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
Visiting the Cross Florida Greenway
Activities along the Cross Florida Greenway, a mile-wide swath of green space that spans from the Gulf of Mexico north of Crystal River through Dunnellon, Belleview, Ocala, and Silver Springs towards the St. Johns River near Palatka.
Belleview
With the Cross Florida Greenway hugging its northern boundary, and the famed Santos Trails for mountain bikers, Belleview is a destination for outdoor recreation
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
At the confluence of the Rainbow River and the Withlacoochee River, Dunnellon is an outpost for adventures in the woods and on the water, where the Cross Florida Greenway and Withlacoochee State Trail meet.
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 for Scouting
There are many opportunities for Boy Scouts to complete hiking and backpacking merit badges and 50-miler awards along the Florida Trail; this list will start you planning your next trip.