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.
The Four Freedoms Trail is a pretty 12 mile trail that parallels a state highway for much of the way. A strip of trees provides a buffer from the road noise and wind. It has several sections of oak canopy and traverses some very pretty countryside. The final two plus miles north of Pinetta are more isolated and do not parallel the highway. Unfortunately, as others have pointed out, the trail is poorly maintained. I rode my road bike (with cyclocross tires) on today's ride. There are numerous tree roots, some potholes, sandy spots, and a lot of debris (leaves, twigs, branches) on portions of the trail. The majority of the trail is doable for road bikes but the section immediately south of Pinetta (miles 7 to 8.5) is very rough and is best suited for mountain bikes or hybrids. The trail has great potential if someone from the state or county is willing to take care of it.
There were lots of potholes, crumbled edges and damage from tree roots along this trail. The wooded section was shaded but also covered with leaves and tree branches that often hid the damaged sections of trail. In many places the holes in the trail had been recently filled with asphalt. But when you fill a six inch deep hole with only three inches of fill---there's still a hold to deal with. We did have the trail to ourselves though.
I was recently in the Jacksonville area and rode the trail. Trail is very nice from baldwin to the end. Well maintained and nice scenery
Well signed. A few hills. We took the short side trips to see Paynes Prairie State Park sights. Trail side tools and air pump was a plus. Some road crossings but generally they were little used roads. Busier towards Gainesville side on a Saturday morning. My wife and I would definitely do it again.
Rode north from Chiefland to Fanning Springs then west to see the bridge over the Swanee River. We then headed east to Trenton for lunch and returned to Chiefland. The asphalt trail is in excellent condition, well signed and with wooden post mile markers. There are some crossings of little used roads that barely slowed us. In places the trail is 50 feet from a road with a little truck traffic but overall pretty quiet.
Beautiful trail with nice rest areas. Very scenic with woods on both sides. Nicely paved, too!
My husband and I rode this trail a few days ago. Started just west of Vermont heights and rode 14 miles west and back again. The trail is mostly shaded through woods. A few miles in the sun by Hasting through farms. Ate breakfast in Hastings at Nirmas which was quite good! . Would like to come Bach another day when it’s a little cooler and ride the entire trail.
It's a very peaceful and quiet ride the only thing I would want more is signage indicating the miles from and to
From this point to palatka is fifteen miles etc
This section of the trail is lovely and pretty well maintained. When you come to the end of the trail at CR 248 take a left and ride a very quiet road to Little River Springs Park. There are picnic tables and restroom facilities. I parked at Ivey Park in Branford and the entire ride was 10.5 miles according to Strava. Next visit I will check out the other section of the trail that was given ratings stating that the paved trail is potholed.
Rode it today,9/30/2019. Nice canopied trail for most of it,which is important on a 90 degree day. Started on the Jax side of the trail. On the way back saw a few wild turkeys on the trail at about the 3 mile marker. Tip-bring plenty of water bottles if you intend on doing the full trail.
Just moved here from Pasco County on the west coast of Florida where I was spoiled by the Suncoast / Starkey trails. Only been on two trails, St. Aug to Palatka (which i found depressing, and annoying playing frogger across two 4 lane divided highways and a stretch next to a manure plant).
This trail was a breath of fresh air though. It's mostly wooded, and sheltered from the winds for the most part. There are two spots to get fresh, clean, cold and GOOD TASTING water. Being creative with the routes to get 30, 35, 40 and 50 mile rides.
Only complaint is that there are sections that are very bumpy, and until you find the right lines you're going to get rattled around on a road bike with narrow tires...
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