By Passagerider in January, 2012
Enjoyed the unusually warm January weather to try out the trail. Drove in from Fleming Island to park at the Keystone Ace Hardware to ride toward Palatka. We found the trail to be more scenic and less crowded than the Baldwin trail in Jax and more scenic than the Nature Coast trail we did some 10 days ago. We road the 8 miles of
paved section from Ace to Grandin and about 5 miles to and a little past Florahome on the graded and very hard section that they are preparing for paving. Very pleasant. On the way back, we at our sandwiches at Twin Lakes park. The trail does not yet have the benches and trash cans of other rail trails trails in Florida but will come in times. Besides Keystone, restrooms are at the Twin Lakes park and three mini-marts between Keystone and Florahome.
By whoserfreak in September, 2011
We parked at the Ace Hardware and began our ride towards Palatka. It was a very nice trail and near Twin Lakes there was a restroom for me lady to use. We really enjoyed the trail. It was quiet and quite peaceful. Lots of shade (much needed here in FLA...lol). We cannot wait until the next leg is finished. Very nice trail.
By Otherland in July, 2011
The next 4.5 miles of the trail is scheduled to be paved in the fall of 2011. It will go east from Grandin about 4.5 miles to Holloway road. Most of this section will be shaded even in the midday summer sun (unless they go crazy and cut down all of the trees). The ranger station for Entoniah State Forest is a bit further down Holloway road. There are hiking & some mountain biking trails and primitive camping in the forest. Just make sure to check at the station first. Some of the forest is closed off during hunting season.
On a side note: Be careful crossing at the light in Keystone Heights. The city/town redid the crossing and made it more dangerous for trail users, in my opinion. The trail crossing used to go straight across, but now you kind of have to veer towards the traffic when riding west to east on the trail.