WATER & COAST
Lake Talquin State Park
Gadsden County · Panhandle & Emerald Coast
Steep bluffs and ravines over a reservoir on the Ochlockonee River, with a mile of nature trail along the edge and a boardwalk at the bottom.
ABOUT THIS PLACE
Lake Talquin is not a natural lake. It was made when the Jackson Bluff Dam was built across the Ochlockonee River, and the hydroelectric plant there still helps supply Tallahassee. The state park on its shore sits west of the city at 14850 Jack Vause Landing Road, with the entrance off State Road 20 near Fort Braden. What surprises people is the shape of the land. The ground here folds and drops in ridges and ravines, more like the southern Appalachians than like most of Florida, and the bluff forest that grows on it carries a high number of different species in a small area. A 1.1-mile nature loop runs along the bluff edge high above the water, deeply shaded, with interpretive markers and places to stop and look out. In winter, with the deciduous trees bare, the shape of the ridges shows clearly. From the picnic area on the bluff a stairway and a ramp go down to a solid boardwalk along the lake, and there is a pier for anglers. A boat ramp is on Jack Vause Road. There are restrooms by the parking area, a small charge per vehicle, and leashed dogs are welcome. The park opens at 8 in the morning and closes at sunset
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