Review
Fortunately, the luxurious trails in Maclay Gardens do not just end with the 1.7- mile Top Loop. Instead, you also have access to an entire extra 3-mile-long loop, filled with sights and an overall quality equal to the Top Loop.
I already swooned over the quality of the $4 trails in my description of the Top Loop, but for anybody too lazy to read the article on the loop that is necessary to hit to run this one, the trails just have an overall quality that makes them feel very easy to hit. The nature is pristine, and the conditions reflect the trails’ immaculate upkeep since they are in a state park.
What makes the Lake Overstreet Loop special is that you can enjoy these conditions while also engaging in a decent amount of elevation on a longer route. There are a few hills on the Lake Overstreet Loop, and you will encounter quite a big hill if you run the loop clockwise, which I consider the correct way to run this loop. There are a few decent sized hills throughout, but you do not encounter a truly major one until the end when you are running clockwise, and this hill persists as you run back up the connector loop.
There are also a few random things located on the Overstreet Loop that are only found on this route. For one, there is a very convenient water fountain located about 0.25 miles or so counterclockwise down the route. You already know what Tallahassee afternoons can be like, so you can see where this water fountain is useful. Also, if you make the correct turn onto a seemingly random side trail, you will reach the gnome house within 20 meters or so of the main trail. I am going to provide you with zero other details as to what the gnome house is. You are welcome.
As nice as both the Top Loop and the Lake Overstreet Loop are, they have the same fundamental problem that there are just not many trails on the Maclay Gardens Side. The Phipps Park Side has an unimaginable number of trails and possible routes for hitting any distance. On the Maclay Gardens side, you are just confined to the two loops unless you want to adventure out of the park.
Rating: Out of 10