Lake Talquin State Forest: Fort Braden Trails

This site offers extensive hiking trails that are blazed in orange (compared to horse trails in pink or yellow). Pick up a map at the entrance and bring water. One of the best trail choices is the Center Loop: hike north from the parking area and stay right at every split on the orange-blazed trail to make a 2-mile loop back to the parking area. The trail will take you through open areas and xeric oak uplands good for Wild Turkeys, Acadian Flycatchers (summer) and White-eyed Vireos, then reach bluffs overlooking Lake Talquin. It follows the lake edge for nearly a mile before circling back through the uplands. Watch overhead for Mississippi Kites in summer and scan the lake for wintering Common Loons and Horned Grebes. Weedy and brushy areas have wintering sparrows including Chipping, Song and White-throated.