Stretching from the St. Johns River near Palatka to the Gulf of Mexico, the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway is a mile-wide recreational corridor that contains equestrian, mountain biking, hiking, and paved trails.
Trails along the Cross Florida Greenway provide backpacking and day hiking opportunities on both linear and loop routes. The Florida Trail traverses a large portion of its length between Silver Springs and Dunnellon, with a more northerly segment popping out of the Ocala National Forest at the Rodman Reservoir.
See logistics for backpacking the Florida Trail across the Cross Florida Greenway.
Explore the Greenway
American Trails names Florida BEST Trails state- Thanks to the efforts of the Office of Greenways and Trails, Florida was named the BEST TRAILS STATE at the 2008 National Trails Symposium in Little Rock, Arkansas
Cross Florida Greenway History | Bridge to the Future- The history of the Cross Florida Greenway's birth and the building the Land Bridge - and the Florida Trail - across this new stretch of public land in Central Florida in 1999.
Cross Florida Greenway History | Finding a Route- A visit to the Barge Canal Diggings near I-75 after 13 years of the Florida Trail on the Cross Florida Greenway reveals steady changes over the years, shown in a series of photos.
Cross Florida Greenway History | The Land Bridge- A landmark along Interstate 75 near Ocala, the Land Bridge remains one of the more popular destinations for hikers, bikers, and equestrians on the Cross Florida Greenway. 
Dunnellon Trail- Expanding access to the Cross Florida Greenway across the Withlacoochee River in Dunnellon, the Dunnellon Trail provides a new destination for cyclists and hikers to explore the cypress-lined river floodplain. 
Early Birds on the Greenway- The Land Bridge section of the Florida Trail has a special place in my heart since I helped create it under the tutelage of Kenneth Smith, 'Mr. Greenway,' who retired last year from being a section leader.
Finding Your Way- Basic wayfinding - understanding where the sun is, looking at landscape, picking out landmarks as you hike - comes as second nature to some people. It's an important skill that all hikers should cultivate. 
Florida Trail, Baseline to Marshall Swamp- Along the Baseline Road to Marshall Swamp section of the Florida Trail in Ocala, enjoy a swath of true urban wilderness, a mile-wide corridor edged on both sides by subdivisions and strip malls.
Florida Trail, Buckman to Rodman Dam- Paralleling a segment of the Cross Florida Barge Canal, the Buckman Lock to Rodman Dam hike on of the Florida Trail sticks to a high berm for most of the 5.3 miles.
Florida Trail, Cross Florida Greenway- A prime destination for backpacking and day hiking near Ocala, the Florida Trail, Cross Florida Greenway stretches 30 miles between Dunnellon and Silver Springs.
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- On this 5.6-mile round-trip hike, follow the Florida Trail on a linear journey through the giant trees of Marshall Swamp without getting your feet wet.
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 this stretch of the Florida Trail through sandhills and scrub, you'll scramble over more historic diggings and see fern-draped limestone boulders scattered through the forest
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 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.
Grand opening of the Dunnellon Trail- On May 16, 2014, DEP's Office of Greenways & Trails opened a new bridge and trail along the Cross Florida Greenway, the Dunnellon Trail, providing a crucial connector for the Florida Trail. 
Holly Hammock for the Holidays- A trail I had the pleasure of helping to route - the Holly Hammock Hiking Trail - is a neat introduction to a shady forest filled with American holly, a perfect place for a Christmas hike.
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.- OGT Palatka Visitor Center closed- In a related story, I found out this weekend that the Office of Greenways and Trails quietly closed their Visitor Center at Buckman Lock for budget savings. This is the northernmost of the two visitor centers they operate, and marks the northern extent of the Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway. In addition to casual visitors […]
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.
Santos Trails- With 30 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.
Santos Trails- 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.
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.
The Over 80 Across Florida Hike- In 2007, a group of senior hikers made Florida hiking history by successfully completing a backpacking trip from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico via backroads, the Florida Trail, and the Withlacoochee Bay Trail. All were over age 80.