Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in Merritt Island, whether you're looking for an easy short cross country skiing trail or a long cross country skiing trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a cross country skiing trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
We are new to riding in Florida, and after searching Trailink, I found that this awesome trail was only a few miles from our place. We decided to park in Osteen and take the south end of the trail, before crossing over the bridge over 415. The trail is well maintained with bathrooms located in all of the parks which the trail rolls through. Our overall experience was a wonderful experience. Meeting a few turtles, road runners and yes, some really nice humans too along the way was pretty cool. The aqua colored Sulphur spring was incredible to see as it seemed to actually glow. When we rolled into Gemini Springs, it was amazing to see the large fish swimming below us in the crystal clear waters. The final destination was the added trail around Lake Monroe, which had it's share of sunlight, and but also had much more of Gods Balconies to shield us from the sun. Because of the weather, we had to cut our ride short on day one as we barely got back to our car before the storm hit. Day 2 was a perfect day with loads of sunshine, so we started at the northern end with plans to cover what we hadn't seen on day one, but ended up riding the entire trail once we got rolling. Thanks to all responsible for this wonderful trail.
We packed lunch and headed-out to the Osteen Community Center on Hwy 415. Parking and restrooms are excellent. We went west over the pedestrian/bicycle bridge and rode approx 6 miles to Green Springs. Easy ride with about half of the trail covered by a canopy of tree limbs. We visited the Springs and then had lunch at a park bench by the boat ramp over-looking Lake Monroe. We then rode the 6-miles back. A very easy-going enjoyable 12-mile ride. I will return to do the complete ride on the east section of Osteen and then turning back west and ride past Green Springs on the one-way 12-mile ride at a higher rate of speed. Must be a great kept secret as there were only a few people out on a Saturday!
Thank you for the trail.
If you are in to going fast than use the roads, this is for relaxing rides. Not sure why there are so many complaints, I find the trail quite relaxing and very nice. Not sure where people are riding saying they have to stop ever 1/4 mile. I've been riding this trail since it first opened. I remember walking down the railroad tracks that follow the same path when I was a teenager back in the early 70's.
We parked at Thornby Park, Restrooms and water. There were several parking areas also nearby and all marked nicely. We headed east and weren't sure how far the trail went. Some maps I looked at showed all the way to Titusville. It actually ends 8 miles. Five miles in there is a great diner (recommended by another reviewer), Osteen's Diner is a great stop to take a break and grab a bite to eat. This is a beautiful 8 mile, tree shaded trail with lots to see. Head west and you're on the Spring to Spring trail for an additional 8 miles. We'll possibly do that trail another day.
Lake Monroe is around the corner from where we parked, beautiful view.
Not marked very well and lots of stopping for traffic lights
We came to Florida from the north to get in some riding at the start of spring. This route is perfect. It is 22 miles from end to end but you could continue. Wide shoulder, courteous drivers and lots of beaches to stop at.
Tips: 1) do not take the Jungle Trail - it is sand, has no view and is frustrating; 2) you can eat in San Sebastian Inlet State Park and though it is $2 to get in, it is worth it; 3) if you come from the South cut in at the 7 Eleven at Sea Gull Dr. and go into the beach part of Vero Beach as it is great back there, lots of shops, foods and a market on Saturdays; 4) Spend some time in Round Island Beach park as you can see manatees and go to the ocean for a swim on the other side.
This ride really made our trip and was a nice compliment to General Van Fleet and others that are totally segregated. Highly recommended.
Just a caution that much of this trail goes, or will go, thru areas popular with hunters, in season.
Rode from Titusville to Edgewater, 33 miles of bicycle trail. The only impediment is a bridge under construction along Maytown Rd and it looks close to completion.
This is an interesting trail. Not urban yet not as scenic as I thought it would be. I parked by the Seminole County public library and rode my bike on the sidewalks and streets to the S Triplet Lake Drive start of the dedicated off road trail. It goes along a golf course and also what looks like a preserve area, but it was not as scenic as I thought it could be.
The trail runs in modest neighborhoods that were built in the 60 and 70's. And past a school. It is a well marked trail and the signs were so good I was able to follow the suggested route from one trail to the other without even having to look at a map. The connector is on local roads but on a Sunday late morning in the spring there were no cars at all.
Wirz Park trailhead is very well done and a nice park with ball fields and a loop around a wetland area. Surprisingly empty on a late Sunday morning in February.
I see in the activities it lists inline skating, but the numerous wood bridges would be a rough ride on skates.
The Wirz park part of the trail ends on Semoran Blvd and is a busy noisy road. You can cross Semoran and take Wilshire drive to pick up another trail.
Overall I'm glad I did the trail once, great signage and Casselberry is really putting forth a lot of effort on the trails, but the lack of views and area of town will keep me from returning most likely.
Now at 18 miles in length this path is beautiful and gets better as you travel north. The last 9 miles, north of Aurantia Rd does not have any intersections.
My wife and I rode the trail round trip on January 20, 2018. We started at the fashion Square Mall. Construction (no doubt temporary) has destroyed the trail start and parking lot near the post office. We had to ride around the block and intercept the trail where it intersects Maguire. No big deal, but an annoyance nonetheless. The only worthwhile aspect of the next segment of the trail was the the fact that you could connect to a very nice trail that runs around Lake Baldwin and passes the community's downtown area as you circle the lake. The rest of the trail itself up to the big bridge overpass is quite forgettable. From the big overpass to the end of the trail is not even worth riding. Near the end of the trail there is an overlook at Perch Lake. The overlook was populated with a bunch of seedy looking people, although they seemed not to pay any attention to us on bikes. This trail gets one star for just there actually being a trail there and the other star for the access to the Lake Baldwin trail.
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