The Nature Coast Trail spans 31.5 miles across three counties, connecting several parks with major springs along the Suwannee River.
It follows the route of rail lines that once enabled timber companies to remove massive cypress from the Suwannee River floodplain.
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Overview
Location: Chiefland to Cross City and Trenton
Length: 31.5 miles
Land Manager: Florida State Parks
Address: 17441 NW Old Fanning Road, Fanning Springs
Phone: 352-535-5181
Ride Details
Starting north from the old railroad depot in Chiefland, this paved bike path quickly crosses US 19 at a crosswalk downtown at Main Street & SW 2nd Avenue.
After 1.7 miles, a side trail – essentially a broad bike lane – leads west along SR 320 (NW 115th St) for almost 6 miles to the entrance to Manatee Springs State Park.
Services inside the park are another mile and a half along the park road.
The park has two beautiful campgrounds near the spring and a swimming area. For camping, it’s best to book well in advance.
Surrounded by relict sandhill habitat as it passes farms and pockets of residential areas, the trail makes a beeline from the north end of Chiefland to Fanning Springs.
Although it pretty much parallels Old Fannin Rd, it is nicely canopied through much of this stretch.
At Fanning Springs, the trail crosses US 19 within sight of the agricultural inspection station and a restaurant.
Just before the crossing, Fanning Springs State Park is less than a half mile west.
In addition to its popular swimming area, they have cabins for rent. Ask about tenting at the river camp campground.
There is an unpaved trailhead on the north side of US 19 in Fanning Springs.
North of there, the Nature Coast Trail continues up to Wilcox Junction. Here, cyclists reach a decision point at a Y intersection, 10.4 miles into the ride.
To the right, the trail leads east to Trenton.
A 2.5-mile side trip north on the bike lane on CR 232 (follow signs) leads to Otter Springs, a county park with a campground and a lodge along a spring flowing into the Suwannee River.
The trail parallels SR 26 much of the way into Trenton before it veers off to reach the historic railroad depot downtown.
From Chiefland, this makes for a ride of 17.9 miles, or a 35.8-mile round trip.
In the opposite direction at Wilcox Junction, the trail heads towards the Suwannee River.
After reaching the east-west line from Trenton, you start riding due west.
The trail tunnels through forest for 1.5 miles until it reaches the Suwannee River and crosses an impressive trestle built atop an old railroad bridge.
You enter Dixie County after crossing the bridge, reaching the Old Town trailhead just 0.7 mile past the trestle. A convenience store and Hardees is 0.1 mile south of the trailhead at US 19.
After passing through Old Town, the trail draws within sight of US 19 and stays there as you pass timber mills and farmland.
Reaching Cross City, it crosses quite a few side roads – and passes a Dairy Queen – before coming to the Cross City depot, 22.6 miles from Chiefland.
The paved path continues a short ways longer before it dead ends, so this is the turnaround point for a round-trip of 45.2 miles.
Trailheads
Trail Map
Mileage
Chiefland to Trenton
| Mileage | Waypoints |
|---|---|
| 0.0 | Chiefland Depot |
| 1.7 | SR 320 to Manatee Springs |
| 9.1 | Fanning Springs trailhead |
| 10.4 | Wilcox Junction South |
| 10.8 | Wilcox Junction East |
| 18.3 | Trenton Depot |
Chiefland to Cross City
| Mileage | Waypoints |
|---|---|
| 0.0 | Chiefland Depot |
| 1.7 | SR 320 to Manatee Springs |
| 9.1 | Fanning Springs trailhead |
| 10.4 | Wilcox Junction South |
| 11.0 | Wilcox Junction West |
| 12.5 | Suwannee River trestle |
| 13.2 | Old Town trailhead |
| 23.6 | Cross City Depot |
Trenton to Cross City
| Mileage | Waypoints |
|---|---|
| 0.0 | Trenton Depot |
| 7.5 | Wilcox Junction East |
| 8.1 | Wilcox Junction West |
| 9.6 | Suwannee River trestle |
| 10.3 | Old Town trailhead |
| 20.7 | Cross City Depot |
Explore More
Manatee Springs State Park
Showcasing the lower Suwannee River, Manatee Springs State Park centers around a clear blue spring, one of Florida’s largest and most picturesque
Fanning Springs State Park
One of the Suwannee River’s largest swimming holes is the clear, cool reflecting pool of Fanning Springs, located along the edge of its namesake town
Chiefland
Home of Manatee Springs and a terminus on the Nature Coast Trail, Chiefland provides access to public lands along the Suwannee River
Trenton
The county seat of Gilchrist County, Trenton is one of the termini for the Nature Coast Trail and the access point for springs along the Suwannee River.
Otter Springs
West of Trenton along the Suwannee River, Otter Springs is a second magnitude spring surrounded by clusters of ancient oaks and towering cypress. It is a Gilchrist County Park.