Find the top rated horseback riding trails in Palatka, whether you're looking for an easy short horseback riding trail or a long horseback riding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a horseback riding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
I have ridden dozens of trails across Florida over the past several years and this one was by far the most confusing. I wanted to go from Lake Monroe trailhead all the way to Delon Park.. to get in close to 50 miles roundtrip.
It starts out great with mail markers along the way then off of a sudden you have to cross a major intersection, and pick up the trail where there is no signage the rest of the way.
I had to stop multiple times to check the online map to find the various turns and such that I had to make to stay on a trail. Then it just ends. The description does say there is a "gap"... but when you get to the end... you literally are at a dead end... nothing to tell you where or how to pick up the rest of the trail.
So I just went back to Lake Monroe and got a little over 30 miles.
Lake Monroe to Delon Park
Parked in the park on the South side of the bridge and started the trail from there. Road approximately 11 miles to Hastings. Turned right on Main Street and went about 2 blocks and ate lunch at Norma D’s. Great little local restaurant and the sandwiches were fantastic. Headed back the way we came. We had beautiful weather, 78 degrees and a slight breeze. Great ride!
Parked at Bobby Sheppard ball park in Hampton and road 18 miles to Putnam Hall then back. Nice parking at the park, the trail is paved, smooth and has a lot of shade. Road ebikes. Not much bike or ped traffic on trail. Stopped in Keystone Heights at Pangborn Ice Cream!!!
I rode from Larry Carroll park in Baldwin at the western end to the eastern end at the Amazon distribution center. I did pass by a snake on the trail. Be sure to take your own water and snacks. There are no facilities between these 2 points. The park in Baldwin has no facilities. There was a bathroom at the eastern endpoint by the Amazon place. Otherwise a nice, quiet, smooth ride for most wheeled creations.
Easy straight path, wooden boardwalk, and near a lot of coffee shops/stores in Fleming Island.
The trail has now been paved from Hampton to Keystone, adding at least 7 more miles to the rail trail. A new parking lot was just finished near that trailhead at Bobby Sheppard Ballpark, and it has a water fountain and restrooms. This new section of the trail is shaded by trees, has smooth pavement, and goes through a cypress swamp and behind several farms, and it is separated enough from the highway that it is a really nice ride. You can see where they are starting to pave the next section to the west, which will eventually connect to lake butler.
On a recent trip, I jogged the first two miles up and two miles back of the eastern end at Imeson Road. Was a joy as the trail there is straight, no curves, and no elevation changes. Have to occasionally stop for street crossings. The only thing wrong is there are no benches other than at the trailhead.
Today I rode about half of the Jacksonville-Baldwin trail in NE Florida. The weather was in the low 70’s and mostly sunny. Much better than my home in Ohio right now.
I was very impressed with the trail. The path is asphalt paved, and appears to be 8 - 10 ft wide. It’s flat enough to calibrate against—not really, but my elevation varied less than 50 ft.
The trail runs beneath a canopy of mostly pine. The air has a wonderful scent. It was pretty busy for a weekday afternoon—if felt like a safe, secure place.
The parking facilities at the Jacksonville trail head were in good shape. There is even a rooster who acts as parking lot attendant—greeting (or perhaps shaking down) each cyclist. All in all a great experience. I’ll ride it again the next time we pass through.
I just wanted to provide an update to individuals that have used the trail. Construction to pave the trail west from Hampton has started on January 1st from the CSX railroad crossing west across Highway 301 continuing on the former historic Southern Railway / NS right of way.
I rode my bike on this trail in November, 2025. The surface was in good shape. The trail did cross may driveways into businesses and homes, as well as crossing some streets into subdivisions, none of which was a problem. The traffic noise did not bother me. I feel that it just comes with the territory of a trail alongside a highway, and then let it go. Since I did get off I 75 to bike this trail, I ended up parking at Publix Super Market, which was about midway on the trail, rather than driving to Archer. I also biked the spur or loop that included the Veterans Memorial Park. I rode a total of 26 miles, which took me about 2 1/2 hours.
Great trail, but had a dog chase me on my bike, closer to the Amazon district parking, just before the trees canopy and you’re done passing houses. Anyone else run into this issue?
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