SOUTH FLORIDA BIKE TRAILS
Car-Free Bicycling In Southeast Florida
Biking, in-line skating, running and walking are
a great ways to enjoy South Florida's great scenery and weather.
The challenge in car-obsessed Florida is to find places to exercise away
from road congestion.
This is a listing of recreation-only paths (both paved
and dirt) that will get you away from traffic dangers. This site
includes dozens of original trail photos, maps and key South Florida
trail links.
Jonathan Dickinson State Park
16450 S.E. Federal Highway (U.S. 1)
Hobe Sound, Fl 33455
(772) 546-2771
Directions: The Park is located on U.S. 1 seven
miles north of Jupiter and twelve miles south of Stuart. Take
I-95 to the Jupiter exit (Indiantown Road). Head east on Indiantown
Road until you reach U.S. 1, then head north. The park entrance
on the west side of U.S. 1. After entering the park, make a
right at the first stop sign. Park at the “Camp Murphy” area.
The off road trails are located here. The paved trail is down
the road about 100 yards at the railroad crossing.
Fees: A nominal “State Park Daily Use” entrance
fee is charged. It makes sense to buy the State Park Annual
Pass if you plan to visit more than a couple of times.
Jonathan Dickinson Park offers great dirt paths and
limited paved trails. The longest paved trail runs a couple of miles.
It's an old road that parallels a railroad track. Note that
this paved trail is acceptable for biking and walking, but frequently
has debris that can make it tough for skaters.
There are 6 miles of off road trails that are maintained
by a local mountain bike club (volunteers welcome, see link below.)
The dirt paths range from beginner to advanced. The 11,500 acre
park offers camping, cabins, canoes and a tour of the Loxahatchee River.
This is a “must see” Florida park.
Note that the park is home alligators and poisonous
plants.
PHOTOS:
Click here to see pictures of Dickinson Park Bike Trails from Palm
Beach Trail Guide
More Information On Jonathan Dickinson Park
Dickinson
Park Location On Regional Map
Dickinson
Park Official Bike Trail Map
Dickinson
Park Hiking & Biking Trail Map
Dickinson
Park Bike Trail Information
Dickinson
Park Trail Reviews
Dickinson
Park Off Road Bike Trail Photographs
Dickinson
Park Nature Photographs
Dickinson
Park General Information
Dickinson Park Camp Murphy
Mountain Bike Club: Club Scrub
Palm Beach Lake Trail (on “The Island”)
Quadrille Bridge & The Intercoastal Waterway
Palm Beach
Directions: Part of the Palm Beach mystique is
that there aren't any road signs directing people to the Island.
Here's how to do it. Take I-95 to Palm Beach Lakes. Head
east on Palm Beach Lakes to Dixie Highway (aka US 1). Turn right
(south) on Dixie Highway (US 1) to Quadrille. Turn left (east) on
Quadrille and cross the north bridge to Palm Beach Island. Take the
first left once you come over the bridge. You will be in the area
of the Palm Beach Publix supermarket. Park on any of the streets
near Publix, and then head one block west to the Trail. The trail
can be accessed at the end of any of the cul-de-sac streets in this area.
The Lake Trail runs north along the shoreline between the Intercoastal Waterway/Lake
Worth Lagoon and the Palm Beach homes.
Fees: Access to this public trail is free.
The Palm Beach Lake Trail is extraordinary. It
is a wide paved path restricted to pedestrians, skaters and bikers.
The trail offers beautiful views of the Intercoastal Waterway, downtown
West Palm Beach and of the homes on Palm Beach.
Palm Beach founder Henry Flagler built the Lake Trail
in 1894 as a place for his hotel guests to stroll. Along the Lake
Trail you can see Flagler's first house from 1886 (“Sea Gull Cottage”),
a large kapok tree at 8 South Lake Trail (notable for its unusual roots)
and Flagler’s Whitehall mansion.
Lake Trail runs about 5 miles north from the Publix
area (mentioned in the directions above.) Drinking fountains can
be found at the trail's beginning near the Quadrille Bridge.
At the northern end of the trail you can work your
way northeast through the neighborhood streets to find a small public
boat dock with excellent views of Peanut Island and the Lake Worth/Palm
Beach Inlet.
There is a 10 MPH speed limit on the trail. It
is popular and sometimes crowded. Because it's Palm Beach, many
of the people using the trail are unusually well dressed and polite.
Visitors should dress and act appropriately.
A second trail on Palm Beach runs about 1.5 miles.
It starts at Wells Road and runs along North County Road. It
ends at the Palm Beach Country Club.
Another 3-mile path begins at Ibis Isle.
It runs south and ends at the town of Lantana.
