Tallahassee walking and biking trails: greenways, loops, trailheads

Last checked 2026-10-10. Distances come from the City of Tallahassee, Leon County Parks and Recreation and Florida State Parks, linked below. After Hurricane Isaias, expect wet trails and fallen limbs; check before you go.

Tallahassee’s signature ride is the paved Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail, 16 miles south toward the coast from a trailhead on Woodville Highway. In town, Cascades Park has 2.3 miles of paved loops, Lafayette Heritage Trail Park has shared-use and mountain bike trails beside Lake Lafayette, and Leon County’s greenways range from 3.8 miles of trail at Fred George to 21 at J.R. Alford. City trails are open sunrise to sunset; county greenways during daylight.

Who to call

• City parks and trails: 850-891-3866
• Leon County greenways: 850-606-1470
• Maclay Gardens and Lake Overstreet: 850-487-4556

At a glance

Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail

Florida State Parks describes the state trail as 16 miles, paved and 8 to 12 feet wide, extending north of Capital Circle into Tallahassee. Its trailhead is at 4478 Woodville Highway. It follows the route of an old railroad south toward St. Marks.

From downtown, Cascades Park’s trails connect to the Capital Cascades Trail, which the city says will run along FAMU Way and link with the St. Marks Trail for a continuous path from Tallahassee toward the Gulf coast.

Cascades Park

Three main paved trails wind through Cascades Park, 1001 S. Gadsden St.: the Nancy Van Vessem, M.D. Trail, the Boca Chuba pond loop and the Smokey Hollow pond loop, 2.3 miles in all. The city posts a fitness map on its page. Pets are welcome on a leash, with waste stations along the way.

Lafayette Heritage Trail Park

On the Lake Lafayette system on the east side, beside Tom Brown Park, this 795-acre city park is open sunrise to sunset. The entrance is at the east end of Heritage Park Boulevard in the Piney Z Plantation subdivision, with a small parking lot, three picnic shelters, a trailhead with bike wash and outdoor shower, a small playground, restrooms and drinking water, the city says.

• Shared-use trail: 2.95 miles, beginner level, for hikers, joggers, strollers, cyclists and leashed dogs.
• Cadillac Mountain Bike Trail: West Cadillac 1.35 miles and East Cadillac 2.44 miles, intermediate overall with black-diamond expert sections that beginners can bypass; the 0.9-mile Loblolly trail is a beginner option.
• Lafayette Passage Paddling Trail: canoe and kayak on Piney Z Lake; a short portage into Lower Lake Lafayette starts a 6-mile round trip.

Tom Brown Park next door adds wooded trails, a BMX track and disc golf, and together with the J.R. Alford Greenway and Apalachee Regional Park forms a 3,900-acre regional greenway, the city says.

Leon County greenways

All are open seven days a week during daylight, according to Leon County Parks and Recreation:

• J.R. Alford Greenway, 2500 Pedrick Road: 21 miles of trails and the county’s only Mountain Bike Skills Training Course. Riders under 17 need a guardian’s signed consent form for the course. Restroom and water fountain.
• Miccosukee Canopy Road Greenway, 5600 Miccosukee Road: 14 miles of trails, picnic area, restroom and water fountain.
• St. Marks Headwaters Greenway, 640 Baum Road: 6 miles of trails. The newer Buck Lake Trailhead, 10995 Buck Lake Road, has a pavilion, playground, restrooms and an electric vehicle charger.
• Fred George Greenway and Park, 3043 Capital Circle NW: 3.8 miles of trails, plus a playground and ballfield.
• Orchard Pond Greenway, 5861 Orchard Pond Road, is also on the county’s list.

The county asks visitors to check its list of acceptable uses before they go.

Lake Overstreet and Maclay Gardens

Next to Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park, the Lake Overstreet trails connect to the Red Bug Trail network for hiking, trail running and mountain biking on shaded, rolling paths, according to the Friends of Maclay Gardens. The park is open 8 a.m. to sunset.

Before you go

• Bring water; Lafayette Heritage and the four county greenways above list water fountains.
• Dogs must be leashed on all public trails under city code; see our dog-friendly guide.
• Hurricane season runs through Nov. 30; storms close trails. See our hurricane prep guide.

What this means for you

• Long paved ride: the St. Marks Trail from Woodville Highway.
• Quick downtown loop: 2.3 miles at Cascades Park.
• Mountain biking: Cadillac at Lafayette Heritage or the J.R. Alford Greenway skills course.

Related: parks and trails, kids’ activities and free things to do.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the St. Marks Trail from Tallahassee?

Florida State Parks lists the Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail as 16 miles, paved and 8 to 12 feet wide, with an extension north of Capital Circle into the city. Its trailhead is at 4478 Woodville Highway.

How long are the trails at Cascades Park?

2.3 miles of paved paths, the city says, on three main loops: the Nancy Van Vessem, M.D. Trail, the Boca Chuba pond loop and the Smokey Hollow pond loop. Leashed dogs are welcome.

Where can I mountain bike in Tallahassee?

The Cadillac trail at Lafayette Heritage Trail Park (West 1.35 miles, East 2.44 miles, intermediate with expert sections) and Leon County’s J.R. Alford Greenway, which has 21 miles of trails and the county’s only mountain bike skills course.

How long is the Miccosukee Greenway?

Leon County lists 14 miles of trails on the Miccosukee Canopy Road Greenway, 5600 Miccosukee Road, open daily during daylight.

Are Tallahassee trails open at night?

No. City parks and trails are open sunrise to sunset, and Leon County greenways are open during daylight, seven days a week.