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Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

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Pines growing along grassy footpath

Florida Trail, Santos to Baseline

5.1 miles. History is on display along this segment of the abandoned Cross Florida Barge Canal, from a town demolished nearly a century ago to agricultural land undergoing habitat restoration.

Florida Trail, Western Corridor  |  Cross Florida Greenway
( 29.105688, -82.094217 )      5.1 miles

Centered close to a still-standing church established in 1889, the town of Santos stood near the current trailhead and campground by that name.

But during the Great Depression, construction began on a massive bridge north of Belleview to carry SR 441 over the planned Cross Florida Barge Canal.

Little remains of the historically Black settlement of Santos, homes and businesses condemned and removed in the 1930s as part of the WPA project.

Close up of a church The historic church that once defined Santos


Thankfully, little remains of the canal itself. The ill-conceived project that would have sliced into the Floridan aquifer was brought to a halt in the 1970s, hailed as a major win by conservationists.

The land is now a mosaic of protected parcels as part of the Cross Florida Greenway, connected by a surprisingly scenic section of the Florida Trail.

Pines and shrubs adjoining footpath North of Santos, much of the corridor is restored pasture


Resources

Resources for exploring the area

Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover Florida Trail small coffee table book Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover

Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.


Overview

Location: Santos
Length: 5.1 miles linear
Trailhead: 29.105688, -82.094217
Address: 3080 SE 80th St, Ocala
Fees: Free
Restrooms: Yes, adjoining trail access
Land manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 352-369-2693

Open sunrise to sunset. Bicycles permitted only where posted.

Camping is available at the Santos Campground. Reserve in advance.

Santos Campground is a pleasant stop for long distance hikers. It offers showers, potable water, and picnic tables with your campsite. An outfitter with snacks and protein bars is just outside the gates.

Trail corridor with arched oak canopy

While leashed dogs are allowed, the two necessary crossings of high-speed US 441 and the roadwalk through Santos make it a good idea, if you walk with a dog, to do an out-and-back from the ending point of this hike. The same applies to hiking this section with children.

Highway pavement with orange blaze Road crossing of US 441 behind Santos sheriff station


Directions

 
From Interstate 75, head east on SR27 for 2.8 miles, then turn right onto US301/ US441. Continue for 7.2 miles, then turn right at SE 80th St. In a tenth of a mile, turn left at the entrance to the Santos Campground. Turn right at the first road, and the trailhead will be immediately on the left. Park your vehicle near the restrooms close to the campground rather than at the larger parking area which serves the mountain biking trails.
 
The Baseline Trailhead (end point) is 5.7 miles north of Belleview via SR 35 just north of the intersection of SR 464 (Maricamp Road) and SR 35 (Baseline Road) in Silver Springs Shores, to the east of Ocala and south of Silver Springs.
 
An intermediate access point, the Historic Santos Recreation Area, is east of the Santos Sheriff Station along SE 80th Avenue and should be used as your starting point if you prefer not to cross the four lanes of busy US 441 when day hiking this section. Exit the parking area at the ballfields near the picnic pavilion to SE 80th Ave to catch the trail as it emerges for a short roadwalk through historic Santos.

Hike

Starting at the Santos Trailhead adjoining the restrooms, head south on the blue-blazed connector trail for a tenth of a mile, turning left at the orange-blazed Florida Trail.

A short pathway through tree cover ends at the Santos Campground. Continue across the campground and through a tunnel of grapevines, emerging at US 441.

Tunnel through fence line gap Trail tunnel


Take caution crossing the bustling high-speed highway to what is known as The Island. As orange blazes head into the woods, a huge concrete pillar comes into view.

This structure is one of a few remnants of the unfinished Cross Florida Barge Canal. The Historic Ship Canal Trail leads southward from this junction, exploring the site.

A kiosk at the junction informs hikers of the town that once stood here, and what might have been if the construction project had been completed.

Trail junction in front of large bridge pier Junction on The Island


Continue heading east on the Florida Trail, crossing the northbound side of 441 before entering the woods again for a short distance.

The path skirts along the edge of a baseball diamond at Historic Santos Recreation Area. It is bordered by dense clusters of bidens alba, an important food source for numerous pollinators.

Tiger swallowtail up close Tiger swallowtail on bidens alba flowers


Leaving the park and crossing a set of active railroad tracks, a 0.7-mile roadwalk is required to reach the forest again, passing the historic Santos church soon after the railroad.

Past a curve and SE 79th St, orange markers affixed to telephone poles lead the way to a well-marked passage through the trees.

Trail corridor under tall trees Back to the woods


The trail cuts through a square parcel of preserved mixed hardwood hammock for a quarter mile before crossing another paved road, then entering a dense oak hammock.

A leaf-littered pathway meanders through the shaded emerald-green understory underneath tall, arching branches overhead.

Broad footpath under oaks Oak hammock


In a half mile, the trail emerges from the hammock as a wide, mowed path leads through a former pine plantation.

The undulating terrain underfoot is one of the only visible signs that remain from past agricultural uses as the landscape slowly returns to a natural state.

Dog fennel and sumac with young pines Former pine plantation


Crossing railroad tracks in 1.2 miles, the trail follows along the southern edge of the Rotary Sports Complex off SR 464, offering another access point.