PHOTOS: Click here to see
pictures of the Palm Beach Lake Trail from Palm Beach Trail Guide
More Information
Palm Beach
Lake Trail Bike Route Map
Palm
Beach Lake Trail On Regional Map
Bike & Boat
Tour Of Palm Beach
Peanut
Island Information
Singer Island Trail & John D. MacArthur Beach State
Park
North Ocean Drive (also called A1A and SR 703)
Singer Island, FL (northeast-central Palm Beach County)
Directions:
From the south: I-95 to Blue Heron Blvd. Head east
until you cross the large bridge over the Intercoastal Waterway. This
puts you at Phil Foster Park on the south end of Singer Island.
From the north: I-95 to PGA Blvd. Head east until
you get to John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. This puts you on
the north end of Singer Island.
There are 2 miles of car-free dedicated paved trail on the north
end of Singer Island. The path runs between Ocean
Reef County Park to the south and John D. MacArthur Beach State
Park to the north. The trail is a wide sidewalk (separated from
traffic) that runs along the west side of North Ocean Drive. There
are views of Lake Worth Lagoon/Intercoastal Waterway and picturesque bridges
over Lake Worth Cove in the MacArthur Park area.
Parking can be a problem. It's best to park along North Ocean
Drive just south or MacArthur Park (near the bridges) or at MacArthur
Park itself (a small daily use fee applies.) To the south, park
at Ocean Reef County Park (it's free, though this will require you to deal
with a couple blocks of cross traffic.)
If traffic does not bother you, the paved Singer Island Trail
runs the full distance of Singer Island. You can park at Phil
Foster Park on Blue Heron Blvd. and head north to MacArthur Park (3.5
miles.) You may even want to ride up to the top of the Blue Heron
Bridge... the view is spectacular! If you want to go even further
north, the road includes a bike lane north of MacArthur Park.
I recommend a
visit to MacArthur park. There is a beautiful 1600' boardwalk over
Lake Worth Cove. It joins a quarter mile long dirt path near the incredible
beach.
More Information
See
Trail Area On Map
Overview
Of MacArthur Park
John
D. MacArthur Beach State Park Home Page
Friends Of John D. MacArthur
Beach State Park
Photos Of Ocean
Reef Park
Blue
Heron Bridge Snorkeling & Shore Diving
Aerial Photo
Of Singer Island
Nude
Beach & Sunbathing At MacArthur Park: "Air Force Beach"
Dyer County Park
7301 Haverhill Road
West Palm Beach, FL (West Riviera Beach Area)
(561) 966-6600
Directions: I-95 to Blue Heron Blvd. Head
west on Blue Heron towards the big pink VA Hospital. When you
reach the hospital, Blue Heron ends at the Bee Line. Turn right
on the Bee Line (north) to the first stoplight (Haverhill Road).
Turn left onto Haverhill Road, then make an immediate right into Dyer
Park. Drive to the very back of the Park and park near the soccer
fields.
Fees: There is no admission charge.
Dyer Park is built atop an old trash dump. It features four miles
of wide paved paths and a flat, five mile unpaved loop trail around the
Park's perimeter. It also features dirt trails cut into the side
of “Mount Trashmore." Mountain bikers like these trails for physical conditioning.
Almost 6 million dollars were spent turning Dyer Park from
a 400 acre dump into a park. 12,000 native trees were relocated
there. Lakes, ball fields, picnic shelters, restroom facilities,
an equestrian trail and a model airplane airfield were added to create
what is now a very nice place.
It's interesting to note that some of the pavement actually
contains broken bits of glass. I assume this is recycled material
from the nearby recycling center used as aggregate for the asphalt. The
glass is especially noticeable if you have polarized sunglasses!
Note: The facilities are fairly new and generally very nice.
There are signs warning visitors to secure their valuables, a indication
that theft has been a problem. I have seen plenty of police and
park workers there during the day. The park appears to be as safe as
any other. There are also signs warning that alligators can be
found in the lakes.
PHOTOS:
Click here to see pictures of Dyer Park Trails from Palm Beach Trail
Guide
More Information On Dyer Park
See
Dyer Park Location On A Map
Dyer Park Trail
Reviews
Additional
Dyer Park Trail Information
Additional
Dyer Park Information
West Palm Beach Veterans Hospital
7305 N. Military Trail (Blue Heron Blvd. & Military Trail)
West Palm Beach, FL 33410
Directions: I-95 to Blue Heron Blvd. Head west
on Blue Heron to the big pink VA Hospital. The Hospital is by
far the largest building around... you can't miss it! Park in one
of the outermost visitor/patient parking lots adjacent to the paved trail.
Click
here for computerized driving directions from your location.
Fees: There is no admission charge.
The West Palm Beach Veterans Administration Medical Center
is one of the newest and nicest VA Hospitals anywhere. There
is a narrow, two-mile paved trail around the perimeter. The path
and grounds are very well kept. The trail is only lightly used
by patients and staff. Be sure to yield to the hospital folks if
you see them. Note that because this is a Federal facility, security
is usually seen here. The gates may be shut during times of crisis.
