Monday, April 30, 2018

Santos and Land Bridge Paved Trail -- Cross Florida Greenway

The Santos and Land Bridge Paved Trail section of the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway is one of 17 trail sections which will eventually cross the state from the Gulf of Mexico to the St. Johns River.  This section covers 15.5 miles from State Route 200 to U.S. Route 441. Plentiful parking is available at the Santos Trailhead where the myriad mountain bike trails begin. The 12 foot wide  paved trail is located down the sidewalk going to the washroom building. Parking is also available at land Bridge and 49th Avenue Trailheads as seen below:



The new paved trail is actually the old "Lime Rock Road" that had existed in the area west of the Land Bridge.



Red signposts as seen below warn when trails cross the paved path -- mountain bike trails, equestrian trails, cart/carriage trails, and even the Florida Scenic Hiking Trail which crosses numerous times. Several underpasses as seen below take riders safely under roads. Access to 70,000 acres of public land is made available by this trail.




Some creative sort dabbled with rock art on the eastern end of the trail...






The Land Bridge allows animals as well as bikers and equestrians to safely cross over I-75. It was completed in 2000.








Emergency info and distance markers are painted on the pavement every quarter mile.




The next three photos are from the section west of the 49th Avenue Trailhead. The trail becomes a bit more hilly in this section, but not bad -- this is Florida after all! The scenery is just as beautiful, though, and there seemed to be a bit less bike traffic here.



The  mountain bike trails still exist to both sides of the paved trail for those who wish to venture onto them, and the places where they cross the paved trail are still well marked.



At mile 15.5 the trail ends in this cul-de-sac...