Kid Friendly Bike Trails

Tallahassee’s over 700 hundred miles of trails include some of its most kid-friendly bike trails and the opportunity to explore one of the most biologically diverse areas in the U.S. Whether a beginner rider just learning to balance on two wheels or more advanced and ready to take to the pump track, the variety of surfaces available to ride will satisfy any family’s needs. Enjoy a relaxing ride on paths that meander nature under the shade of longleaf pines and live oak trees, expanding to wide-open greenways, or opt for a paved and scenic cityscape ride by some of Florida’s historic landmarks. Need a bike rental, gear or some expert biking advice? Visit one of our local bike shops for assistance. 

Lake Ella

For younger children who are still using training wheels, try a nice ride/walk around the centrally located and classic Tallahassee – Lake Ella. This beautiful park in Midtown, directly off Monroe Street and just south of Tharpe Street, makes a perfect for a short ride. Younger children will delight as they ride around the paved 0.7-mile loop while watching various wildlife, including ducks, geese and turtles. At the end of the excursion, don’t forget to support the local shops like Barb’s Brittles https://visittally.wpengine.com/partners/barbs-gourmet-brittles/ and enjoy a taste of homemade ice-cream or a special cold icy treat from Big Easy’s Snowballs https://visittally.wpengine.com/partners/big-easy-snowballs/ before heading home for a nap.

Cascades Trail

Located in the heart of downtown and directly south of the Florida State Capitol, this 24-acre park and natural playground offer a variety of outdoor and recreational amenities and has the perfect winding trails for a short ride with the family. Bring a picnic or order one “to go” from the Power Plant Café, conveniently located in the center of the park.

There are three main trails in Cascades Park, the whole park loop (1 mile), Bocha Chuba Pond loop (0.65 miles) and the Smokey Hollow Pond loop (0.5 miles). Altogether, the trails make up 2.3 miles of paved pathways.

While traversing the park, stop by and discover Florida’s Prime Meridian Marker in the park’s center. Take a break and find where Florida’s Capitol City, marked with a star, is found inlayed on the granite and brick map. Cascades Park also celebrates the Smokey Hollow legacy. For over 60 years, Smokey Hollow was a thriving black community and home to churches, restaurants, stores and hundreds of residents. Urban renewal eliminated the neighborhood in the 1960s, but the area’s stories and history live on.

This 24-acre downtown gem is also home to the Adderley Amphitheater at Cascades Park, an interactive water fountain, Discovery playscape and numerous more historical markers. With so much to see and do, Cascades Park offers the perfect opportunity to ride and learn.

Learn more about the history of Cascades Park.

St. Marks Trail

Make a day of while riding along the route of Florida’s first and longest-operating railroad.  The Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail is a great option for biking. The flat, paved surface of the trail runs 20.5 miles from Florida’s Capital City to the coastal community of St. Marks. It runs along the Apalachicola National Forest with multiple entry spots, allowing for whatever length of ride you choose to park and ride.

The Tallahassee-St. Marks railroad was active longer than any other in Florida, operating for 146 years from 1836 to 1983. The historic railway path was the first rail-trail in Florida’s greenways and trails system to be paved. The trail’s corridor passes underneath towering stands of longleaf pines that run through part of the Apalachicola National Forest, past quiet, rural communities. Here you will find picnic and rest areas, a park and a playground.

J.R. Alford Greenway and Lafayette Heritage Trail

The J.R. Alford Greenway is one of Tallahassee’s most beautiful parks. Located on Tallahassee east side, the park has more than 17 miles of multiuse trails. It offers a variable number of paths to satisfy even the most adventurous types. Kids will revel in nature as the path meanders around lakes, through the forest, over railroad tracks on the covered bridge with some of the most diverse wildlife types in plain sight. It is common to see other cyclists, runners, horseback riders, hikers and dog walkers. The trail is a great place to bring your binoculars with potential sightings of alligators and birds and butterflies along their migratory path.

The park offers ample parking at the park’s entrance where visitors can enjoy the wide-open greenway’s gorgeous view, a perfect spot to earn your two-wheel freedom in the grass. The area contains a crushed oyster shell path that can be followed into Tallahassee’s iconic and naturally wooded forests. Another entrance, located to the right of the greenway, will lead you to the magnificent Lafayette Heritage Trail. Unpaved, this trail will send you past a short span of large trees and over a gorgeous, wooden boardwalk styled bridge, built high above the railroad tracks with magnificent views overlooking Piney Z Lake. Past the bridge, the path turned unpaved again and shaded with enormous trees.

Explore a little off the beaten path on Bill’s Trail. Accessible from one side of the covered bridge, Bill’s Trails is an artful adventure that runs along the railroad tracks and through the woods between the Piney Z Lake and J.R. Alford Greenway. About 0.07 miles from the bridge sits a small yet delightful area with art supplies and picnic tables, making for a nice break on the trail.

Tom Brown Park and the Velosolutions Pump Track

If you are looking for various activities for the kids, including biking and a playground,  look no further than Tom Brown Park located on Tallahassee’s east side. This large, multipurpose park features a wide range of recreational activities with numerous fields, tennis courts and open spaces, a 24-hole disc golf course, 12 racquetball courts, restrooms and the Velosolutions pump track.

The Pump Track is located adjacent to the playground off Easterwood Drive, offering 10,000 square feet of pure adrenaline! The track the perfect spot for all levels and ages of riders, toddlers to teens, test out new skills and set new challenges. Whether riding at a beginner’s pace or catching air like a pro, the Velosolutions Pump Track will deliver a day of delight for all. Velosolutions is a global leader in pump track and trail building and their work can be found in over 25 countries. Velosolutions is dedicated to making cycling as accessible as possible and design their tracks to appeal to the novice rider as much as the professional. One day, the kid you brought to the park might just find themselves competing on the SCOTT-Velosolutions international mountain bike team.

Grab your wheels, get out, ride and make lasting memories with the family!