Explore the best rated trails in Keystone Heights, FL, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway and Nature Coast State Trail . With more than 21 trails covering 217 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
I was visiting my friend and Palakta is her home. I started trail at Hitchcock’s grocery store because best place to park to get right on trail. From this location it was 19.3 miles to end of trail. There is one restroom along the way and it’s about 16 miles. There is the town of Hastings that has restaurants etc. and it’s about 8 miles from Palakta. Once at the end of trail, it just ends and you will see the railroad track and that’s it. You are not in the city of St. Augustine. There is no bench or anything.
Parked at Bobby Sheppard ball park in Hampton and road 18 miles to Putnam Hall then back. Nice parking at the park, the trail is paved, smooth and has a lot of shade. Road ebikes. Not much bike or ped traffic on trail. Stopped in Keystone Heights at Pangborn Ice Cream!!!
We rode about 13 miles of the trail starting at the Chamber of Commerce in Chiefland then traveled West at Wilcox Junction past the Suwannee River where we turned around to our starting point. The trail was wide, paved and easily navigated. Very smooth and the parts we traveled had little to no road noise. Reason for a 4 out of a 5 rating. The trail is absolutely straight with pretty much the same vegetation the whole length. Not real exciting but it is one of those trails you can lay down some uninterrupted miles. Next time in the area we will do additional sections.
Easy straight path, wooden boardwalk, and near a lot of coffee shops/stores in Fleming Island.
The trail has now been paved from Hampton to Keystone, adding at least 7 more miles to the rail trail. A new parking lot was just finished near that trailhead at Bobby Sheppard Ballpark, and it has a water fountain and restrooms. This new section of the trail is shaded by trees, has smooth pavement, and goes through a cypress swamp and behind several farms, and it is separated enough from the highway that it is a really nice ride. You can see where they are starting to pave the next section to the west, which will eventually connect to lake butler.
On a recent trip, I jogged the first two miles up and two miles back of the eastern end at Imeson Road. Was a joy as the trail there is straight, no curves, and no elevation changes. Have to occasionally stop for street crossings. The only thing wrong is there are no benches other than at the trailhead.
Today I rode about half of the Jacksonville-Baldwin trail in NE Florida. The weather was in the low 70’s and mostly sunny. Much better than my home in Ohio right now.
I was very impressed with the trail. The path is asphalt paved, and appears to be 8 - 10 ft wide. It’s flat enough to calibrate against—not really, but my elevation varied less than 50 ft.
The trail runs beneath a canopy of mostly pine. The air has a wonderful scent. It was pretty busy for a weekday afternoon—if felt like a safe, secure place.
The parking facilities at the Jacksonville trail head were in good shape. There is even a rooster who acts as parking lot attendant—greeting (or perhaps shaking down) each cyclist. All in all a great experience. I’ll ride it again the next time we pass through.
I just wanted to provide an update to individuals that have used the trail. Construction to pave the trail west from Hampton has started on January 1st from the CSX railroad crossing west across Highway 301 continuing on the former historic Southern Railway / NS right of way.
I rode my bike on this trail in November, 2025. The surface was in good shape. The trail did cross may driveways into businesses and homes, as well as crossing some streets into subdivisions, none of which was a problem. The traffic noise did not bother me. I feel that it just comes with the territory of a trail alongside a highway, and then let it go. Since I did get off I 75 to bike this trail, I ended up parking at Publix Super Market, which was about midway on the trail, rather than driving to Archer. I also biked the spur or loop that included the Veterans Memorial Park. I rode a total of 26 miles, which took me about 2 1/2 hours.
Great trail, but had a dog chase me on my bike, closer to the Amazon district parking, just before the trees canopy and you’re done passing houses. Anyone else run into this issue?
Rode from Palatka to where the trail crosses Vermont Rd about 1.5 miles from trail end. In general, the trail was very good to excellent condition, with the usual root protrusions under the tree canopy . My only real complaint is that there was no signage coming out of Palatka, and no mileage signage at all.Lo
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