Outdoors & Nature Insider

Rider at Balm Boyette Scrub Preserve Credit: Wes Eubank, SWAMP Club President

Being interested in several different forms of outdoor recreation sometimes has a downside - too many trails, never enough time. You can pretty much go hiking, paddling, birding, horseback riding, or mountain biking at any point during the year. I suppose that's what makes Florida the Best Trails State!

Right now, I'm spending a lot of time out on the mountain bike trails in Central Florida. Next week, who knows? I may be back in a kayak paddling down a river somewhere, but for now I'm turning pedals on the off-road paths and enjoying every minute of it!

The Tampa area has great mountain biking trails suited for all levels of riders. Ready to ride? Gear up and hit one of these locations:

Alafia River State Park

The trails at Alafia are definitely some of the best you'll find anywhere in Florida. Changes in elevation and rugged terrain make this area a must-visit for any mountain biker. With over 20 miles of sweet singletrack that will challenge beginners and advanced riders, it's no surprise that the annual Alafia Fat Tire Festival (Nov. 6-8, 2009) reaches full capacity months in advance. The trails are maintained by the SWAMP Mountain Bike Club, one of the largest mountain biking organizations in the state. SWAMP also maintains or supports the Balm Boyette and Flatwoods trails listed below, as well as several others in the area (more about those in another blog post).

Balm Boyette Scrub Preserve

Located south of Brandon, Balm Boyette Scrub Preserve is home to about 35 miles of both singletrack and doubletrack trails. Several interesting and unique rides can be found at Boyette, which range from beginner (green trails) all the way up to advanced (double-black diamond). There's about a 2-mile ride from the parking lot to the actual trailhead, so plan for that. I recommend that you bring along a trail map, as well as a compass, just in case. Also, Balm Boyette Scrub can be a little tricky to locate, so make sure you have a map to the trailhead too. Don't worry, the riding at Boyette is great, and is well worth the trip!  Visit www.swampclub.org for more information and all the necessary maps.

Flatwoods Wilderness Park

For beginners or intermediate riders, Flatwoods is where you'll want to go. Maintained by the Wilderness Trails Association, Flatwoods Wilderness Park (Morris Bridge, Trout Creek,and Flatwoods) is actually comprised of several parks which together form a large loop. The trails are mostly shaded, making this location an excellent choice for a summer ride. