The Ravine Trail is a 1.8 mile interpretive hiking trail located in Lake Talquin State Forest that loops around a vivacious pond. It leads you through up moderately strenuous slopes and steep-heads and through an upland hardwood forest with a wide diversity of trees. The aboretum signs are helpful in identifying the various trees including rare Florida finds such as Basswood, Cherry, Musclewood, and Sourwood. This terrain also hosts a large variety of Oaks including White Oak, Live Oak, Turkey Oak, and Laurel Oaks to name a few. The lowlands host tupelo, cedar, and pond cypress. The dense hardwood canopy keep the climate cool and moist making this a perfect place for the Mountain Laurels, Rhododendron, and Flame Azalea’s to thrive and bloom.
The Chapman’s Rhododendron (above) is a rare beauty in the coolness of the Ravine Trail in Lake Talquin State Forest.
There are three species of this endangered flower growing in Florida. This species was captured in Gadsen County and also appears in Liberty County. Gulf County has a second species and Clay County has the third species.
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