Cross Florida Greenway

Cross Florida Greenway Overview

A Brief History

The Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway has long been one of our favorite destinations for outdoor recreation in Florida, and that’s partly because we were involved with the arc of its story. As a teen, Sandra was aware of the environmental disaster that completing the Cross Florida Barge Canal would cause, slicing through the aquifer and potentially destroying Silver Springs. One of her high school teachers was part of a group fighting this Federal project with scientific studies, and eventually, with lawsuits. In 1971, President Richard Nixon agreed to stop the digging. The land that the canal would be built on was turned over to the State of Florida.

The corridor was designated Florida’s first greenway in 1998, and then named for the environmental advocate who founded the Florida Defenders of the Environment, the group instrumental in stopping the canal project. Helping to build and maintain a new route of the Florida Trail along the Greenway, Sandra was among those who cut the ribbon on the Land Bridge over Interstate 75 when it opened in 2000.

Entrance to the Land Bridge from Land Bridge Trailhead

Cross Florida Greenway History | The Land Bridge

Cross Florida Greenway History | Finding a Route

Cross Florida Greenway History | Bridge to the Future

Land Manager

The Office of Greenways and Trails was instituted to oversee Florida’s first greenway. While it is now headquartered in Tallahassee, it maintains an office along the Cross Florida Greenway in Silver Springs. It is now part of the Florida Park Service, and the Cross Florida Greenway is considered a unit of Florida State Parks.

Land Manager: Office of Greenways & Trails
Address: 8282 SE Highway 314, Ocala
Phone: 352-236-7143
Their office is open weekdays

Resources

Orlando & Central Florida: An Explorer's Guide

Explorers Guide North Florida and Panhandle

Disclosure: These are the guidebooks we’ve written that cover specific trails and recreation areas along the Cross Florida Greenway. As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us continue to provide public information on this website.

Trails along the Cross Florida Greenway

Hiking Trails

There are more than 300 miles of trails on the Cross Florida Greenway, according to the Office of Greenways & Trails. Hiking trails along the Cross Florida Greenway include a long segment of the statewide Florida National Scenic Trail as well as several shorter day hiking loops and a few interpretive trails.

Florida Trail

You’ll find a full guide to hiking the entire Florida Trail across the Cross Florida Greenway here. It’s a great destination for fall backpacking since, unlike other public lands in the region, no hunting is permitted along its length. It’s also a good backpacking trip for you and your dog.

Marshall Swamp on the Cross Florida Greenway

Florida Trail, Cross Florida Greenway

A prime destination for backpacking and day hiking near Ocala, the Florida Trail follows the Cross Florida Greenway for nearly 40 miles between the Withlacoochee and Ocklawaha Rivers

All of these segments of the Florida Trail on the Cross Florida Greenway can be day hiked.

Florida Trail, Baseline to Marshall Swamp

A walk in an urban forest, the Baseline section of the Florida Trail showcases restored sandhill habitat

Florida Trail, Dunnellon

Bridging the Cross Florida Greenway across the Withlacoochee River, the Dunnellon Trail provides a destination for cyclists and hikers

Florida Trail, Land Bridge TH to Santos

Between the Land Bridge Trailhead and Santos, the 7-mile linear section of the Florida Trail winds its way around horse farms to meander through stands of oaks and pines.

Florida Trail, Marshall Swamp

Marvel at towering trees in an ancient forest along this Florida Trail segment on the Cross Florida Greenway

Florida Trail, Pruitt

Switchbacks, scrambles, and a smattering of history – the Pruitt section of the Florida Trail along the Cross Florida Greenway is one of Central Florida’s more fascinating hiking destinations.

Florida Trail, Pruitt to Ross Prairie

Scrambling up and over the historic diggings of the failed Cross Florida Barge Canal, the Florida Trail between Pruitt trailhead and Ross Prairie tunnels through dense hardwoods

Florida Trail, Ross Prairie to SW 49th Ave

Along a 6.5-mile segment of the Florida Trail near Ocala, explore hilly terrain where fern-covered boulders rest beneath the pines

Florida Trail, Santos to Baseline

A 4.5-mile section of the Florida Trail between Belleview and Silver Springs Shores, the Santos to Baseline section on the Cross Florida Greenway is a linear woodland in suburbia.

Florida Trail, SW 49th Ave to Land Bridge Trailhead

Florida Trail, SW 49th to Land Bridge TH

Enjoy rough and rugged terrain topped with a fluffy pine forest on this segment of the Florida Trail on the Cross Florida Greenway, which includes the Land Bridge over I-75.

