the Red Hill district. Trails in the Lake Overstreet portion of the park are unpaved. Hikers, bikers, equestrians utilize the trails. They are an integral link in the Maclay/Phipps Cultural Heritage Greenway. Recreation includes biking, hiking, horseback riding and paddling by canoe or kayak. Swimming is available, as are picnic tables, and restroom facilities.
ELINOR KLAPP-PHIPPS PARK RED BUG TRAIL; The Redbug Off-Road Bicycle trail is about 3 miles long and offers a technically challenging ride, with numerous roots, rocks and wetland areas through several ecosystems. Users will trek through a longleaf pine ecosystem, home to the red-cockaded woodpecker. As the trail drops in elevation, moisture-loving trees such as the beech and southern magnolia dominate. Access the trail from Meridian Park or the Forestmeadows Sports Center. Parking, restroom, drinking water are available.
MICCOSUKEE CANOPY ROAD GREENWAY; The Miccosukee Greenway parallels six miles of Tallahassee's historical canopy road through 500 acres of the Red Hills region of North Florida. The trail goes through rolling hills in hardwood and pine forests, along with large pastures. 46 species of birds are found in the area. Recreation includes hiking, bicycling and horseback riding. Facilities are available.
MUNSON HILLS OFF-ROAD BICYCLE TRAIL, TALLAHASSEE AND ST. MARKS; This trail offers a scenic and challenging ride through some of the most varied terrain in the Apalachicola National Forest. Munson Hills consists of sand dunes associated with a million-year-old shoreline that forms a foundation for a towering longleaf pine forest intermixed with ponds and wetlands. The bicycle trail often dips down in the sand hill, through hammock ecosystmes of hardwoods.
TALLAHASSEE-ST MARKS HISTORIC RAILROAD STATE TRAIL; This trail runs from the city,past the Apalachicola National Forest, ending in the coastal community of St. Marks. This historic railroad corridor was used to carry cotton from the plantation belt to the coast for shipment. Today, the paved trail provides a workout for road cyclists, walkers and skaters. The adjacent unpaved trail and Munson Hills Off-Road Trails in the National Forest provide access for horseback riding. The Historic Railroad State Trail is available for walking, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding and skating.
LAFAYETTE PASSAGE PADDLE TRAIL; Six mile loop trail accessed from Piney Z Lake. This trail requires a short portage over a small dam to access the entire trail. The 200 acre Piney Z Lake is accessible without portage.
KOHL'S TRAIL: A short .7 of a mile small trail from Kolh's, Apalachee Pkwy store to Park Ave. Easy difficulty.
ROADS WITH BIKE TRAILS;
MICCOSUKEE ROAD: Trail runs from Cneterville Road to Capital Circle NE.
CAPITAL CIRCLE NE; From Park Avenue to Thomasville Road
DEER LAKE ROAD; Through Killearn Lakes Plantation
THARPE STREET; From N. Monroe St. to Ocala Road
OCALA ROAD; From Tharpe St. to Pensacola St.
HARTSFIELD ROAD; From Old Bainbridge Road to Capital Circle NE.
OFF-ROAD TRAILS;
SAN LUIS TRAIL; Numerous trails in San Luis Mission Paark off San Luis Road. Easy running and hiking trail.
ST MARKS TRAIL: 19 plus miles running one way along US Hwy 319 from just south of Capital Circle to St. Marks River.
CADILLAC TRAIL: 4.8 mile path from Tom Brown Park past Lake Lafayette and Piney Z Lake. Intermediate level trail with some challenging features.
LAFAYETTE HERITAGE TRAIL PARK IN PINEY Z; 3 miles of shared-use trail through forest and along the shore of Piney Z Lake. This trail intersects the Cadillac bike trail in several places to accommodate multiple users.
MAGNOLIA TRAIL; At Tom Brown Park, is an intermediate skill level.
MUNSON HILLS; 8.3 miles of main trail. Short loop is 4.2 miles. Runs through Apalachicola National Forest off St. Marks Trail. the Twilight trail is 10 miles.
RED BUG TRAIL; A challenging 3.6 miles, with 1.8 mile addition near Forestmeadows Center, Meridian Road, near Miller Landing Road.
PHIPPS-OVERSTREET TRAIL; 8.2 miles of sometimes rough terrain with multiple entries off Meridian Road north of Maclay School.
