Find the top rated birding trails in Lake City, whether you're looking for an easy short birding trail or a long birding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a birding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.












Loved this trail. Overall, I would rate the pavement quality as being very good. Yes there are some bumps and lumps, but that is to be expected when you’re riding deep under tree canopy. And yes, there are some hills! But this is central FL! expected for Central Florida.
Wife and I rode the entire trail. The trail seemed to have had the shoulders recently mowed but there was a lot of small limbs and large grass clumps on the trail from mowing discharge. The last 100 yards of the trail to the river is on a gravel drive. The point where the asphalt ends and this gravel drive needs a sign to tell you that you’re almost at the end. It’s very sketchy at the very end by the river. There were a few tables and shelter there. There were bumps in the asphalt from tree roots growing under the trail. Read the description of the parking for the trail head in MadisonThe trail has potential but just needs some love.
I started the trail in Hamilton. It is paved from there. Unfortunately no good parking. Very smooth and a lot of shade. Road just over 40 miles in July. Would definitely recommend. Needs more parking areas and places to take a break.
We live here and love this trail. We walk it and ride our e-bikes on it and it’s been great since they repaved it. They even added a bridge across the river by Ichetucknee Springs State Park that connects this trail to the O’Leno Trail. Hopefully they will repave the O’Leno Trail one day. Be aware that sadly the locals also use the trail with their golf carts and worse, their ATV’s. Even kids younger than 16 drive them on the trail. Most people are respectful of the walkers and bikers but not all so be careful. Hopefully it won’t take someone getting hurt to get the rules enforced.
I ride this trail 3-5 times a week. It’s smooth and has shade and bathrooms and great parking.
So it’s a bit rough in spots, some of the macadam is bad in a few places, but it’s a trail ride so that’s ok by me. You want perfect roads, ride on the highway. The ride down to the river is nice with a great lunch spot.
This is a terrific ride on paved trail through shaded natural landscapes. Pine and live oak uplands and cypress swamps. The trail bed is in very good condition except for some minor root bumps here and there. Enjoyed the challenge of some long but gentle hills near the Gainesville end. We rode hybrid bikes so medium narrow tires and did nearly the entire trail and back again in two and a half hours of actual riding.
We rode the trail from the Florahome trailhead to the Keystone Heights trailhead. This section of the trail is paved, smooth, and well maintained. The keystone Heights trailhead is a little off as it’s basically in between a Wendy’s and a CVS store in the dude of a major highway. Before Keystone Heights, the trail goes primarily through trees and wetlands. There is spotty shade in some spots but otherwise full sun. It’s not a trail for summer time.
I am an inline speed skater and a road bike cyclist. I have been skating and biking in over 10 states. This is so far the best trail I have ever been — over 90% distance is shaded, 10 feet wide, most times is very clean, and not hilly at all.
I love riding rail trails because you don’t need to worry about traffic ! Cross over a few roads but nothing major until you get into Gainesville. But there are crossing signals and traffic was good about stopping. Recommend you eat at The Wrap Shack if you ride into Hawthorne.
Years of trail neglect and last seasons hurricanes have made this potentially wonderful trail not worth your effort to locate.
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