The Hospital path is good for walking and wheelchairs.
For biking and skating, Dyer Park (information above) is very
close by and a better choice. "Para-course" exercise equipment
stations can be found along the Hospital trail. Emergency call
boxes are also located along the the path. Inside the Hospital there
is a nice food court and restroom facilities.
PHOTOS
#1: Hospital Trail pictures from Palm Beach Trail guide
PHOTOS
#2: Hospital Parcourse Equipment alongside the Trail-pictures from Palm Beach
Trail Guide
More Information On The West Palm Beach Veterans Administration Hospital
VA
Hosptial Web Site
Okeeheelee County Park
7715 Forest Hill Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL FL 33413
(561) 966-6600
Location: Forest Hill & Florida's Turnpike.
Fees: Admission is free.
Six mile paved path, plus a dedicated BMX track.
Okeeheelee is a large and popular park. Park amenities include
golf course, water ski park, nature center, racquetball, canoeing and
equestrian trail.
There are additional off-road trails in the immediate
area (though not within the park itself.) The trails are located
east of Pinehurst
Road, between Forest Hill Boulevard and Lake Worth Road.
Pinehurst
Tail Information
Cholee Trail
Information
More Information On Okeeheelee Park
Okeeheelee
Park Location On Map
Okeeheelee
Park General Photos
Additional
Okeeheelee Park General Photos
Bike Rentals At
Okeeheelee Park
Okeeheelee
Park General Information
Reviews
Of Okeeheelee Park
Satellite
Photo Of Okeeheelee Park
Okeeheelee
BMX
John Prince County Park & Campground
2700 6th Ave. S.
4759 S. Congress Ave.,
2520 Lake Worth Rd
Lake Worth, FL 33461
(561)
966-6600
Directions: I-95 to Lantana Road. Head west half
a mile to Lake Osborne Drive. Turn right on Lake Osborne Drive (It
comes up fast... turn right before you get to the Lake.) Park
along Lake Osborne Drive on the east side of the lake or near the north
entrances from Lake Worth Road.
Fees: Admission is free.
John Prince Park has five mile paved trail around Lake
Osborne. Watch out for alligators.
Park amenities include a campground, water-skiing,
batting cages, miniature golf, tennis courts and sailboat rentals.
More Information On John Prince Park
John
Prince Park Map
Quantum Office Park
Boynton Beach
There are off road trails north of the Quantum Office Park.
Click here for
more information on bike trails near Quantum Office Park in Boynton
Beach.
South County Regional County Park
11200 Park Access Road
Boca Raton, FL
South County Regional Park features a two mile path through
the park.
See
South County Regional Park on a map.
Glades Pioneer County Park
866 SR 715
Belle Glade, FL
(561) 924-2728
Glades Pioneer Park features a one mile path.
Click
here for more information on Glades Pioneer Park.
Indiantown: DuPuis Reserve State Forest
23500 SW Kanner Highway
Canal Point, FL., 33438
(561)-924-5310
DuPuis Reserve State Forest offers 25 miles of paved and unpaved
trails in western Palm Beach County.
Click here for
more information on DuPuis Reserve State Forest bike trails.
Excellent "Near Traffic" West Palm Beach Area Paths
Waterside Paths Along A1A in West Palm Beach from Southern Boulevard
north to Jupiter (approximately 20 miles).
Waterside Paths Along A1A in Boca Raton from Camino Real north
to Lake Worth Road (approximately 5 miles).
Bicyclists
Only-Main Road Through Jupiter Island (East Of Tequesta/Hobe Sound Area)
Car-Free Trails: North
Vero Beach/Yeehaw
Junction: Connect-A-Dot Trail
Vero Beach:
First Street Southwest Trail
Fort Pierce:
Trails
Fort Pierce: The Fort Pierce Trail Home Page
Car-Free Trails: South
Deerfield Beach: Quiet Waters Park
Pampano
Beach: Backwoods Of Pampano Landfill
Fort Lauderdale:
Markham Park
Fort Lauderdale:
Rattle Snake Ridge
Fort Lauderdale:
Urban Trail
Hialeah:
Amelia Earheart Park
North Miami
Beach: Oleta River State Park
Miami:
Miami Mountain
Miami: Snapper
Creek
Miami:
Thompson Park
Miami:
Tropical Park
Everglades/Miami:
Shark Valley
Homestead:
Flamingo Road
Florida
City: Southern Glades Trail
Useful
South Florida Trail Articles
Article:
South Florida's Best Biking Trails (Miami Herald)
Article:
South Florida Family Bike Rides (South Florida Parenting Magazine)
Useful
South Florida Trail Links
Biking In Florida
Florida
Mountain Bike Guide
Review Of Florida Mountain Biking Trails
Florida
Campgrounds Near Mountain Bike Trails
How To Maintain An Off-Road
Bike Trail
Forum: Mountain Bike Forum-RideMonkey
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