Extending south from the sting of Tallahassee to the St. Marks River, this linear rail-trail follows certainly one of Florida’s authentic railroad routes.
Totally paved, it’s been in place lengthy sufficient that residents typically pause and wave cyclists by way of street crossings, one thing much less frequent in different components of Florida.
Southern terminus in St. MarksWe turned aware of it from its south finish first, each on rides and strolling.
Between the St. Marks River and a trailhead north of US 98, the Florida Path shares its route.
With connectors in place to bike paths alongside Capital Circle and into downtown Tallahassee to Cascades Park, extra residents bike southbound than northbound.
We current that because the linear route of journey under, from Capital Circle Trailhead to St. Marks, in addition to recommended segments for brief household rides and hikes.
Capital Circle TrailheadAssets
Overview
Location: Tallahassee to St. MarksLength: 16 miles linearTrailhead: 30.3712, -84.2684Address: 4778 Woodville Hwy, TallahasseeFees: FreeRestroom: At most trailheadsLand supervisor: Florida State ParksPhone: 850-487-7989
Open 8 AM to sundown. Leashed canines welcome.
Concerning the Path
Within the 1830s, plantation house owners in Tallahassee wished a neater strategy to export their items to the coast than by wagon, Richard Keith Name amongst them.
Proprietor of the Orchard Pond and Lake Jackson plantations, Name turned president and chief stockholder of the Tallahassee Railroad Firm, created by the legislative council of the Florida Territory in 1834.
The next 12 months, he was appointed Florida’s territorial governor. It took one other couple of years to put tracks and supply rolling inventory.
Outdated trackage preserved at Capital Circle StationMules drew railroad vehicles laden with cotton bales south till a steam locomotive took over in 1839.
Interval maps present the northern terminus of the railroad north of the St. Augustine-Pensacola Street (now US 90, downtown).
The route ran roughly 23 miles, ending at a wharf in Port Leon, the place the cotton might be transferred to ships within the Wakulla River.
The place the railroad as soon as crossed the St. Marks River to Port LeonBased in 1838, Port Leon turned the county seat for newly shaped Wakulla County. However its shiny future washed away in 1843.
A hurricane-driven storm surge pushed ten ft of water into the streets. Survivors moved inland to determine the village of Newport.
The Wakulla River at Port LeonThe road remained in service, terminating in St. Marks. As with most railroads, it underwent many adjustments of possession over almost a century and a half.
In 1983, Seaboard Air Line wished to desert the road. The state bought the right-of-way, making it attainable to determine a state path throughout the 16 mile hall traversed right this moment.
A section buffered by forest north of Wakulla StationTrailheads
North to South:Capital Circle Trailhead, 4778 Woodville Hwy, TallahasseeJ. Lewis Corridor Sr. Woodville Park, 1492 J Lewis Corridor Sr Ln, TallahasseeWakulla Station Trailhead, 1362 Outdated Woodville Rd, CrawfordvilleCoastal Path Trailhead, 7125 US 98, St. MarksSt. Marks Trailhead, 59 Riverside Dr, St. Marks
Path Particulars
Beginning south from Capital Circle Trailhead, experience underneath the shade of an oak cover south. Cross Marpan Ln, the primary of two roads coming into a business space.
The second street, for Marpan Recycling, has truck crossing warning indicators at a mile. Massive vehicles cross right here often.
Capital Circle TrailheadSouth of this business zone, get pleasure from an extended stretch throughout the Munson Hills of Apalachicola Nationwide Forest amid tall pines and oaks.
An entry level to the Munson Hills Path System, an in depth collection of singletrack loops by way of the sandhills, begins at a trailside kiosk at 1.6 miles.
Munson Hills Path System entrywayA break within the forest for a utility easement reveals adjoining Woodville Hwy (SR 363) instantly east of this railroad hall. Go a lined bench quickly after.
Inside one other half mile, exit the safety of the nationwide forest and enter the outskirts of Woodville. Outdated Woodville Rd now parallels the path.
