Biking Florida's Cape Haze Pioneer Trail

The Cape Haze Pioneer opened in 1999, and is built along a segment of the former Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railroad. One of the primary uses of this former rail line was transport of phosphate from Florida’s inland mining district to deep-water ships at Boca Grande and also moved people, livestock, and locally grown crops such as watermelons to waiting steamships in Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island.


The trail parallels County Road 771 and runs 5.5 miles, traveling through the Rotonda sub-division, and currently ending at Coral Creek, seen below. Future plans are to extend the trail south to the Town of Placida and on to connect with the Gasparilla Island Trail and the old bridges to Gasparilla Island.





Official web page and map

Directions: To reach the Dr. Robert and Anne Mercer Trailhead from Port Charlotte, take Route 776 west to Route 771 south. The trailhead lies on the right about a block south of the intersection. To reach the Rotonda Boulevard East trailhead, follow the above directions, but continue south on Route 771 about two miles, then turn right on Rotonda. The trailhead is on the left. To reach the R. David Johnson Trailhead, follow the directions to the Rotonda trailhead, but continue south on Route 771 just over two miles to Harness Road. Turn right on Harness and continue to the trailhead. Contact: Charlotte County Parks & Recreation 4500 Harbor Blvd. Port Charlotte, FL 33952 (941) 627-1628

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