Hillsides, swamps, and ravines are all part of the Lake Path, one in every of two loops throughout the Lake Overstreet Addition at Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park.
Drawing shut sufficient to the Maclay House that you would be able to see the home by way of the timber, it follows well-worn tracks that really feel like wagon roads.
Glimpse of Lake OverstreetTo sort out it by itself, begin from the Lake Overstreet Trails trailhead close to the gardens. This strategy path allows a 4 mile hike, 3.4 miles of which loops the lake.
You may also pair this hike with the Ravine Path, a a lot flatter loop to the west, to broaden the hike to six.1 miles.
The 2 trails meet 0.8 miles clockwise from the trailheadAssets
Overview
Location: TallahasseeLength: 4 milesTrailhead: 30.52139, -84.26101Address: 3540 Thomasville Rd, TallahasseeFees: $4-6 entrance payment at gateRestroom: Moveable toiletLand Supervisor: Florida State ParksPhone: 850-487-4556
Open 8 AM to sundown. Leashed canine welcome; choose up after your pet.
Instructions
Hike
Start on the main trailhead for the Lake Overstreet Trails subsequent to the map posted by the fence.
Take a photograph of the map for orientation however ignore the understated mileage.
Blue blazes lead by way of a upland forest of blended oaks, southern magnolia, American beech, and a stand of loblolly pine.
Lake Overstreet Addition trailheadOne immense spruce pine towers overhead. Large grapevines dangle from the cover.
Emerge onto a mud street underneath an influence line, the junction with the singletrack South Bike Extension for mountain bikers.
Powerline junctionSubsequent to a path map signal, an arrow factors proper. Comply with this straight-line street by way of the woods, the blazes on the timber now pink.
After a light curve, meet an essential path junction at 0.3 miles, Kiosk #2 (Bridge Kiosk).
Kiosk #2 junctionIt gives data on archaeology and marks the south finish of the three.4 mile Lake Path loop. Flip proper to hike it counterclockwise.
Canopied by the upland forest, the broad path beneficial properties elevation slowly because it passes beneath large stay oaks.
Begin of the Lake PathLower than a tenth of a mile from the junction, the only potable water supply alongside the path system has a decrease basin for canine.
It was made potential by volunteer organizations and its proximity to the backyard grounds, seen by way of the woods in winter.
Water fountainFlanked by oaks and pines with sizable trunks, the footpath stays close by of the grassy garden and buildings on the Maclay Home for a stretch.
The character of the path shifts to what seems like an outdated wagon street leaving the homestead.
StraightawayImmersion within the upland forest follows, daylight making the leaves of the magnolias glisten.
Approaching a big curve to the path round 0.8 miles, open skies past the timber trace at Lake Overstreet past.
Gnome OakIndicators flank the doorway to a picnic spot close by of the lake. An historic stay oak is its centerpiece. As promised by the indicators, it’s a gnome residence.
Previous this turnoff, the path begins paralleling the lakeshore close by of it, reaching an commentary deck and Kiosk #5 (Overlook Kiosk)
Kiosk #5 turnoffAt a mile, built-in benches on the deck present an ideal panorama of open water and close to marshes for birding.
For hikers who don’t need to decide to the total loop, this scenic overlook makes a great turn-around level for a 2 mile hike.
Lake view from deckPassing a bench, the pathway mirrors the curves of the lakeshore, slowly descending. Its erosion into the panorama offers a clue to its age.
Within the 1800s, wagon roads related the plantations surrounding younger Tallahassee with one another and close by cities like Thomasville, Havana, and Bainbridge.
Effectively-trodden pathMeet the junction with the Excessive Grove Path at 1.3 miles. The spur to the fitting results in a walk-in trailhead from a neighborhood adjoining the state park.
In the event you haven’t encountered cyclists on the Lake Path so far, count on to start out seeing them alongside the subsequent half mile of path.
Excessive Grove Path junctionCurving because it descends for the subsequent quarter mile, the pathway enters a low spot the place it’s bolstered with gravel.
A perched marsh to the fitting often suggestions its overflow into this basin to empty into Lake Overstreet.
Low spot with marshAscend to greater floor, the environment extra open alongside the subsequent straightaway.
Peeled again by a previous twister, a part of the cover is gone, the remaining timber ragged.
Drenched in daylight, opportunistic younger timber compete in a thicket choking the understory.
