Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in Ocala, 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.
Started at Lake Minneola trailhead park and headed west to where the trail abruptly ends in Groveland. No signs are an understatement. Trail has several restrooms. 1 water stop and beautiful views of several lakes. Nice suspension bridges, plenty of benches and downtown Clermont Resturant choices. Just sparse mileage markers and virtually no trail signs. Odd. But if you are up for the adventure of not being sure where you are going, it was a fun ride
I just rode this trail for the first time, and I have nothing but good things to say about it. In short, the ride is very scenic with a few challenging hills along the way. It's a nice alternative to the typically flat trails that I've ridden elsewhere in the state. The hills are really not that difficult assuming you have gearing. I wouldn't recommend this trail for single speed bikes though. There are a few major road crossings that you have to negotiate along the way, and I can see where pedestrians could be a hindrance while riding around the lake depending on the day of the week, but these are minor issues. I started my ride at Killarney Station at the east end of the trail which is a great place to begin. On the return trip, if you have the energy, you can continue past this point onto the West Orange Trail and ride a few more miles through Oakland into the heart of Winter Gardens (recommended). I assume at some point in time the west end of this trail will be extended beyond its abrupt ending since it will eventually be part of the Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail that will stretch across the state. I've ridden the Withlacoochee State Trail and the Pinellas Trail, and they are both great trails, but all things considered I found this trail to be a better biking experience.
As a long time user of the Withlacoochee State Trail I noticed the pavement over the past 10 years has been neglected. The paved surface is extremely bumpy and somewhat dangerous especially at the north end of the Trail. Passing other riders is dangerous because you never know when an edge pothole is going to take you out as you pass. In addition, it seems riders on this trail like to spread out making passing with available pavement dangerous. What ever happened to the rule "keep right". I would go somewhere else to ride.
Once again, I have to tip my helmet to the people planning Florida's biking system!!! I have ridden (and reviewed ) some of the other trails on the planned cross Florida route. The MHC is another shining example of what a State and counties can achieve!!! What a great use of taxpayer money!!! The trail in very well maintained. Very clean. The ride is varied with hills, dense forest, curves, a newer growth forest-all on a nice wide , smooth path!!! I did the 33 mile round trip and am looking forward to the extensions that are planned in the future!!!! Bravo!!!
There are parts of this trail that take your breath away, with lakes and streams and boardwalks that take you out into nature. The trail is well maintained with lots of shade. It’s awesome!
Drove over an hour to do trail - and it’s closed!
Love the newly paved path. (4 stars) there’s a bathroom near the cemetery/picnic area. (Didn’t see it until we were driving to Palatka) The only thing I didn’t like about the newly built portion...no shade. The bridges were cool and we did see some gators and turtles. Maybe ride it in the early morning or late afternoon during the hot months. Just a thought...
We rode from the Lake Monroe Park TH at the southern end near I 4 expressway to Gemini Springs. My wife is not an experienced bicyclist and does not ride longer distances or on the road. She loved this trail! It is very scenic with shaded board walks or smooth asphalt surfaces. It is moderately busy with cyclists, walkers and skaters. The people are courteous + unusually friendly. We had several great conversations when asking the locals for information. Past Gemini Springs it becomes more suburban along roads, but the initial portion is mostly wooded. We turned around and drove to Green Spring which is beautiful but emits sulfur odor.
Attended the ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday 6 April, 2019. About 200 people...riders, trail group pavilions, dignitaries, and trail friends. Official opening of the last link from Spuds thru Hastings to the rest of the segment starting west of Hastings. Beautiful run. Got a newly broken in 40.6 mile bike saddle butt on the new Palatka to St Augustine State Trail, which will become another finished segment of the St Johns River 2 Sea Loop, a 250 mile loop in north central Florida.
Parked in Hastings FL and went east out first to the end of segment near I-95 heading towards St Augustine 24.2 miles out and back. Then headed west to the trailhead in Palatka. 16.4 miles out and back. Little sore in the saddle the last few miles. Overall. A great day, and a new daily distance record. 283 total miles recorded in the first two months of trail biking in central Florida. Mostly rails to trails corridors.
All I can say is it is definitely worth the trip. Beautiful trail, well maintained and friendly people.
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