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Cape Haze Pioneer Trail:
Florida
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Description:
When you walk, run, skate or bike the 5.5-mile Cape Haze Pioneer Trail, you're tracing the line that once serviced Florida's early phosphate industry and also moved people, livestock, and locally grown crops such as watermelons to waiting steamships in Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island. The long-running Charlotte Harbor & Northern Railroad operated until the late 1970s. Today there are plans to extend the trail south to the gulf and connect it with the Boca Grande Bike Path on Gasparilla Island, which shares the corridor. The resulting regional trail will span coastal Charlotte and Lee counties. The fairly straight and flat rail-trail offers a relaxing ride and welcome relief from the area's growing traffic congestion. From its origins near Charlotte Beach, the trail has a rural feel, while multiple access points offer a break whenever you need one. Boasting ample parking, water, and restroom facilities, the northern trailhead is named after longtime trail advocates Dr. Robert and Anne Mercer, credited with starting Charlotte County's thriving rail-trail movement. A quarter-mile beyond the Harness Road access point, named for trail advocate R. David Johnson, the trail ends at Coral Creek. The vaunted extension is in the works, however. A new housing development has already incorporated the trail into its layout, and a commercial development on the northern end built an extension leading to its tenants.
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Parking & Trail Access:
Directions: To reach the Dr. Robert and Anne Mercer Trailhead from Port Charlotte, take Route 776 west to Route 771 south. The trailhead lies on the right about a block south of the intersection. To reach the Rotonda Boulevard East trailhead, follow the above directions, but continue south on Route 771 about two miles, then turn right on Rotonda. The trailhead is on the left. To reach the R. David Johnson Trailhead, follow the directions to the Rotonda trailhead, but continue south on Route 771 just over two miles to Harness Road. Turn right on Harness and continue to the trailhead. Contact: Charlotte County Parks & Recreation 4500 Harbor Blvd. Port Charlotte, FL 33952 (941) 627-1628
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Reviews: [0 trail ratings]
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Disappointed
By Deb Thompson on November 09, 2005
"I found this trail through this website. I was so excited to have a trail this close. I packed a lunch and jugs of water, loaded up my two dogs, and off we drove. 9 miles in a 8 cylinder F150. Not too far driving-wise; but eats some gas. Well worth it for the adventure that was in store. Got to the park. Parked. Started to get out, and THERE IT WAS! In large, big letters---NO DOGS ALLOWED! Not mentioned on this site. Drove all the way out their 18 mile round trip and such a disappointment. I don't understand why, either, dogs are not allowed. As a single women, I don't really like going out on wilderness trails (or isolated ones) by myself and feel better my canine friend accompanying me. Why is Charlotte County so darn anti-dog?"
Roller Blading on the trail
By Linda Dame on April 23, 2002
"We have been very please with the trail for roller blading, but were disappointed with the surface of phase II. It's fine for walking and biking but very rough for blading."