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FLORIDA
Featured National Recreation Trails

A sampling of National Recreation Trails in the news or recently designated. The NRT program showcases the diversity of trails across America, from our cities and suburbs to the deserts, waterways, and high mountains.

 

National Recreation Trails... America's great trails!

Every kind of trail activity is represented in the listing of designated NRTs. Besides hiking and bicycling, the system includes water trails, motorized routes, snow tracks, greenways, and equestrian paths.

Search all of Florida's designated National Recreation Trails in the Online NRT Database

 

J.R. Alford Greenway — Part of Tallahassee's nationally recognized park system, this 27-mile urban trail and 880-acre greenway in Leon County provides for numerous recreational activities, native habitat preservation, and environmental education (designated 2007).

Apalachicola River Paddling Trail System – Stretching through the panhandle of Florida to the Gulf of Mexico, this nationally-recognized water trail system offers approximately 100 miles of scenic paddling trails for canoeists and kayakers of all abilities (designated 2008).

Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail — Located along the Gulf Coast of Florida, this 105-mile water trail embraces one of the longest and wildest publicly owned coastal wetlands in the United States. There seems to be something for all trail users to enjoy - from abundant wildlife to historical sites to beaches. In addition to its scenic and historic features, this trail offers a variety of recreational opportunities, including kayaking, hiking, and swimming. Through its array of partners and connections to coastal towns and other state trails, this trail is connecting Florida in a distinctive way (designated 2005).

Blackwater Heritage State Trail, managed by Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Greenways & Trails, is the westernmost rail-trail in Florida, extending from the historic town of Milton to United States Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field. The 8.1-mile trail passes through pine woods, a cypress/bay swamp and an area of white-topped pitcher plants. The trail offers an enjoyable trip through a quaint North Florida town and out into the countryside where there are creek crossings on wooden bridges. An unpaved equestrian trail parallels a segment of the paved trail (designated 2010).

Centennial Trail — Located at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, this 0.75-mile accessible trail tells the story of the first national wildlife refuge and celebrates the entire Refuge System, offering visitors the chance to learn about each national wildlife refuge in the country while enjoying scenic overlooks and abundant wildlife (designated 2007).

Clearwater East-West Trail — Located in Pinellas County, this almost 5-mile urban trail and greenway will eventually span 13 miles and provide a critical east-west link between Tampa Bay and Clearwater Beach. The trail serves as an important regional connection, linking area residents with a local nature park, elementary school, and nine park facilities. Trail users enjoy a number of recreational activities including biking, kayaking, and swimming.

Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail — Stretching from Pensacola around the Florida peninsula to the Georgia border, this 1,500-mile sea kayaking paradise is considered by some as the saltwater version of the Appalachian Trail for its scenic features and connections to federal, state and local parks and preserves along the coasts of Florida (designated 2007).

 

Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail (See more photos of the trail) — This 106-mile trail system and greenway will span the islands from Key Largo to Key West, utilizing the historic Flagler Railroad Bridges and connecting national wildlife refuges, state and national parks, and underwater recreation areas. In addition to its abundant wildlife, scenic features, and cultural resources, both residents and visitors enjoy activities such as biking, canoeing, horseback riding and fishing. With half of the trail already completed, this diverse partnership is making significant progress towards connecting Monroe County in a truly unique way (designated 2004).

Gayle's Trails — Located in Panama City Beach, this 4.5-mile trail system provides a natural haven in an urban setting, linking residents to a variety of recreational amenities (such as a stocked Youth Fishing Pond) and providing opportunities for rollerblading, mountain biking, and kayaking (designated 2007).

 

General James A. Van Fleet State Trail — The 29.2 mile route is one of Florida’s most rural rail trails, passing through the 322,690-acre Green Swamp “Area of Critical State Concern,” which contains the headwaters for some of Florida’s most paddled waterways: the Withlacoochee (South), Hillsborough, and Peace Rivers. Landscapes include the natural environments associated with the Green Swamp, former citrus lands and cattle ranches. The trail has excellent wildlife viewing opportunities between Green Pond Road and Bay Lake Road (designated 2002).

Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail (See more photos of the trail) — One of the busiest trails in the nation, this 47-mile multi-use rail-trail is seen as a green jewel in the midst of the state's most highly urbanized county. The trail traverses the entire western length of Pinellas County linking a number of cities and providing a greenway corridor for both residents and urban wildlife. This trail play a significant role in assisting with downtown redevelopment efforts, as well as its high levels of recreational use, natural features, and links to area parks (designated 2003).

Great Calusa Blueway — Located in one of the fastest growing areas of the country, this 30+ mile water trail acts as an ecological corridor that connects Federal, State and local preserves, as well as historic sites, within Lee County. Home of Florida's first "aquatic preserve," the trail allows visitors the opportunity to observe dolphins, manatees, and over 300 species of birds in their natural habitat. In addition to its scenic features, the trail allows for recreational opportunities including kayaking, fishing, and swimming.

Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail — Located in Duval County, this almost 15-mile rail-trail acts as an important ecological corridor traversing creeks, pine flatwoods, and upland forests. Trail users have the opportunity to visit Camp Milton, a documented Civil War site, and can participate in a variety of activities, including hiking, biking, and wildlife observation. Resulting from a partnership between the City of Jacksonville, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and various other organizations, this trail is recognized as a key part of the statewide greenways and trails efforts.

Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway — A State recreation and conservation area occupying much of the land formerly known as the Cross Florida Barge Canal. This 110-mile corridor stretches from the Gulf of Mexico to the St. Johns River and lies within Levy, Citrus, Marion and Putnam counties. The greenway traverses a wide variety of natural habitats such as rivers, floodplains, lakes, wetlands, ridges and uplands. Within this diverse habitat are many species of flora and fauna, found only in Florida. The greenway offers a growing number of recreational and interpretive opportunities and is a critical component of Florida's Statewide Greenways and Trails System.

Miccosukee Canopy Road Greenway — Also part of Tallahassee's nationally recognized park system, this 20-mile urban trail and 503-acre greenway protects natural and historic resources and is part of a plan to connect Leon County by a trail system accessible via bicycle, horse, or on foot (designated 2007).

Nature Coast State Trail traverses the Suwannee River Valley for 31.7-miles. Managed by the Florida Office of Greenways and Trails, the rail trail connects the communities of Cross City, Trenton, Fanning Springs and Chiefland (designated 2010).

Peghorn Nature Park and Trails features a 58-acre park and trail system that gets its name from the distinctive cattle that were raised in the area in the early 11,000's. The park is located on a wetland site and hosts a variety of native birds and wildlife, as well as migratory birds during the winter. In addition to its many natural and historic features, the trail allows for recreational activities such as hiking and wildlife viewing in close proximity to downtown St. Cloud. Future plans will link Peghorn Nature Trails with a trail system to be developed on the adjacent Steven Plantation property (designated 2003).

Suncoast Trail — The 42-mile trail traverses through Hillsborough, Pasco, and Hernando Counties, and was the first to be designed and constructed by the Florida Turnpike Authority. It allows for safe, convenient recreational opportunities while providing for conservation of native landscape buffers. The trail also provides recreation for people who enjoy activities like biking and wildlife observation (designated 2002).

Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail, managed by Florida’s Office of Greenways & Trails, runs 16 miles from Florida’s capital city to the coastal town of St. Marks. The paved trail provides an excellent workout for bicyclists, walkers and skaters and features a Boundless Playground®. The trail also offers opportunities for horseback riding on the adjacent unpaved trail and access to the Munson Hills Off-Road Trail in the Apalachicola National Forest. The trail is a completed section of the developing 120-mile “Capital City to the Sea Loop” and is a destination along the “Big Bend Scenic Byway” (designated 2010).

Tom Varn Hiking and Jogging Trail — In the city of Brooksville’s Tom Varn Park, 1.5 miles of trail provide ready access to both active recreation activities and a scenic trail experience. The path is organized in a loop: the eastern part within a forested area that includes picnicking sites and a lake, and the western part connecting to softball fields and basketball courts. The trail meanders beneath a lush canopy of overhanging trees and offers a full range of beauty in every season of the year, from colorful wild-flowers and butterflies to ducks and fish swimming in the serene ponds. Recent events along the trail include the Humane Society’s Pet Expo, an Art Exhibition by the Fine Arts Council, and Brooksville’s Blazin’ Butts-n-Brisket BBQ competition (designated 2011).

Timucuan Multi-Use Trail — This 2.31-mile urban trail/bikeway in Little Island State Park is the first piece of a larger trail system which will protect and connect pristine habitat and historically-significant sites of North Florida (designated 2007).

Withlacoochee State Trail — The longest rail-trail in Florida, it extends south 46 miles from near Dunnellon in Citrus Springs to Trilby. The trail traverses three counties (Citrus, Hernando and Pasco) and offers an enjoyable, varied journey through small towns, ranches, and six distinct natural communities. An unpaved equestrian trail parallels portions of the 12-foot paved trail. Where rail passengers once rode, more than 300,000 hikers, bikers, skaters, and horseback riders enjoy the outdoors each year.  The trail has a dedicated citizen support organization, Rails to Trails of the Withlacoochee (designated 2011).

 

 

 

 

The on-line database has details on the currently designated National Recreation Trails. The NRT Program online is hosted by American Trails: www.AmericanTrails.org

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The NTTP Online Calendar connects you with courses, conferences, and trail-related training

 

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The National Recreation Trails Program
American Trails, P.O. Box 491797, Redding, CA 96049-1797
Phone (530) 547-2060 • Fax: (530) 547-2035 •
nrt@americantrails.org • www.AmericanTrails.org