I’ve stopped by Lake Talquin State Park a few times in the last few years, as it isn’t far from Tallahassee via the route I travel. If you’re unfamiliar, the park is on the south side of Lake Talquin, and aside from this particular spot being a state park, the rest of the area is either private or part of the Lake Talquin State Forest, comprised of several detached sections. As for Lake Talquin State Park, you’ll be greeted by an iron ranger device, find well developed picnic areas, there’s lots of shade, etc. It’s a lake based park, but the catch is that it isn’t the kind that has a beach. The state park also only represents a small amount of the wilderness around the lake.
To make use of the lake itself you can drop a boat in just outside the front gate at the Vause Landing, along Jack Vause Landing Rd. The park itself doesn’t have any means for dropping a boat in, aside from a carry able kayak or something off the side of a little fishing pier that is at water level. I’m not sure why anyone would want to go into a lake infested with alligators with anything on that scale though… That said, fishing works well from there. I’ve been to many spots around this lake, there are alligator warning signs all over the place, consider yourself warned.
The first time I went to the park I was able to enjoy the boardwalk, which was the best feature of the place. It goes from the picnic area down a bunch of steps along a bluff, descending to almost water level, lets you walk along the waterline via said boardwalk, then makes its way back up to the picnic area, kind of as a loop boardwalk. The last time I was there (2022) the boardwalk wasn’t accessible, having been cut off by 2x4s to block access. Perhaps they were doing repairs, I don’t know, and I hope it doesn’t stay that way.
The nature trail is okay, looks a lot like most trails here in Florida, sand base, the usual vegetation.
Address:
14850 Jack Vause Landing Road
Tallahassee FL 32310
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