Tuxachanie Trail

Cross numerous wetland environments along this well-maintained trail to a beautiful lake. The maintenance for this hike ends at Bigfoot Trail Camp, but the Tuxachanie continues on for multiple miles. The first five miles of Tuxachanie Trail between the trailhead on Highway 49 and the Airey Campground offer a variety of habitats. Each offers unique wildflower viewing opportunities in season. The trail crosses a variety of wetland situations including sloughs, creeks, ponds, pitcher-plant bogs, and lowland swamps. Intermixed with these wet habitats are acres of dry, sandy longleaf pine woods. There is even a small beech-magnolia forest about a mile from the trailhead. This section of trail follows an old abandoned logging railroad built in the early 1900s by immigrants using hand tools and mule-drawn earthmovers. Visitors enter the trail through long rows of live oaks planted at the site in 1935. The trail is fairly flat and easy walking and includes several sections of elevated wooden footbridges. There is a short section of the trail that is shared by a horse trail. The trail continues to the south through dense forest to end near the POW camp off Bethel Road.