Utility easementCrossing Backforest Rd, skim alongside the sting of the ballfields and parking space for J. Lewis Corridor Sr. Woodville Park, a helpful trailhead for driving north by way of the nationwide forest.
At 2.8 miles, the doorway to the park is to the west, resulting in parking and restrooms. Proceed south, diverging from Outdated Woodville Rd to go behind the Woodville Public Library.
Fundamental entrance for J. Lewis Corridor Sr. Woodville ParkGo the doorway to Galilee AME Church at Lutterloh Rd earlier than one other wooded stretch with residences. At 3.9 miles, cross Oak Ridge Rd on a crosswalk.
A bench adjoins the path, with a vault bathroom simply past it. Outdated Woodville Rd attracts up proper subsequent to bike path quickly after.
Wanting north in direction of Oak Ridge RdEnter the residential coronary heart of Woodville. The neighborhood has bigger tons with bushes affording some dappled shade. No driveways bisect the path.
Simply previous Pure Bridge Rd to the east, which leads throughout Woodville Hwy to Pure Bridge State Park, glide by the Woodville United Methodist Church.
Northbound by way of WoodvilleAttain Canyon Creek Rd at 4.9 miles. Rare driveways cross the trail. Environment grow to be rural residential, with horse paddocks and chickens.
Properties grow to be rare. A pleasing stretch adjoined by forest follows, with one other bench and vault bathroom quickly after Bob Miller Rd.
Northbound on the forested hallSimply south of Ace Excessive Stables Rd, a big County Line signal at 7.2 miles marks the place Leon County ends and Wakulla County begins.
Cross Dogwood Forest Rd quickly after, with two extra roads over the following half mile. Enter one other rural residential neighborhood, this one the outskirts of Wakulla.
County lineTimber create a tunnel impact for a short stretch. Cross Springwood Blvd, reaching the Wakulla Station Trailhead quickly after at 9.3 miles.
We discovered it a nice begin level for a round-trip north. Not fairly a mile south is the primary actually busy street crossing of the experience.
Use the crosswalk at Outdated Woodville Rd after which the one over busy SR 267 (Bloxham Cutoff Rd) at Wakulla.
Savannahs Nation Buffet (beneficial!) and a Greenback Basic Market lie instantly east.
South of SR 267, enter a wooded hall that isn’t proper subsequent to a street. It’s a delight.
Wakulla Station TrailheadA bench comes earlier than unpaved Acorn Path at 11 miles. Throughout the subsequent mile, the path attracts near an influence line easement however a buffer of bushes stays.
South of paved Kinsey Rd, skim nearer to the easement, the greenway narrowing significantly because it approaches US 98.
At 13.3 miles, the Coastal Path meets this path at a T intersection with a vault bathroom and parking space. The statewide Florida Path additionally joins in southbound.
Use warning crossing US 98, as its excessive velocity site visitors not often stops for anybody within the crosswalk.
US 98 crossingCross a utility easement earlier than curving by way of a floodplain forest previous a lined bench. Resume a straightaway paralleling Port Leon Dr into St. Marks.
At 14.5 miles, a facet path simply previous a bench beckons with an indication mentioning the Village of St. Marks, a small buying plaza.
StraightawayCurving east, straighten out southbound, passing a bench. A skinny display of bushes separates the trail from an influence line easement.
Cross Hearth Escape Rd on the north fringe of city. A half mile later is the ultimate privy alongside the bike path, on the sting of an influence line crossing.
Bench after curveEnter the residential portion of St. Marks, crossing Shell Island Rd at 15.5 miles. Paralleled by Ladd Dr, the path is crossed by it close to the water tower.
At 16 miles, emerge underneath the archway on the southern terminus of the Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Path.
Path’s finish in St. MarksTo the left is the principle parking space for St. Marks, adjoining historic Bo-Lynn’s Grocery. Throughout the street, the Florida Path continues throughout the St. Marks River.
Making a proper, observe the street to a different path on the left, resulting in a boardwalk into St. Marks River Park.
