Find the top rated trails in Port Charlotte, whether you're looking an easy walking path or a long bike trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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The Legacy Trail has a splendid opening: the Historic Venice Train Depot, a pale sunset orange structure that fits right into the beachy Florida color palette. Situated adjacent to a palm-tree-dotted...
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Punta Gorda's Multi-Use Recreational Trail (MURT) begins on the south side of the city and heads northwest along US 41 (also known as Tamiami Trail). When complete, the trail will stretch 4 miles...
For just over 2 miles, the Punta Gorda Harborwalk follows the beautiful Charlotte Harbor on Florida's west coast. The route is part of the city’s extensive trail network and connects directly to...
The Venetian Waterway Park Trail follows along both sides of the Intracoastal Waterway, from the ocean north and somewhat east, past the Venice Airport to north of Venice Avenue. It is flat and often...
When you walk, run, skate or bike the nearly 8-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...
Pine Island Bike Path, also known as the Stringfellow Trail for the road it parallels, spans the length of the island on Florida's southwest coast. It begins in St. James City, a residential...
The Hammock Road Trail parallels its namesake from Highlands Hammock State Park to Lake Jackson, allowing Sebring residents easy access between two of the city's natural treasures. The state park...
You’ll find the John Yarbrough Linear Park Trail to be an unexpected surprise in Fort Myers. Although bound by busy streets in all directions, the corridor itself is green and serene. The paved trail...
Linear Park follows the route of the former Florida Southern Railroad (dating back to 1886) through a historical neighborhood of Punta Gorda on Florida’s west coast. Although only a mile long, the...
Visitors come to Gasparilla Island for its soothing beaches, upscale eateries, shopping and the history in and around Boca Grande. You, too, can sample these amenities up and down this paved 6-mile...
The treasures of Sanibel Island, off Florida’s southwest coast, are easily accessible by a connected network of paved shared-use pathways. Although many of the trails parallel the island’s main...
Visitors come to Gasparilla Island for its soothing beaches, upscale eateries, shopping and the history in and around Boca Grande. You, too, can sample these amenities up and down this paved 6-mile...
Linear Park follows the route of the former Florida Southern Railroad (dating back to 1886) through a historical neighborhood of Punta Gorda on Florida’s west coast. Although only a mile long, the...
For just over 2 miles, the Punta Gorda Harborwalk follows the beautiful Charlotte Harbor on Florida's west coast. The route is part of the city’s extensive trail network and connects directly to...
Pine Island Bike Path, also known as the Stringfellow Trail for the road it parallels, spans the length of the island on Florida's southwest coast. It begins in St. James City, a residential...
When you walk, run, skate or bike the nearly 8-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...
The Legacy Trail has a splendid opening: the Historic Venice Train Depot, a pale sunset orange structure that fits right into the beachy Florida color palette. Situated adjacent to a palm-tree-dotted...
You’ll find the John Yarbrough Linear Park Trail to be an unexpected surprise in Fort Myers. Although bound by busy streets in all directions, the corridor itself is green and serene. The paved trail...
The Venetian Waterway Park Trail follows along both sides of the Intracoastal Waterway, from the ocean north and somewhat east, past the Venice Airport to north of Venice Avenue. It is flat and often...
Punta Gorda's Multi-Use Recreational Trail (MURT) begins on the south side of the city and heads northwest along US 41 (also known as Tamiami Trail). When complete, the trail will stretch 4 miles...
The Hammock Road Trail parallels its namesake from Highlands Hammock State Park to Lake Jackson, allowing Sebring residents easy access between two of the city's natural treasures. The state park...
The treasures of Sanibel Island, off Florida’s southwest coast, are easily accessible by a connected network of paved shared-use pathways. Although many of the trails parallel the island’s main...
Punta Gorda's Multi-Use Recreational Trail (MURT) begins on the south side of the city and heads northwest along US 41 (also known as Tamiami Trail). When complete, the trail will stretch 4 miles...
When you walk, run, skate or bike the nearly 8-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...
Pine Island Bike Path, also known as the Stringfellow Trail for the road it parallels, spans the length of the island on Florida's southwest coast. It begins in St. James City, a residential...
The Hammock Road Trail parallels its namesake from Highlands Hammock State Park to Lake Jackson, allowing Sebring residents easy access between two of the city's natural treasures. The state park...
You’ll find the John Yarbrough Linear Park Trail to be an unexpected surprise in Fort Myers. Although bound by busy streets in all directions, the corridor itself is green and serene. The paved trail...
Linear Park follows the route of the former Florida Southern Railroad (dating back to 1886) through a historical neighborhood of Punta Gorda on Florida’s west coast. Although only a mile long, the...
The Legacy Trail has a splendid opening: the Historic Venice Train Depot, a pale sunset orange structure that fits right into the beachy Florida color palette. Situated adjacent to a palm-tree-dotted...
The Venetian Waterway Park Trail follows along both sides of the Intracoastal Waterway, from the ocean north and somewhat east, past the Venice Airport to north of Venice Avenue. It is flat and often...
The treasures of Sanibel Island, off Florida’s southwest coast, are easily accessible by a connected network of paved shared-use pathways. Although many of the trails parallel the island’s main...
For just over 2 miles, the Punta Gorda Harborwalk follows the beautiful Charlotte Harbor on Florida's west coast. The route is part of the city’s extensive trail network and connects directly to...
