Mountain Bike Trails near Tallahassee, Florida

Tallahassee is one of the cities with a quality college education and the most affordable living. At least 50 percent of the population has a Bachelor’s degree or higher, and the property tax is mostly lower than the national average. Florida’s capital is also known for festivals, art galleries, exhibitions, forests, golf courses, parks, museums, and numerous trails. For instance, St. Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge, which sits on 68,000 acres and is among the oldest in the U.S., includes more than 20 miles of trail system. Visitors can partake in cycling, hiking, picnicking, canoeing, and boating. The city also has a thriving art culture and African American heritage, and the landscape is dotted with oak and maples.

Best Mountain Bike Trails near Tallahassee, Florida

Tallahassee
The Urban Gorilla is more like an event celebrating cycling in Tallahassee. It is held annually and has been going on for several years. Mountain bikers at the event ride well
55.9 mi
Tallahassee
The Fern Trail is a short easy to intermediate mountain bike trail in Tallahassee that could make for an interesting ride if you’re not sure you’re up to something longer. It
2.7 mi
Tallahassee
The West Cadillac Trail is one of the more challenging MTB trails for those exploring the Lafayette Heritage Park trail system. Despite Florida not being known for being
1.3 mi
Tallahassee
The South Trail at the J R Alford Greenway is one of two mountain bike-only trails at the park. While you can ride most of the others, including options like the Wiregrass
1.8 mi
Tallahassee
The Longleaf trail is one of the latest singletrack additions to the J R Alford Greenway, having been opened in 2020. Leon County hadn’t given the trail an official name when
2.54 mi

Tallahassee, Florida: Area Description

The city is relatively small, with a total area of 98.2 square miles comprising of 97.5% land and 2.6% water. It is located in the Big Bend at the center of Jacksonville in the east and Pensacola in the west, and in the north of Cody Scarp and Florida. This northern panhandle region in the north of Apalachicola National Forest features rolling hills, forests, marshy coasts, gardens, and lakes such as Lake Lafayette and Lake Jackson.

There are more than 100 parks and nature preserves for wildlife watching as well as trees such as the southern live oaks, magnolias, pines, palm trees, and hickories. The 250-acre Tom Brown Park includes playgrounds, trails, and lighted night sports fields.

Tallahassee includes a modern downtown area, neighborhoods, and gated communities. They include Betton Hills, Smokey Hollow, Seminole Manor, Lafayette Oaks, Holly Hills, Ox Bottom, SouthWood, Woodland Drives, Killearn Estates, and Golden Eagle.

It serves as Florida’s hub for education, administration, and scientific research and is home to many prestigious universities as well as the largest magnetic research facility in the world.

Land area (sq. mi; sq. km)            104.74 sq mi (271.27 km2)
Minimum Elevation -
Maximum Elevation            203 ft (62 m)

Demographics of Tallahassee

The population of Tallahassee city and its metropolitan area is 196,169 and 385,145, respectively. The median age is 27.2, and the main ethnic group is White. White makes up 56.97% of the population, followed by 34.3% Black or African American and 4.41% Asian. The rate of citizenship is 96.3%, and foreign-born citizens, who mostly originate from Cuba, Haiti, and Colombia, constitute 7.44% of the population.

There are 46.3% of men and 53.7% of women who are insured, and the patient-to-clinician ratio is 1,179 to 1.

As the most educated city in the state, student enrolment is 65,967, and the most common concentrations are in general psychology, criminal justice, and general finance. Florida State University has the largest number of graduates and is awarded 13,101 degrees.

The workforce is 99,700, and the median earning is $31,460 for men and $27,457 for women. 77.3% drive alone to work, and the average travel time is 18.6 minutes.

Tallahassee is among the states with the most affordable living, and the median property value of $212,800 is lower than the national average. Homeowners make up 39.7% of the population, and the median household income is $46,461.

Mixed freight is the leading domestic product, followed by electronics and pharmaceuticals, which totals 688 billion dollars, with Georgia, California, and Texas as the main trading partners.

Total population 196,169 (2020)
Population density (persons per sq. km) 1,926.00/sq mi (743.64/km2)

Climate of Tallahassee

Tallahassee experiences hot, tropical, and long summers, and the warm months are from June to September. The average temperature is above 86°F, and July averages a nighttime low of 72°F and a high of 91°F. The city at times exceeds 100°F at an average of 11.2 days in a year. Summers include frequent short showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.

The cold months are from December to February, and the winters are short and mildly cold, although November to March can have freezing temperatures. During this winter period, the average high temperature is 69°F, and January records a high of 64°F and a nighttime low of 41°F.

Spring lasts from March to May, and Fall is from October to November. These seasons are dry and hot to warm, with occasional rain and intermittent cold spells at night. The temperature in April and October may rise above 86°F.

Although the city generally has a temperate climate and spring is mostly sunny, there is remarkable rainfall all year round. This is something to note when adventuring on mountain bike trails in Tallahassee, Florida.

Average Temperature by Months

Month Temperature
January 51°F
February 54°F
March 61°F
April 67°F
May 74°F
June 79°F
July 81°F
August 80°F
September 77°F
October 68°F
November 60°F
December 53°F

Infrastructure

The county seat of Leon County is known for low traffic. StarMetro bus system is the major operator in the city, followed by Megabus and Greyhound. The road network includes I-10, US 20, US 27, US 61, US 90, US 151, US 155, US 259, SR 363, and SR 371, and there are multiple parkways, such as Forest Parkway and Apalachee Parkway.

Florida Gulf and Atlantic Railroad, which has its headquarters in Tallahassee, is the main provider of freight services, and the major airport is Tallahassee International Airport (KTLH). O

Wired and wireless internet speeds are 144 Mbps and 57 Mbps, respectively, and Tallahassee is home to the Florida Ports Council, which oversees 15 public seaports and ten container ports.

Sights and Landmarks in Tallahassee

Tallahassee is a family-friendly destination with many exciting activities, such as golfing and the annual festivals. There are many wildlife trails, national historic landmarks, lakes, state parks, and attractions such as the Batmobiles at the Tallahassee Automobile Museum, which also houses the hearse of Abraham Lincoln.

Other recommendations for a visit include:

  • Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park
  • Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park
  • Marks National Wildlife Refuge
  • Knott House Museum
  • Mission San Luis de Apalachee
  • Bradley’s Country Store
  • Lake Ella and Fred Drake Park
  • Goodwood Museum & Gardens
  • Mission San Luis
  • Lofty Pursuits

FAQ about Trails in Tallahassee

Which is the oldest trail in Tallahassee?

Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail stretches for 16 miles, and it is the oldest in the state. The trail is paved with asphalt, and you can access it via Riverside Drive and Lake Bradford Road. Munson Hills Off-Road Trail is especially popular for mountain bikes.

Which trails are near Cascades Park in Tallahassee?

The park itself has trails paved with asphalt, including Smokey Hollow Pond and Bocha Chuba Pond, that you can ride on at a maximum speed of 20 mph.  The park features several wildlife trails, an interactive fountain, an amphitheater, and a Korean War Memorial.

Which Tallahassee bike trails do you recommend for experienced riders?

The West Cadillac Trail is intermediate to the expert trail with sudden steep climbs, sharp corners, and large roots and log-overs. J. R. Alford Greenway Loop encompasses several trails, including the moderately difficult South Trail with numerous roots and Longleaf Trail, which has speedy downhill sections and many bumps.