Recreation at Lake Talquin State Forest

Bear Creek  | Bloxham  | Fort Braden  | High Bluff  | Lines  | Wildlife Management Areas

Lake Talquin State Forest offers a variety of recreational opportunities on its many diverse tracts of land and can be enjoyed using existing roads, road beds and established trails. We encourage non-hunting visitors to check the Wildlife Management Area regulations.

Bear Creek Tract

Hiking and nature trails on this 492-acre tract of Lake Talquin State Forest meander through many natural communities, including wetlands, sandhills and dramatic ravines. The trails are marked with orange, blue, yellow and pink paint blazes.

A wealth of viewing opportunities for wildlife, birds and wildflowers await visitors, while the educational focus of this forest provides an array of learning experiences. Visitors can experience the audio-enhanced Living Forest Trail, where the trees tell their own stories.

Trails

The Terry L. Rhodes Trail System provides over 5 miles of hiking trails and consists of the following:

• The Living Forest Trail starts at the parking area and ends at the observation deck. The trail has a hard paved surface and is 0.66 miles in length round-trip.
• The Ravine Trail [ 379.1 kB ] (blue) starts near the observation deck and loops around the pond. This 1.8-mile trail is moderately strenuous with steep inclines. The Ravine Trail is a designated Trailwalker program trail.
• The Bear Creek Trail (orange) begins across Beaver Dam. This trail skirts Bear Creek and traverses a range of ecosystems within a span of 3 miles. The hike is moderately strenuous, with steep inclines and narrow footing in some areas. A 1/2-mile spur of the Bear Creek trail (yellow) connects the Pittman Dam to the top of the ravine.
• The Creek Bottom Trail (pink) offers an alternate approach to the Ravine and Bear Creek trails. It starts at the restroom building and travels 0.3 miles through first a restored longleaf pine-wiregrass community, then along the sandy-bottom Bear Creek for which the tract is named, finally ending at the dam.

Trail Map

• Bear Creek Trailwalker Trail Map [ 379.1 kB ]

Directions to Bear Creek Educational Forest

• From Interstate 10: Exit onto Highway 267. Go south on Highway 267 for 4.8 miles. The entrance will be on your left.
• From Highway 20: Turn north onto Highway 267. Follow Highway 267 for 7.5 miles. The entrance will be on your right.

Bloxham Recreation Area

The Bloxham Recreation Area is a beautiful high bluff located on the southwest side of Lake Talquin.

The Bloxham Recreation Area is a day-use and reservation-only site. For information and reservations, visit  ReserveAmerica.com or call 1-877-879-3859. 

If you’d like a private place for your group to meet, try the tranquility of the Bloxham Recreation Area. Maximum capacity is 300 people. Groups over 150 will be required to provide portable toilets arranged and paid for by the group.

Directions

From Tallahassee: From Capital Circle NW, go west 17.8 miles on Highway 20. Turn right on Lone Star Road and go one-quarter mile. The entrance will be on the left.

Fort Braden Tract 

Explore a range of different ecosystems and enjoy the stunning views of Lake Talquin on the 1,242-acre Fort Braden Tract.

Trails

The Fort Braden Trails include:

• Three hiking trails ranging from 3 to 5 miles in length. One trail is a designated Trailwalker trail.
• Two equestrian trail loops, each extending 5 to 6 miles in length. Riders should expect an amazing trail that will include low-water crossings, inclines and winding sections.  Note: All horses must have proof of current negative Coggins test results when on state lands. All children under the age of 16 are required to wear a protective helmet while riding on state lands.

Trail Maps

• All Trails on Fort Braden Map [ 767.2 kB ]
• Fort Braden Trailtrotter Trails Map [ 932 kB ]
• Fort Braden Trailwalker Trails Map [ 2.2 MB ]

Directions

From Tallahassee: Go west 8.7 miles on Highway 20 from Capital Circle. Entrance road will be on the right.

High Bluff Recreation Area

High Bluff Campground is a primitive campground on the northern side of Lake Talquin, adjacent to the Joe Budd Wildlife Management Area.

Directions

From Tallahassee: Take Interstate 10 west to Exit 192. Drive north on U.S. Highway 9 toward Quincy/Midway for 2.4 miles. Turn left on County Road 268/Martin Luther King Boulevard and travel 2.5 miles. Turn left on Peters Road and drive 1 mile. Stay left at fork where road becomes High Bluff Landing Road. The campground is at the end of the road.

Lines Tract

Trails

The 9.3-mile W.D. Lines Trail System is for hiking and off-road biking and has two loops: Talquin Loop (blue) and Longleaf Loop (orange). The off-road bicycle trail takes the cyclist through a variety of terrain, including pine flatwoods and sandhill communities on the northern portion of the trail, grading down to hardwood and floodplain forests along the shoreline of Lake Talquin. Moderate obstacles such as low clearances, logs, quick turns and tight areas between trees are intended to enhance the ride. Beginners should maintain slower speeds for easier navigation of these obstacles.

Be prepared:

• Wear proper gear, including a helmet.
• Carry plenty of water, bug spray and snacks.

Trail Maps

• Lines Tract Off-Road Bicycle Trail Map [ 1.3 MB ]

Directions

From Tallahassee: Take Interstate 10 west until Exit 181. Head south on Highway 267 for 7 miles. Turn left onto Cook’s Landing Road. The entrance is 1.5 miles on the right.

Wildlife Management Areas

Lake Talquin State Forest includes three Wildlife Management Areas open for hunting:

• Joe Budd Wildlife Management Area
• Ochlockonee River Wildlife Management Area
• Talquin Wildlife Management Area 

All other Lake Talquin State Forest tracts are closed to hunting.

For more information regarding hunting or fishing on Lake Talquin State Forest, call (850) 627-9674, or write: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Route 7, Box 3055 Quincy, FL 32351.