Jakes Branch County Park

Love the birds eye view from the visitor center. Trails are well marked. There is a path for children that has several playgrounds along the way.

I hesitate to write this review lest too many people find out about this amazing park. But wow this is an absolutely 10/10 nature center.

I came out around 5:30 am on a Saturday to run the Tindley Loop Trail. First of all, the trail is perfectly maintained and has very clear, frequent markings throughout the trail so you know if you’re on the right path. I didn’t even check this out beforehand—probably should have—but after a few hundred meters the markings made sense. Like
I said, the trail is in great condition and the best part is I hardly encountered any bugs compared to what I’m used to experiencing on trails in this area. I saw a deer running along the trail with me at one point and I had the trail completely to myself since I was there so early.

The nature center right next to the trail has a very clean restroom and water fountain available. And since I arrived so early the door was locked but a nice security guard must have seen me and he opened the door for me. I thought that was great.

After my eight mile run (did the loop twice) I walked around the rest of the park and noted the abundance of playground equipment and a “Discovery Trail” for kids. Baseball and soccer fields galore, basketball courts and a tennis/pickleball section too.

I can’t say enough about this fantastic park. Please consider visiting if you enjoy outdoor activities in the area, whether with adults or children.

Wonderful park 🏞 It is accessible ♿️, with designated parking areas 🅿️, ramps, and automatic access into the Jack Branch Nature Center. Benches are located throughout the complex. ♻️ Recyclable bins are in several spots around the park. It is family-friendly (several playgrounds, plus the nature center and picnic areas—reservations are required for picnics), pet-friendly 🐕‍🦺 (many trails with great signage), and great for sports, especially jogging, running, mountain biking, and team sports🏃‍♂️🏀🎾. It has a baseball field, basketball and tennis courts, and even a maintenance shop. Entrance is free, and it closes at 4 p.m. daily. The landscaping and housekeeping were spotless when I visited. A true gem for sure.💎 Super recommended 👌

Fantastic park with kid-friendly trails themed with nature in mind. The nature center is also wonderful - we love every part of it but most of all we love watching the hummingbirds through the glass to their garden.
There is a nice big playground and bbq area you can book at very affordable price.
Highly recommend this park.

Wasn’t too busy at time of visit. Really nice path, we stayed on the Tinder Trail Loop. Pretty easy trail with very moderate elevation changes. Watch out for the bikers, there are very blind corners along the trail. Overall really nice almost 4 mile hike through some very beautiful country.