Florida Hikes

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

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.

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

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

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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.

Trail sign in a hammock Shady hammock shared with cyclists

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

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.
Leafy forest on karst terrain 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.

Suggested Articles

Hiking trail with backpack in foreground Florida Trail Backpacking Backpackers will appreciate the many places the Florida Trail provides a pleasant overnight, three-day-weekend, or multi-day hiking experience to escape to the outdoors.
Land Bridge ribbon cutting 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.
Entrance to the Land Bridge from Land Bridge Trailhead 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.

Trail Map

Florida Trail Santos to Baseline Trail Map

Explore More!

Learn more about the Cross Florida Greenway section of the Florida Trail

Broad footpath in leafy Florida forest with orange blazed tree 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 between the Withlacoochee and Ocklawaha Rivers.

Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring nearby

Bike path in forest with road-like yellow dashed line Cross Florida Greenway Multiuse Path Over fifteen miles long, this linear paved path along the Cross Florida Greenway connects Santos to Ross Prairie with direct access from several trailheads.
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


Official Map (PDF) Interactive App Reserve a Campsite Official Website

Chris Stevens
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