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General James A. Van Fleet State Trail:
Florida
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Description:
The Van Fleet State Trail runs 29 miles through some of Florida's most scenic rural landscape. If you are looking to immerse yourself in wetlands and wildlife, it will not disappoint; at least one-third of the trail crosses central Florida's 322,690-acre Green Swamp. The trail stretches from Polk City north to the town of Mabel on Route 50. The Polk City trailhead offers ample parking, picnic, and restroom facilities, plus an expansive field of clipped grass, perfect for a game of pickup soccer. The flat and arrow-straight route, with one slight curve around Mile Marker 5, have made it a favorite among time-trial bicyclists, though thanks to its remote setting, you'll likely encounter only the occasional speedster. The Green Pond Road trailhead, near Mile Marker 10, marks the boundary of the Green Swamp, one of Florida's protected wetland and wildlife areas. From here on watch for feral pigs, armadillos, buzzards, and possibly an alligator or two basking on the trail's warm asphalt surface. While the Bay Lake trailhead signals the end of the protected reserve, the final 10 miles of the Van Fleet to the Mabel trailhead are every bit as scenic. The decision is yours whether to race back to Polk City or savor the return trip along this beautiful, serene trail.
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Parking & Trail Access:
Directions: To reach the Polk City trailhead from Lakeland, take I-4 east to Exit 38/Polk City and follow Route 33 north to Polk City. The trailhead is at the intersection of Route 33 and Route 655/Berkley Road. To reach the Green Pond Road trailhead from Clermont, take Route 50 west to Route 33 south. Follow Route 33 about 16 miles to Green Pond Road, turn right, and continue to the trailhead. To reach the Mabel trailhead from Clermont, take Route 50 west. The trailhead is at the intersection of Route 50 and CR 772, on the left about five miles west of the Route 50/Bay Lake Road intersection in Mascotte. Contact: General James A. Van Fleet State Trail 7305 US Highway 27 Clermont, FL 34711 (352) 394-2280
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Seasonal Restrictions:
Florida State Parks are open from 8 a.m. until sundown 365 days a year.
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Reviews: [1 trail ratings]
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Construction update and critter sightings
By moxroxy on November 28, 2009
The construction is complete on the Van Fleet Trail! Keep your eyes open and you will have wonderful wildlife viewing opportunities. We have seen fox squirrels, pygmy rattlesnakes, deer, alligators (with babies), otters, gopher tortoises and various snakes. The trail is flat and straight which can be a bit dull, but the critters and not having to dodge traffic makes up for that.
Trail Closure
By chancock on November 15, 2009
We started in Polk City at the south end of the trail and road north only to find that the trail was closed at the 10 mile mark due to bridge maintainance. The trail was also not completed yet going south from Polk City but we road around the barrier and got a few more miles in anyway, it was a 120 mile drive there we wanted our RIDE! The 10 mile section we got to ride was average not much to see but trees, and a few turtles. I suggest calling ahead to make sure the trail is open, here is the number on the sign at the closed end>352-516-7384
A word of caution
By normw on October 22, 2009
My wife and I rode this trail today and it is an interesting trail with a lot of opportunities to see the varied wild life of the swamp. However, I would not recommend parking at the Green Pond road trail head. When we returned from our ride, our car had been broken into. The officer who came to investigate the incident commented it happened about once a month at that location. So, by all means, ride the trail. You will not be disappointed. But, park at the Polk City trail head or the Mabel trail head and, hopefully, you won't have the unpleasant surprise at the end of your ride like we did.