Talking Rock Nature Park

04/01/2026

Announcement!! After months of debate, we have decided to change the rules at Talking Rock Nature Park to only allow unicycles on the trails. We believe this is the best decision for improving trail conditions and to encourage visitors to develop coordination.

Effective immediately:
• All hikers must convert to unicycles
• Bicycles will be gently escorted off the premises
• Training sessions will be offered (falling is part of the experience)

We appreciate your understanding as we roll forward into this bold new chapter.

Happy April Fools! 🚲

03/26/2026

Talking Rock Nature Park is now fully open for park visitors. Please avoid entering into the burned areas, but all the trails are good to go. Thanks for your patience!

03/24/2026

We had a great burn today at Talking Rock Nature Park! It was a small unit, but taking time and care to reintroduce fire is something that can't be rushed. Several Park visitors were curious and got a great lesson in fire ecology.

🔥🔥🔥FIRE UPDATE🔥🔥🔥

The western side of the park including Jon's Trail, Jon's Corner, South Parking, and Fast Charlie's is currently closed to Park visitors. We will evaluate the area tomorrow and give an update tomorrow evening about when we will open that area. Please obey all signs and do not enter the burn area. Thanks!

03/23/2026

🔥🔥🔥Prescribed Fire Alert🔥🔥🔥
Tommorrow, on Tuesday, March 24th, we are planning a prescribed fire at Talking Rock Nature Park. Forecasted conditions meet our fire plans for part of the park. We will be closing the western side of the park, including Jon's Trail, Jon's Corner, South Parking, and Fast Charlie's Trail. These trails will remain closed on Wednesday, March 25th, as well.

We're burning to improve habitat for wildlife, improve tree stand health, as well as reducing fuels along Carnes Mill Road to reduce wildfire risks.

Watch the area over the next few weeks and see all the amazing changes that occur!

03/18/2026

Keep an eye out for May Apple along the creek bottoms at the park!

As the weather begins to warm, keep an eye out for early blooms across our parks including the hidden flowers of the native Mayapple. Often you will see large groups of Mayapple blooming together, as this species can form a colony of plants branching from one root. Within the colony, stems that grow more than one leaf will be the only ones to produce the small white flower concealed under the leaf canopy. As the season progresses, pollinated flowers will make way for small green “apple” like fruits that are an important food source for native wildlife, including Box Turtles.

03/03/2026

Lots of wildlife to celebrate at the park. What's your favorite animal to see?

02/26/2026

👀 Look out for invasive species, like these wild hogs! We've worked hard in recent years to remove invasives from the park and help restore the native ecosystems. It's slow work, but we're here for the long game!

02/25/2026

Keep an eye for the SlimybSalamanders at Talking Rock too!

This week’s ‘Critter of the Week’ is the Slimy Salamander, Plethodon glutinosus. Did you know that the Slimy Salamander gets its name from the slimy secretions it produces when it feels threatened? These secretions will stick like glue and are even hard to get off. You can find Slimy Salamanders at our Fightingtown Creek Nature Park where they will usually be hiding out under logs, stones, and debris during the day. Remember though, if you pick up a stone looking for a Salamander, make sure you put it back the way you found it so as to not disturb potential habitat.

01/30/2026

Just north of Talking Rock Nature Park is another jewel in the Southeastern Trust for Parks and Land system.

01/27/2026

What do we do when the trails are icy or frozen, and what does that have to do with leaves in the fall? Check out Keith's explanation in the video!

01/17/2026