It then enters another restoration area, a former pasture. Planted longleaf pines grow in rows alongside a well-maintained corridor.

Young pines adjoining grassy path Longleaf pine restoration


The sound of traffic increases while approaching the first of two underpasses constructed for the trails.

Alamo vine covers the grassy embankments of this man-made structure, sporting multiple round white and magenta flowers.

Morning glory bloom Alamo vine


Despite the nearby busy intersection, the trail has been thoughtfully routed though patches of relatively undisturbed hammocks.

These forested oases provide a great deal of shade for the remaining half-mile to the trailhead.

Emerging from the woods, the trail follows markers directly through a pavilion to the parking area at Baseline Trailhead.

NORTHBOUND: Baseline to SE 64th Ave
SOUTHBOUND: Land Bridge trailhead to Santos

Trail sign in a hammock Shady hammock shared with cyclists


Trail Map

Florida Trail Santos to Baseline Trail Map


Explore More!

Learn more about the sweep of the Florida Trail along the Cross Florida Greenway

Marshall Swamp on the Cross Florida Greenway

Florida Trail, Cross Florida Greenway

43.8 miles. A prime destination for backpacking and day hiking south of Ocala, the Florida Trail follows the Cross Florida Greenway through woodlands between the Withlacoochee and Ocklawaha Rivers

Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Florida Trail, Land Bridge to Santos

Florida Trail, Land Bridge Trailhead to Santos

6.7 miles. Between the Land Bridge Trailhead and Santos, the Florida Trail winds its way around horse farms to meander through stands of oaks and pines.

Ship Canal low stanchion

Historic Ship Canal Trail

The shortest trail on the Cross Florida Greenway interprets nearly a century’s worth of efforts to dig a canal across the Florida peninsula and split it in two.

Santos Trails

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

Pine forest on the Cross Florida Greenway

Florida Trail, Baseline to SE 64th Ave

2.7 miles. On a sliver of restored sandhill, the Baseline section of the Florida Trail provides a stroll within a forested oasis surrounded by suburbia.

Official Map (PDF) Camping Official Website

Category: Backpacking, Central Florida, Day Hikes, Florida Trail, Hikes, TrailsTag: Belleview, Birding, Cross Florida Greenway, Dog-friendly, Florida State Parks, Florida Trail, FT Cross Florida Greenway, FT Western Corridor, Historic Sites, Ocala, Primitive Camping, Silver Springs, Wildflowers, Wildlife Viewing

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Our Florida Trail Books

The Florida Trail Guide

The Florida Trail GuideThe comprehensive mile-by-mile guidebook to planning section and thru-hikes along the entire length of the Florida Trail. 356 pages, $19.95 + tax and shipping.

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Florida Trail Hikes

Florida Trail HikesFifty of the best day hikes, overnights, and weekend trips on the Florida Trail, plus nine of the best section hikes. Full hike descriptions and maps, full color. 376 pages. $24.95 + tax and shipping.

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Discovering the Florida Trail

Florida Trail mini coffee table book cover of trail into palm hammock
Our virtual walk along the length of the Florida Trail, covering more than 1,500 miles from the Everglades to Pensacola Beach. Hardcover, 196 pages. $24.95 + tax and shipping.

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The Florida Trail

Florida Trail large coffee table book cover of trail down swamp causeway under ancient pines

Our history of the first 50 years of the Florida Trail, from its founding in 1966 to becoming a National Scenic Trail to volunteer efforts today.

Learn More

The Florida Trail App

Comprehensive logistics and offline maps all in one: The Florida Trail Guide is now also an interactive map-based mile-by-mile app by Guthook Guides.

Get the App!

Florida Trail Updates


Get periodic recaps of changes to the Florida Trail, which we accumulate between editions of our guidebook. Find all official Trail Closures & Notices here.

Hiking the Florida Trail

  • Florida Trail Overview
  • Plan your Hike
  • Choose the Right Gear
  • Best Scenic Hikes
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Florida Trail by Section

Porter Lake, Apalachicola National Forest

Florida Trail, Apalachicola

Florida Trail, Apalachicola
Florida Trail Big Bend view

Florida Trail, Big Bend

Florida Trail, Big Bend
Florida Trail Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Blackwater

Florida Trail, Blackwater
Florida Trail Nokuse

Florida Trail, Central Panhandle

Florida Trail, Central Panhandle
Eglin Weaver Creek

Florida Trail, Eglin

Florida Trail, Eglin
Florida Trail Kissimmee

Florida Trail, Kissimmee

Florida Trail, Kissimmee
Florida Trail at Rice Creek

Florida Trail, Northeast Florida

Florida Trail, Northeast Florida
Juniper Prairie Wilderness

Florida Trail, Ocala

Florida Trail, Ocala
Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail

Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail

Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail
Florida Trail, Okeechobee

Florida Trail, Okeechobee

Florida Trail, Okeechobee
Florida Trail at Forever Florida

Florida Trail, Orlando

Florida Trail, Orlando
Florida Trail Seashore Dunes

Florida Trail, Seashore

Florida Trail, Seashore
Florida Trail along a canal south of Clewiston

Florida Trail, Seminole

Florida Trail, Seminole
No Name Creek

Florida Trail, Suwannee

Florida Trail, Suwannee
Cypress Lakes Preserve

Florida Trail, Western Corridor

Florida Trail, Western Corridor

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