Visitors come to Gasparilla Island for its soothing beaches, upscale eateries, shopping and the history in and around Boca Grande. You, too, can sample these amenities up and down this paved 6-mile...
This is a nice paved trail that allows you to pedal (or walk) along part of the intercoastal. Seems odd to pedal and wave at passing boats, but there you go.
INSIDER INFO:
1) Saturday mornings there's a street market near Michael Biehl park where you can take your wife to buy produce, plants, or whatever makes her happy. They close about noon I think.
2) The trail goes under a few overpasses, giving you some shelter if you get caught in a drizzle/rain event.
3) You almost certainly will see small planes (today a Lear jet) take off and land at the adjacent airport.
4) The trail ends at the beach if you want to take a dip before going back.
5) No hills- easy-peasy trail.
Since we've bought our recumbent trikes, we've been to this trail 4 times in 6 weeks. It's asphalt, so no problems for those of you with skinny street tires. Walkers, with or without dogs, are common. Folks are usually friendly and wave or "good morning" as you pass them. A bike repair station and some Portopotties are dispersed along the way. You can also enter the Oscar Scherer state park from the trail.
You cross streets only a couple of times, but, no sweat since there are signals to get the traffic to stop.
Squirrels are common, but we saw an otter on the side of the trail once. What a hoot!
INSIDER INFO:
1) Pack a picnic because there are places along the way to stop.
2) On one end is a good sized overpass that spans U.S. 41. Good news is that you can fly coming down, but the bad news is that it can be a test for the knees. More good news- there's a super good bike shop in the shopping center that backs up to it. If you have a mechanical problem, they can fix you up.
3) The Historic Train Depot on one end is a good place to park. Restrooms, water and picnic tables are there.
pros; beach access, access to fishing, nice scenes.
cons: Crossing over to Boca Grande on bike costs $3, is dangerous because of the narrow bike lane and many cars. Once on Boca Grande there is a golf cart rental so you have to dodge many carts and road crossings. The cape haze part is 7 miles
This is a nice, peaceful ride along the intercoastal waterway. The surface is paved throughout the length of the trail. As someone else mentioned, parts of the trail will be in the sun depending on what time you ride. If you ride early in the morning or late in the day (around sunset) I find that most of the year the temperature is OK. This is Florida so riding at 3 in the afternoon in July is going to be a bit um, warm.
If you ride the entire trail out and back you can cover about 40 miles. A nice short ride is to start at Caspersen Beach, cross the Circus Bridge and go south on the east trail to Shamrock Park, returning to Caspersen Beach. That is a quick 10 mile ride (or thereabouts).
Don't neglect at least a quick visit to the beach. You might even want to bring a "Venice Snow Shovel" and search for shark's teeth!
I enjoyed this ride on a breezy summer morning. It has great variety and took about an hour to the end and back. The only problem is it is still under construction! It will be a 5 once it is complete!
Such a beautiful peaceful ride with a view. I wouldn't recommend it in the full summer months as there isn't much shade. Such friendly people on the trail too!
this is an amazing Trail right through the middle of Fort Myers. we saw a painted turtles anhangia's, white cranes, snowy egrets , great blue herons , tri-colored herons, mallards, ibis, and there were fish on the beds in the creek. only saw five or six people during a two-hour walk from Six Mile Cypress to Daniels and then back. can't believe this nice Trail is almost in my backyard
Biked from Billy's rental to the far end of Captiva and back. Just an excellent trail. On the return trip, near Ding Darling..had to stop on the trail because of a guy parked on it with his car! He was sitting behind the wheel and his wife was outside taking pics of birds in the nearby trees. Not enough room to get around him..I politely told him it was a bike trail...not for cars. He acted as though he didn't understand and we had to take the dirt route around him.
I was visiting the area and stayed in a hotel nearby. I walk regularly and saw the trail entrance my first day out. I made a point to check the trail out the next day. I was impressed! The trail is quiet in a very busy area. I enjoyed watching the wildlife in and around the canal. The few people I encountered walking, running, biking, and fishing were very friendly. I only wish there were bathrooms on the trail!
I would recommend this trail to all levels of riders. It is straight, wide and for the most part well signed. I did not encounter much in the way of fellow riders, wakers, etc. Peaceful. It is generally away from the street traffic noise and shaded.
You can go slow, fast and ride side by side with companion.
Parking can be a challenge, however you will find it. I parked at Home Depot. Get on 6-mile cypress parkway via sidewalk and go east for about 0.75 miles. Trail starts there.
My sister and I biked the Legacy trail from Sarasota to Venice last Sunday. It was a great, leisurely ride. We started at the Culverhouse Nature Park in Sarasota where there was lots of parking. Very safe area with lots of people. We finished at the Venice train depot and then biked back to Sarasota. There are stretches of trail that are very remote particularly the first five miles. There is a lot more scenic vistas in the last five miles. There is only one water source early in the ride from Sarasota, so take plenty of water. I particularly like the granite markers at each mile as well as the shade shelters. There are a couple of bridges to cross that are very scenic, particularly over Dona Bay. Save your energy because as you get close to Venice, there is a very steep bridge you have to cross and it takes a lot of leg powers. It is 21.5 miles roundtrip from start to finish from Culverhouse Trailhead. There are no convenience stores along the way or near the trailheads that we could see. We were hoping for some stores at the Venice trailhead to get something to eat or drink but no luck. It would be nice if there were some other conveniences easily accessible off the trail. Overall, a very pleasant ride for a couple of hours.
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