TOM BROWN PARK; 4.5 mile woodsy loop.
ALFRED B MACLAY STATE GARDENS; 2.8 miles of trail.
FERN TRAIL;3.3 miles that connects Tom Brown Park to several neighborhoods, parks, etc. Is not paved. One end is accessed from road under Blair Stone Road.
Ochlockonee Bay Bike Trail is an 11.63 mile bicycle/pedestrian trail that extends from the Mashes Sands Trailhead along Mashes Sands/Surf Road to the intersection of Surf road and US 319 in the City of Sopchoppy, 850-926-9500
Lines Tract Off-Road Bicycle Trail, is a 9.5 mile trail for beginning or inter-mediate level cyclists. It has a Longleaf Loop that covers 4 miles, and a talquin Loop that does an additional 5.5 miles. It is situatied on the western fringes of the Lake Talquin State Forest. You can reach it by exiting I-10 at exit 181 and heading south, or heading north from Hwy. 20. Look for Cook's Landing Road, and the entrance is 1.5 miles on the right. wwfl-dof.com.
See also, www.floridastateparks.orgn for the designated trails within our state parks. The link to the State Parks Office of Greenways and Trails gives information on the designated state park greenways available for cyclists and pedestrians alike..
ST. MARKS NATIONAL REFUGE; 850-925-6121 www.fws.gov/saintmarks An incredible 68,000 acres of coastal marshes, islands, tidal creeks and estuaries where seven of our rivers flow, merge, and/or empty into the Gulf. It is part of the whopping crane recovery program. Watch for the flight of the new fledgings late Nov. - into possibly January. Fall months highlight the monarch butterflies on the 2,000 mile journey to central Mexico. Many trails, and sites to visit. Check at the Visitors Center for updated maps and information. The lighthouse is an interesting stop, ande is close to San Marcos de Apalache. First Sundays have a lecture at 2 pm, on topics relevant to the refuge.
SOCIAL NETWORKING ON THE TRAILS;
Technology is creeping into all aspects of our lives, including the provision of interesting tools and resources for hikers, bikers, and paddlers. www.planetexplore.com is an event-driven and outdoor-focused social networking site to get updates on your favorite human-powered activities in our area. Meet-up groups have attracted groups of people with shared interests to form offline clubs in communities. Visit www.meetup.com and locate all the clubs in our area. Sierra Club launched a Social Network and Wiki specific to hiking.. A wiki is a user created and user edited website where people can go to add, change, or update information. On the Trails Wiki, www.trails.sierraclub.org. It is a searchable library of trails. www.backpacker.com shares destinations, videos, trail recipes and many other hiking tips on their blog. Trail Journals is another typpe of blog journal. Individuals can sign up for a page, www.trailjournals.com to document their hike along the way. Another social network, twitter has users and subscribers. www.twitter.com. You can post real-time short updates, and subscribers can receive, these short messages known as tweets. For example, you can sign up to receive tweets from Florida State Parks. You'll receive messages with updates about upcoming events, hikes, lectures and other state park news. Facebook is another way to stay connected. It is a social networking site, where you create a page for you to post updates and photos. Organizations also have facebook pages. You can become a "friend" of these organization and view pictures, post messages, and keep up to date on current news. www.facebook.com iPods, iPhones, and MP3 players also keep us connected. iHikes.com offers downloadable videos and trail guides that can be sent to your digital media player. The National Park System offers downloadable podcasts for backcountry areas, environmental issues, and historic areas. These are free podcasts, and are available through the iTunes store. www.itunes.com Lots of outdoor applications are available for an iPhone. Birding, hiking checklists, compass, maps, as well as GPS functions are just a few. The AccuTerra GPS App from Intermap Technologies is a good substitute for GPS devices. It allows your iPhone to load, display and track your trip on trail and terrain maps. These work miles beyond the nearest cell connection, because they are embedded into the iPhone's memory. The emergence of technology has truly changed the way we prepare and indulge in our outdoor adventures.
Other information can be gleaned from the following pages on WIKI: Vitamin N, Pump It Up, Paddling Trails, Forests, Florida Trail, Parks and Trails, Bikes and Trails, Move.Tallahasse.com, Walk-Abouts.