Ross Prairie Loop

A 3.5-mile loop using blue-blazed connectors and the Florida Trail to circle Ross Prairie, the Ross Prairie Loop shows off the beauty of this prairie on the Cross Florida Greenway.

Other Hiking Trails

Holly Hammock Hiking Trail

A 2.4 mile loop showing off the habitat diversity of Ross Prairie State Forest, this easy hike provides scenic panoramas across the prairie on a mostly shaded trail.

Silver River Connector

Built to showcase the Cross Florida Greenway, the Silver River Connector is a 3-mile round-trip from the Ocklawaha Visitor Center to Ray Wayside Park.

Biking Trails

Cyclists have the famed Santos Trails, a nationally-renowned set of technical off-road trails accessed from Santos, as well as paved trails at Inglis, Silver Springs Shores, Dunnellon, and between Santos and Ross Prairie.

Biking Santos

Biking the Santos Trails for the first time this fall, I opted to leave my vintage Cannondale at home and try a rental bike for my first spin through these famed off-road trails south of Ocala.

Florida Trail, Dunnellon

Bridging the Cross Florida Greenway across the Withlacoochee River, the Dunnellon Trail provides a destination for cyclists and hikers

Florida Trail, Marshall Swamp

Marvel at towering trees in an ancient forest along this Florida Trail segment on the Cross Florida Greenway

Santos Trails

With miles of twisting, winding off-road bicycle trails that dip into old limestone pits, the Santos Trails south of Ocala are a mecca for cyclists who enjoy riding through the woods

Silver River Connector

Built to showcase the Cross Florida Greenway, the Silver River Connector is a 3-mile round-trip from the Ocklawaha Visitor Center to Ray Wayside Park.

Equestrian Trails

Equestrians have extensive riding and carriage trails between Santos and Dunnellon, connecting with the Florida Horse Park. Guided trail rides are available from Cactus Jack’s, based at the Land Bridge trailhead.

The Land Bridge trailhead, Shangri-La trailhead, Ross Prairie trailhead, and Pruitt trailhead are optimized for equestrian use, with large dedicated parking areas for horse trailers, watering troughs, and hitching posts.

Shangri-La Campground was originally equestrian-only but is now open to all. It, along with Ross Prairie, are the best places to camp with your horses.

Paddling

Rainbow River paddler at Blue Run — Paddler coming in to the launch at Blue Run Park

Paddlers can put in at Withlacoochee Bay, Inglis Lock, or Blue Run Park in Dunnellon to paddle the Withlacoochee River. Rainbow River access is also available at Blue Run Park.

Ray Wayside Park and Gore’s Landing, both Marion County Parks, provide access to the Ocklawaha River. Ray Wayside also is an access point for the Silver River, as is Silver Springs State Park.

Eureka West and Rodman Recreation Areas provide put-in for the Ocklawaha River where it is dammed up to create the Rodman Reservoir. When drawdowns of the reservoir occur, paddlers flock to this area to find the springs that are exposed when the river’s normal flow towards the St. Johns is temporarily restored.

Camping along the Cross Florida Greenway

Developed Campgrounds

The Cross Florida Greenway has campgrounds at several locations that work well for base camps for outdoor recreation. At Ross Prairie Campground and Shangri-La Campground, facilities include special corrals and horse trailer parking for equestrians.

At Santos, mountain bikers and hikers will appreciate the easy access to the trail systems. The Rodman Campground near Rodman Reservoir is very close to put-in points for paddlers and boaters on the Ocklawaha River, and is right along the Florida Trail. It is a safe location to leave a car when backpacking across the Ocala National Forest; a small daily fee applies.

Primitive Camping

If you are backpacking the Florida Trail along the Cross Florida Greenway, you are permitted to use the primitive campsites along the route if you are a member of the Florida Trail Association. If you are not, contact the Office of Greenways and Trails during office hours to let them know your planned itinerary and stops.

There is no fee for primitive camping. Each of the primitive campsites includes a picnic table and a fire ring. They are suitable for only a few tents, not large groups. See our Florida Trail info for the Cross Florida Greenway for more details.

Towns along the Cross Florida Greenway

We’ve spent a lot of time in towns along the Cross Florida Greenway to grab a meal or kick back in comfort in a hotel room after a long day out in the woods or on the water. These are the communities you’ll find, west to east, near the Cross Florida Greenway. Of them, Dunnellon is our very favorite. That’s partly because Sandra used to live there, but also because it has great local eateries and several options for affordable hotel and motel stays. And Rainbow Springs!