Find the top rated running trails in Tampa, whether you're looking for an easy short running trail or a long running trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a running trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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Rode the Van Fleet RT Feb 21-22, 2020. Combined with the semi-rural
Aburndale TECO trail the distance is 35.6 miles. If you like nature you'll
love the Van Fleet. Fully paved with mowed lawn on sides, then cypress
swamp and longleaf pine forests of the 322,690 acre Green Swamp Preserve. Saw a bobcat, a small snake and plenty of birds. From Park on
SR 33 in Polk City there's access to Aburndale trail going south and the
Van Fleet north. Parking at north end in Mabel take 121st Ave off route 50,
a 100yd long lumpy dirt road to nice parking area.
I just spent three days biking the majority of this trail - Day 1: From my hotel the Crystal Bay in West St. Pete to Clearwater (with a side trip to Clearwater Beach). Day 2: West St. Pete to downtown St. Pete and around the bay (don't recommend this - it was pretty but congested, better for a walk and not a ride), then an evening ride to Treasure Island Beach followed by a long beach walk. Day 3: drove to Palm Harbor and rode south to Largo, with another side trip to Clearwater Beach. The trail is so well signed and generally well maintained. Numerous parks along the way for bathroom breaks and refill water bottles (check out John Taylor Park in Largo - there is much more to this park than the initial parking lot you bike to to use the bathroom) - go deeper and ride (slowly) on the limestone trail around the little lake). The many overpasses - especially in the south portion - add a nice little challenge. I mean how much flat and easy riding can you take (ha ha). I admit my speeds going up the overpasses were slow (in my flat pedal rental hybrid) and I was constantly passed by clipped in men in their road bikes and lycra bikewear, but I never walked the bike (yay me and for those how did - more power too you - you were OUT there on your bikes!!!) and I enjoyed the downhill. What amazed me is how COURTEOUS the drivers are. At four way stops they wait for you and let you pass. At signaled stops they stop for you even before you engage the signal. There are a LOT of road crossings which mean you will never pick up speed on this trail, but because the drivers are SO courteous you often only need to slow down and look and rarely need to stop. (except in downtown St. Pete when you will need to stop at al the intersections). I recommend you take the side trip to Clearwater Beach. The views over the bay are incredible. Like all the overpasses, my speeds on the overpass were slower than slow, but I made it. If you have to walk your bike do it. I want to personally hug every driver that stopped for me and to all the citizens and agencies that made this trail possible for me. I spent over $500 in three days while in your county, so please be assured that investing bike trails is good for your economy.
(If you are considered a trip here - this is how I did it, I rented my bike from ABC Bicycle less than a mile away from the Crystal Bay. The Crystal Bay in west St. Pete was a good location for trail use - The room was large enough to store my bike overnight - just had to haul it up and down the entry stairs and then used the elevator to get to my room. They have an INCREDIBLE breakfast that allows you to fill up in carbs and protein and ride for day. I don't like eating out so right next to the bike store (a quick ride or < mile walk) from the hotel was the origins food market with a great salad bar - after that high calorie breakfast I needed to eat light at night)
loved it. very cool and shady. lots of rest areas and frisbee golf.
Beautiful trail once you get onto it, but difficult to get to. Cypress Point Park is somewhat hard to find, being at the back of a business park with no indication it's there until you drive past all the buildings. Then, there is no indication how to get to the trail. When you do find it, it starts out OK, then takes you through some sidewalks and one short section that is covered with debris. Once you get through those three miles or so, it's beautiful!
Park has a lot to offer. There are lots of trails. However there are no trail maps to tell you how far and where they go. There was no one from the park staff to assist us. The bicycle trail was in good shape but does not make a loop. Maybe because of the time of year but there was no wild life to be seen other than a few birds.
Rode entire length northbound on a Thursday morning in February. Busy trail: walkers, road bikers and many recumbent bikes. Trail was in very good shape with occasional short bumpity sections and a few divots at edges. Lots of benches. Well marked. Easy to find trail access points. Beautiful park in Inverness. Would definitely ride again.
Awesome place to ride any type of bicycle, walk or run. Safe place for families. Couple of places to stop and rest and get water. There is one bridge that is metal and can be slippery. Walk your bike a crossed it. Does cost $2.00 a day to park. Well maintained.
Busy during a weekday afternoon cuz it’s a great trail. Smooth. Extremely well signed including maximum speed 15 mph. A few road crossings. A few bridges that go over busy roads. Covered benches. Everyone was courteous: bikers, runners, skaters. Would ride it frequently if we lived close.
We rode the entire trail from Dunnellon to Dade City. Wonderful ride with plenty of benches, if needed. Don’t miss eating at Southern Harmony Cafe. Great food and great people.
My husband and I love this trail , it’s and easy ride and beautifully maintained by the trail staff and state workers ;) highly recommend for a low impact ride or run¿¿
We enjoyed this trail so much that we decided to stay another night in the area to explore another part of the trail. There were many places that were wonderfully shady and they have restrooms along the way. They seemed to be patching the trail regularly, however we did see some rough areas on the trail around Hernando, but with a 12 foot wide trail there was room to pass.
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