Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad Trail State Park
Encyclopedia
Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad Trail State Park is a rail trail
and Florida State Park
located on 16 miles (25.7 km) of the historic railbed of the Tallahassee Railroad, which ran between Tallahassee and St. Marks, Florida
. The trail ends near the confluence of the St. Marks
and Wakulla River
s. The portion of the trail south of US 98 is designated as a portion of the Florida National Scenic Trail
. A paved extension of the trail extends north for approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) into the City of Tallahassee.
, walking
, jogging
, and horseback riding. Amenities include a paved surface for those on foot or wheels and an unpaved trail for those on horseback. Parking is available at the trail head on SR 363
/Woodville Hwy., just south of Tallahassee, as well as at the J. Lewis Hall Park in Woodville, the Wakulla Station Trailhead in Wakulla County, and the city park at the end of the trail in St. Marks.
Parks and recreational areas adjacent to the trail include the Munson Hills Trails, accessible 1.25 miles (2 km) south of the main trail head off SR 363; J. Lewis Hall Park in Woodville
, accessible 2.5 miles (4 km) south of the main trail head off SR 363; the Wakulla Station Trailhead, accessible 9 miles (14.5 km) south of the main trail head (and 6.5 miles (10.5 km) north of St. Marks) off SR 363; and the San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park
, located at the end of the trail in St. Marks. The Munson Hills Trails are popular with off-road bicyclists and have recently been expanded to 21 miles (33.8 km) in length between two main (Munson Hills and Twilight) trails. J. Lewis Hall Park hosts numerous youth baseball games, among other events. An "adaptable playground" designed for special needs children has recently been installed at the Wakulla Station Trailhead.
Starting in late 2009, according to Florida Greenways and Trails, the trail will be completely resurfaced and widened to 12' in width. The portion of the trail south of the Wakulla Trailhead will be closed and reconstructed first, while the portion north of the Wakulla Trailhead will close and be reconstructed after work is completed on the southern end of the trail. In conjunction with the trail construction, a new trailhead and observatory will be built in the city of St. Marks near the current trail terminus. Overall construction is expected to be completed sometime in 2011.
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
and Florida State Park
Florida State Parks
The Florida State Parks encompass the majority of the lands that fall under the authority of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. There are 160 such entities, including nature reserves, recreation areas, and historic sites, which can be found in every corner of the state...
located on 16 miles (25.7 km) of the historic railbed of the Tallahassee Railroad, which ran between Tallahassee and St. Marks, Florida
St. Marks, Florida
St. Marks is a city in Wakulla County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Tallahassee, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 272 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 299 .-Geography:...
. The trail ends near the confluence of the St. Marks
St. Marks River
The St. Marks River is a river in the Big Bend region of Florida. It has been classified by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection as an Outstanding Florida Water, and is the easternmost river within the Northwest Florida Water Management District....
and Wakulla River
Wakulla River
The Wakulla River is an river in Wakulla County, Florida. It carries the outflow from Wakulla Springs, site of the Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, to the St. Marks River north of the Gulf of Mexico...
s. The portion of the trail south of US 98 is designated as a portion of the Florida National Scenic Trail
Florida National Scenic Trail
One of eleven National Scenic Trails in the United States, the Florida Trail is a footpath spanning from Big Cypress National Preserve to Fort Pickens at Gulf Islands National Seashore, Pensacola Beach...
. A paved extension of the trail extends north for approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) into the City of Tallahassee.
Recreational Activities
Activities include bicycling, skatingRoller skating
Roller skating is the traveling on smooth surfaces with roller skates. It is a form of recreation as well as a sport, and can also be a form of transportation. Skates generally come in two basic varieties: quad roller skates and inline skates or blades, though some have experimented with a...
, walking
Walking
Walking is one of the main gaits of locomotion among legged animals, and is typically slower than running and other gaits. Walking is defined by an 'inverted pendulum' gait in which the body vaults over the stiff limb or limbs with each step...
, jogging
Jogging
Jogging is a form of trotting or running at a slow or leisurely pace. The main intention is to increase fitness with less stress on the body than from faster running.-Definition:...
, and horseback riding. Amenities include a paved surface for those on foot or wheels and an unpaved trail for those on horseback. Parking is available at the trail head on SR 363
State Road 363 (Florida)
State Road 363 is a north–south route in the Big Bend region of Florida.-Route description:The road begins in St. Marks at Riverside Drive. From there, the road progresses north, intersecting US 98 and State Road 267 before leaving Wakulla County. In Leon County and approaching Tallahassee,...
/Woodville Hwy., just south of Tallahassee, as well as at the J. Lewis Hall Park in Woodville, the Wakulla Station Trailhead in Wakulla County, and the city park at the end of the trail in St. Marks.
Parks and recreational areas adjacent to the trail include the Munson Hills Trails, accessible 1.25 miles (2 km) south of the main trail head off SR 363; J. Lewis Hall Park in Woodville
Woodville, Florida
Woodville is a census-designated place in Leon County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,006 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Tallahassee, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Woodville is located at ....
, accessible 2.5 miles (4 km) south of the main trail head off SR 363; the Wakulla Station Trailhead, accessible 9 miles (14.5 km) south of the main trail head (and 6.5 miles (10.5 km) north of St. Marks) off SR 363; and the San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park
San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park
San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park is a Florida State Park and historic site located in Wakulla County, Florida. It is located in St. Marks, off S.R. 363. The address is 148 Old Fort Road. On November 13, 1966, it was designated a National Historic Landmark and added to the U.S...
, located at the end of the trail in St. Marks. The Munson Hills Trails are popular with off-road bicyclists and have recently been expanded to 21 miles (33.8 km) in length between two main (Munson Hills and Twilight) trails. J. Lewis Hall Park hosts numerous youth baseball games, among other events. An "adaptable playground" designed for special needs children has recently been installed at the Wakulla Station Trailhead.
Starting in late 2009, according to Florida Greenways and Trails, the trail will be completely resurfaced and widened to 12' in width. The portion of the trail south of the Wakulla Trailhead will be closed and reconstructed first, while the portion north of the Wakulla Trailhead will close and be reconstructed after work is completed on the southern end of the trail. In conjunction with the trail construction, a new trailhead and observatory will be built in the city of St. Marks near the current trail terminus. Overall construction is expected to be completed sometime in 2011.