Sunny stretchAt 1.8 miles, the path curves sharply left, away from the service street straightaways flanking the nook of a boundary fence.
Quickly after, a map and inexperienced publish mark the junction for the North Bike Extension, the jap entry level to the singletrack path system.
Curving to the north aspect of the lakeProceed downhill, the lake a blue streak on the left by way of a display screen of forest. After a slight curve, open water is seen by way of a spot within the forest.
A bench offers a welcome relaxation cease in mottled shade at 2 miles. At this midway level, take that chance, for the reason that path quickly leaves its light nature behind.
Descent to a benchStart a gradual ascent. As the trail climbs and curves by way of the upland forest, steeper grades turn out to be the norm.
The promised picnic space with restroom proven on the map is to the left at 2.6 miles. A picnic shelter adjoins a composting bathroom. Frustratingly, its door was locked.
Hillside nearing the picnic spaceComply with a deeply eroded grade downhill for a far nicer relaxation spot, a bench close to a picnic bench underneath the shade of a giant stay oak.
Close to the shoreline of Lake Overstreet, the clearing has signage for a horse corral however there’s solely a break up rail fence to tie up on.
Path to lakefront picnic deskThe stays of what might need been an commentary deck jut over the water. Scan for alligators earlier than stepping to the sting.
This marshy shoreline gives the very best view but of the expanse of the lake and the ultimate one of many hike.
Lake Overstreet on the picnic spaceClimb the eroded hillside, passing the picnic pavilion to rejoin the Lake Path. The uphill development continues.
The trail turns into broader, curving into an strategy to a trailside archaeological website, fenced off however not but interpreted.
Archaeological websiteInside are the ruins of what seems to have as soon as been a dogtrot residence together with footers for the constructing and a fallen chimney.
This outdated street passes by way of a excessive rigidity energy line easement instantly afterwards. Look left to identify an eagles’ nest atop one of many towers.
Powerline easement with eagle nest on second poleFrom this excessive level, the pathway descends quickly, plummeting between deeply eroded roadcuts within the clay.
On the base of this steep hill, Kiosk #4 stands in entrance of Gum Pond, a marshy pond in a deep despair.
Gum PondFed by the outflow of the steephead alongside the Ravine Path, it in flip flows into Lake Overstreet.
A strenuous climb out of the basin meets a serious path junction at 3.2 miles marked by Kiosk #3. Straight forward is the connector to the Ravine Path loop.
Path junctionTo remain on the Lake Path, flip left, strolling by way of a reverse Y intersection the place the connector additionally merges into the Lake Path counterclockwise.
Bared patches of clay seem extra usually within the path, attributable to the motion of pine needles and leaf litter after rains.
Broad clay pathTall, skinny loblolly pines dominate an understory of laurel oaks. Maybe this patch of forest was logged throughout the previous half century.
1 / 4 mile previous the junction, what seems to be like the news from an outdated steamshovel rests towards the fats base of an oak.
Steamshovel scoopAiming down a protracted straightaway eroded by way of the woods, the texture of the path resumes that of an outdated wagon street.
Ascend at a gentle grade to a different crossing beneath the excessive rigidity energy strains.
Descent to energy line easementDescending from this open inexperienced area, cross a really outdated picket bridge over a slender however deep ephemeral stream flowing in direction of the lake.
On the Bridge Kiosk, arrive on the south finish of the loop after 3.7 miles, your entry and exit level.
Bridge on the Bridge KioskFlip proper previous the kiosk and retrace the well-worn path by way of the woods to the bike path junction.
Make a left on the blue blazes. Return to the trailhead on the winding path underneath the tall pines, finishing a 4 mile hike.
Exit by way of the pinesPath Map
Discover Extra!
Study extra about Alfred B. Maclay Gardens
Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park Discover a real Tallahassee treasure on light backyard paths amid plantings courting again to 1923 or alongside well-trodden trails into wild woodlands alongside Lake Corridor and Lake Overstreet. Video
Mountaineering the Lake Path
Slideshow
See our pictures from the Lake Path
Close by Adventures
Path Map (PDF) Official Web site
Creator of 45 books, Sandra Buddy established FloridaHikes.com in 2006 to broaden on the sector analysis she’d accomplished for her first six climbing guides. She has been honored with lifetime achievement awards from the Florida Path Affiliation and the Florida Outside Writers Affiliation.
