Suburban Parks: Jacksonville Baldwin Rail Trail

[fsu813]

I don't know if i'd consider that a "trail".

A paved road, with powerlines, railroad tracks, development, etc.

Seems more like a typical small road to me.

[Ocklawaha]

 Another example of City leaders lacking vision.

What city leaders?

OCKLAWAHA

[Ocklawaha]

I don't know if i'd consider that a "trail".

A paved road, with powerlines, railroad tracks, development, etc.

Seems more like a typical small road to me.

The old railroad tracks end where the trail begins and the active railroad mainline is about a mile south of the trail. It is very much a first class trail. Just as Camp Milton is an excellent high caliber site from our Confederate Heritage, one that has been handled with a great deal of respect and attention to detail, for those on both sides of the war.

OCKLAWAHA

[billy]

How safe is the trail?
Are there a lot of people on it on the weekend?

[Lucasjj]

Before football season started I was riding there almost every weekend from around 10-12 in the morning, and there were always other people around. On some mornings there are so many people there that the parking lot is maxed out, and you have to park out along the main road. My girlfriend and I really enjoy this trail, and from Riverside, it is a quick car ride over there. As someone said earlier, once you are through the first few miles there are few stops so you are able to keep a nice pace.

[Lunican]

Also, almost the entire trail is shaded, so even on a hot day in the summer it is still fun to ride on.

[Overstreet]

...........I don't know if i'd consider that a "trail"..........
A paved road, with powerlines, railroad tracks, development, etc. .........Seems more like a typical small road to me.......

Mountain bikers and backwoods hikers would be dissapointed by the rails to trails venues. For that matter serious road cyclists are a little disappointed too. It's dangerous on weekends cause all the casual walkers and riders. You never know what they are going to do.

I've ridden the St Marks trail and had several near misses.

[Dog Walker]

The serious road riders ARE the danger on the weekends.  It is busy with all kinds of users; roller blades, walkers, family cycle groups and older people out for a nice ride in the country (me & wife!)

Go out on a weekday morning and you will regularly see Jaguars players breaking the twenty-five MPH speed limit.  Nothing like a three hundred pound lineman on a dainty road bike.  Awesome!

They parks department maintains the trail very well.  The verges are kept mowed and the are leaves blown off daily.  A patch of wet leaves will take you down in a heartbeat!

[Doug V]

"How safe is the trail? "

We've ridden it many times with no problems.  I have heard that there have occasionally been problems with cars getting broken into, so don't leave your iPod on the seat.  The biggest safety hazard we've experienced is my bike falling over.  I got rid of the clipping pedals and problem solved.

"Are there a lot of people on it on the weekend? "

Yes.  It's great to see a park getting so much use.  Not so many people that it becomes a problem though.  They are spread out over 14.5 miles after all.

We just love the Jax-Baldwin trail, and we try to get out there a couple of times each month.  What many riders don't seem to have discovered is that a 1.2 mile detour in Baldwin takes you to 90, where there are two nice breakfast/lunch spots, Everybody's Restaurant and Toot's Restaurant.

[iluvolives]

I enjoy this trail and have been out on it several times. I've never had any issues, although I have heard from a lot of people that there have been several cars that have been broken into in the parking lot. I wouldn't let that deter anyone from trying it out, but you may not want to leave things out in plan view in your car...which should be obvious there or anywhere.

[Dog Walker]

Look at it from the car breakers point of view.  You are out on the trail in your spandex shorts and shirt.   Where is your wallet or purse?  Better be locked in the trunk!

Oh, you drive an SUV with no place to lock things in?  Tant pis!

[Fallen Buckeye]

...........I don't know if i'd consider that a "trail"..........
A paved road, with powerlines, railroad tracks, development, etc. .........Seems more like a typical small road to me.......

Mountain bikers and backwoods hikers would be dissapointed by the rails to trails venues. For that matter serious road cyclists are a little disappointed too.

I know what you mean. I always drive past that Black Creek Trail by Green Cove on my way down to hike in Ocala. I decided to try it out one day and it was something similar to this. It's great for a Sunday stroll, but to call it a trail is a misnomer to me. Trails are dirt and mud and rocks. If you're looking for good sections of hiking trail within a couple hours drive I'd recommend Osceola (especially heading west from Ocean Pond), anywhere on the Suwannee River, and Okeefenokee is also fantastic especially if you get away from the boardwalks where the crowds are. It's short, but I also enjoyed doing the FT at Gold Head Branch. Also, Payne's Prairie in Gainesville is fantastic for wildlife, but justifiably crowded. I'll always love the Appalachians, but Florida hiking is very cool in its own way too.

[stjr]

Guana River State park has several miles of great and scenic dirt trails also.  Some are suitable for all-terrain mountain bikes as I recall.  Beware of snakes and wild boars!  Frontage along the intracoastal is as good as it gets.

[Dog Walker]

I think in Park Department usage a "trail" is anything you aren't allowed to drive a car on.

Walking on the trails at Guana is awesome!  It is on the Atlantic Flyway for migrating birds and spring and fall you might see almost anything.

[north miami]

I think in Park Department usage a "trail" is anything you aren't allowed to drive a car on.

Walking on the trails at Guana is awesome!  It is on the Atlantic Flyway for migrating birds and spring and fall you might see almost anything.

Note that Guana is 'split' in to two seperate jurisdictions and approaches in the field: The State Park south of the dam and the Fish & Wildlife Commission Management area to the north.
It is possible to walk a lot of the 'marsh' right on out to the Intracoastal.

This was a hard won Conservation Lands purchase episode.The first "CARL" project for Northeast Florida.Former Gate lands.And a nice post-closing challenge with private lease for the Boy Scouts,and 800 acres retained for the 'Lodge".But we 'won'. Enjoy.