St. Marks Area
Present-day St. Marks is not much more than a riverside village, but in Florida's past, it has had significant importance. The original name is San Marcos de Apalache, and the town was founded by the Spanish in the 1600s. The town is a very old Gulf port, located on the St. Marks River at its confluence with the Wakulla River, just a few miles upstream from the mouth of the St. Marks River at Apalachee Bay. To the southeast of the town, the St. Marks Lighthouse was later built, so that boats could be located to the mouth of the river below the port. In 1836, a railroad was constructed that connected St. Marks to Tallahassee. Today, St. Marks is home to the San Marcos de Apalache Historic Site, which is on the National Register of Historical Places. The lighthouse is on the register as well.
Located on the east end Florida's Forgotten Coast and in the Big Bend region of Florida, the St. Marks area is home to a number of recreational opportunities along the ocean, with the centerpiece of them all being the massive St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge encompasses 68,000 acres spread over four tracts around the communities of Sopchoppy, Panacea, St. Marks, Newport, and eastward along US Route 98 in the direction of Perry. The refuge has an assortment of old forest roads, as well as some hiking trails and the Florida Trail, that provide many ways to experience the vast land on foot. It is important to note that the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is not the only focus of the area. Conservation lands along the Aucilla River provide views of unique sinkholes on the river to the east of St. Marks. To the northwest of St. Marks, Wakulla Springs State Park protects a massive spring that gives birth to the Wakulla River, which merges with the St. marks River not far downstream. Also, to the southeast of St. Marks, conservation areas such as Econfina River State Park and Big Bend Wildlife Management Areas provide additional recreational opportunities closer to the Perry area.
Located on the east end Florida's Forgotten Coast and in the Big Bend region of Florida, the St. Marks area is home to a number of recreational opportunities along the ocean, with the centerpiece of them all being the massive St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge encompasses 68,000 acres spread over four tracts around the communities of Sopchoppy, Panacea, St. Marks, Newport, and eastward along US Route 98 in the direction of Perry. The refuge has an assortment of old forest roads, as well as some hiking trails and the Florida Trail, that provide many ways to experience the vast land on foot. It is important to note that the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is not the only focus of the area. Conservation lands along the Aucilla River provide views of unique sinkholes on the river to the east of St. Marks. To the northwest of St. Marks, Wakulla Springs State Park protects a massive spring that gives birth to the Wakulla River, which merges with the St. marks River not far downstream. Also, to the southeast of St. Marks, conservation areas such as Econfina River State Park and Big Bend Wildlife Management Areas provide additional recreational opportunities closer to the Perry area.