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So Lets Begin in the Northeast corner of Florida:
Just a hop-skip & jump to the southwest, the Gainesville Hawthorne Trail offers more wonderful paved cycling. This well-traveled trail winds from the city of Gainesville through Payne's Prarie Preserve State Park then into the Lochloosa Wildlife Management Area, and ends up on the outskirts of Hawthorne. The trail's hills provide challenging climbs and exhilarating downhill thrills, as well as panoramic views of Payne's Prairie, where cyclists should keep an eye out for wild horses, bison and sandhill cranes. A branch trail near the Gainesville trailhead will lead you to the wildflower-covered Alachua sink, home to a mind-boggling number of alligators. Continuing west, natural springs begin to outnumber cities and cyclists eventually reach the Nature Coast Trail. One of the state's most beautiful rails-to-trails projects, the 32-mile paved pathway connects the rural communities of Chiefland, Trenton, Fanning Springs, Old Town and Cross City. A "T" shape, the Nature Coast Trail can be ridden in several configurations. Starting at the old train depot in Cross City, riders can peddle east toward Old Town where they'll cross the lazy Suwannee River on a historic train trestle. Cyclists may continue east to Trenton or head south. The southern route leads directly past Fanning Springs State Park, the perfect place to take a break and cool off swimming or snorkeling the crystal-clear springs. Call 352-236-7143 for more information.
The Sunshine state's longest continuous rail-trail starts less than an hour south near the quaint town of Dunnellon. The Withlacoochee State Trail, will take you 46 miles south to Trilby. While "Withlacooche" translates to "crooked river," the trail itself is relatively straight, passing through the beautiful, 150,000-acre state forest by the same name. Passing by ranches, small towns and wildlife rich preserves, the pathway also serves as a gateway to other recreational pursuits. The bulging tire crowd will want to challenge the 50-plus miles of the Croom Off-Road Trail, while serious paddlers should check out the 83-mile canoe trail.
Heading a little way south, you will find one of Florida's best urban trails. The Pinellas Trail in St. Petersburg, running 34 miles and traversing natural areas, charming downtown's and urban centers. From the south, The trail starts just outside downtown St. Petersburg, the cultural center of Florida's West Coast. Winding north through quaint neighborhoods and across intracoastal waterways, riders reach the charming Scottish town of Dunedin. A scenic trail leads to Honeymoon Island State Park, where wheelers can catch a ferry to the pure white sandy Florida beaches of Caladesi Island. The trail ends in Tarpon Springs, where worn-out wheelers may reward themselves with an authentic Greek meal and a stroll around the historic sponge docks.
For the more serious cyclists, nothing can top the challenge of biking coast-to-coast on one of Florida's cross-state trails. The most beautiful of these trails, The Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway traverses 110 miles of swamps, rolling hills and dense forests. Built largely along the failed Cross Florida Barge Canal, nature and history come in equal quantities on this gorgeous trail, which runs from Inglis east to the St. John's River. There are many side trails that offer off-road adventure and exploration, and abundant wildlife habitat gives you the chance to see Florida black bears, deer, alligators and even manatees. |
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Possessing thousands of miles of off-road trails, scenic country roads, and paved pathways, Florida's cycling options are without end. With that said, there are a few free-wheeling "musts" that all cyclists - from beginners to race-ready veterans - should make part of their Florida Sunshine State itinerary.
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