Nature Coast State Trail:
Florida
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Description:
One of the Sunshine State's best-kept trail secrets, the Nature Coast State Trail (formerly the Nature Coast Greenway) connects five small rural towns—Cross City, Old Town, Fanning Springs, Trenton and Chiefland—along a T-shaped, 32-mile corridor. From the hub in Fanning Springs, you can take your pick of trips. The well-maintained asphalt path provides enough trailheads, pavilions and services to ease journeys of any length.

On the 12-mile leg northwest to Cross City via Old Town, pause at viewing areas along the old railroad trestle spanning the Suwannee River. During cooler months you may catch sight of manatees in the river below.

The 7-mile section of lightly traveled trail east of Fanning Springs leads to the quaint town of Trenton, where you'll find a trailhead, restrooms, nearby businesses and a colorful railroad mural.

On the 9-mile route southeast to Chiefland, the trail skirts hardwood hammocks along the northern boundary of Andrews Wildlife Management Area. While lucky trail users have spotted bobcats, gopher tortoises are a much more common sight.

Equestrians can access the trail at either the Old Town or Fanning Springs trailheads, where trailer parking is provided. The Fanning Springs trailhead also links up with Fanning Springs State Park, which rewards the weary with refreshing dips in cool spring waters.

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Parking & Trail Access:
To reach the Fanning Springs trailhead from Gainesville, take Route 26 west about 40 miles to Fanning Springs. At the T-junction with US Highway 19/98, turn right. The trailhead lies just east of the Suwannee River.

To reach the Cross City trailhead from Fanning Springs, take US Highway 19/98 north about 13 miles to Cross City, then turn east on Route 351, the last intersection before the old train depot. The trail crosses this road.

To reach the Old Town trailhead from Fanning Springs, take US Highway 19/98, 4 miles west to Old Town and turn north on Route 349. The trailhead is one block up, adjacent to the fire station.

To reach the Trenton trailhead from Fanning Springs, take Route 26, 8 miles east to Trenton and turn north on US Highway 129. The trailhead is two blocks up at the old train depot.
To reach the Chiefland trailhead, take US Highway 19/98 south to Chiefland. The trailhead is at the old train depot, two blocks south of downtown on the same road.

Contact:
Office of Greenways & Trails
18020 NW Highway 19
Fanning Springs, FL 32693
352-493-6072

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Reviews: [1 trail ratings]
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Rural and Well-Maintained
By mare in June, 2011
This trail is very rural (for the most part). But, there are quite a few intersections when you get near the towns. It is well-maintained and doesn't seem to be used much. We rode the entire trail and practically had the trail to ourselves - very peaceful. Lots of shade

We took a side trip to Cedar Key to get a good meal (not much around Chiefland or its environs for that matter) and found Steamers Clam Bar right on the Gulf of Mexico. Great view, excellent food, friendly atmosphere, good service. The owner stopped by to make sure everything was OK and when we started to talk about bicycling, he gave me a book that a local had written about his bicycling odyssey across the US.
Great breakfast & BBQ in Trenton.
By carolann2u in February, 2008
The trail from the old Trenton depot station across the river to Dixie County is very well kept & scenic. It's a great outing! Just one block south of the old depot station at 321 N. Main St. is Lavern's Country Kitchen. They are open for breakfast & lunch & feature southern cooking & hospitality. Lavern makes great BBQ pulled pork sandwiches & ribs. Breakfast is available all day on Saturdays!
Metric Century
By Bob Gillespie in October, 2007
"My wife and I did the 3 spokes of the trail starting at Chiefland, then to Cross City, and to Trenton before returning to Chiefland. Amounts to about 64 miles (had to do a little bit more at the Chiefland end or a metric century. Great Day. Ended it by driving to Manatee Springs (about 7 miles away) and rinsing off in the cool spring water. Worth the trip."
Trail Facts
Trail End Points: Anderson Rd. & Continental Rd. (Cross City) to N. Main/I-129 & NW 4th Ave. (Trenton) or SE 4th & SE 2nd (Chiefland)
Counties: Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy
Trail Length: 32 miles
Trail Category: Rail-Trail
Trail Surfaces: Asphalt
Trail Activities: Bike, Inline Skating, Wheelchair Accessible, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Walking
TrailLink ID: 6032185

Related Links
Guidebook: Learn more about other Southeast rail-trails in RTC's Southeast Guidebook.