That path ends at a ship ramp throughout from San Marcos De Apalache Historic State Park. A spherical journey to that park’s entrance from path’s finish is 0.8 miles.
St. Marks River ParkMileage
0.0 Capital Circle Trailhead0.8 Marpan Ln1.6 Munson Hills Path System entrance2.6 Again Forest Rd2.8 J Lewis Corridor Sr Woodville Park3.2 Woodville Department Library3.9 Oak Ridge Rd4.1 Web page Rd4.4 Elgin Rd4.5 Church St4.9 Canyon Creek Rd5.7 Bob Miller Rd7.1 Ace Excessive Stables Rd7.5 Dogwood Forest Rd7.7 Summerwind Circle Dr7.9 Laurel Ln9.0 Springwood Blvd9.3 Wakulla Station Trailhead10.2 SR 267 (Bloxham Cutoff Rd)11.1 Acorn Trail12.3 Kinsey Rd13.3 Coastal Path Trailhead13.4 US 9814.5 Village of St. Marks14.8 Hearth Escape Rd15.5 Shell Island Rd16.0 St. Marks River Trailhead
Really helpful Segments
St. Marks River to US 98
Fashionable with locals and guests alike, this simple 5.2 mile round-trip begins on the southern terminus and leads by way of historic St. Marks, with interpretive info at a number of stops.
North of the neighborhood, the trail skims previous bayheads and marshes the place wildlife might be noticed. Street crossings are minimal. There’s a vault bathroom and benches alongside the stretch.
Getting into St. Marks southboundJ Lewis Corridor Woodville Park to Tallahassee
This nice 5.6 mile round-trip minimizes street crossings and maximizes magnificence, for the reason that bulk of it adjoins the Apalachicola Nationwide Forest.
Punctuated by tall longleaf pines, the sandhills sweep off to the western horizon. Benches present locations to take a break, together with on the junction for the Munson Hills Path System.
Apalachicola Nationwide ForestConnections
Coastal Path
A 23 mile linear paved path paralleling US 98, the Coastal Path connects the Tallahassee-St. Marks Path to the Ochlockonee Bay Path.
For riders who can deal with a bit off-road, a scenic loop exhibits off a pleasant slice of St. Marks Nationwide Wildlife Refuge utilizing each trails and refuge forest roads.
St. Marks Coastal Loop Utilizing the Tallahassee-St Marks Path, the Coastal Path, and the Florida Path, experience a scenic 22-mile loop between the St. Marks and Wakulla River floodplains alongside the Huge Bend.
The Coastal Path parallels US 98 westFlorida Path, Port Leon
To begin this hike, it takes a crossing by boat (name Shields Marina or Shell Level Marina) the place the railroad trestle bridge was eliminated throughout the St. Marks River.
On the alternative facet, inside St. Marks Nationwide Wildlife Refuge, the Florida Path follows the railroad causeway which as soon as terminated on the city of Port Leon.
On the slim railroad causewayAt a T junction with a spur path to the ghost city, the orange blazes head east through outdated Port Leon Rd, which continues to the refuge customer heart.
A linear stroll from the shoreline of the St. Marks River to the customer heart is 4.8 miles. Add one other mile round-trip to go to the location of Port Leon.
Port Leon had direct entry to the Gulf of Mexico on the mouth of the Wakulla RiverMunson Hills Path System
A favourite of Tallahassee mountain bikers, the longstanding advanced of singletrack within the Munson Hills part of Apalachicola Nationwide Forest lies east of this path.
A major entry level lies midway between the Tallahassee terminus and Lewis Corridor Park, with connectors to each trails making a big loop attainable as effectively.
Getting into the Munson Hills Path SystemPath Map
Discover Extra!
Slideshow
See our images from the Tallahassee-St. Marks Path
Close by Adventures
Path Map (PDF) Official Web site
Articles collectively researched, written, and photographed by Sandra Buddy & John Keatley, Florida authors and publishers of FloridaHikes.com.
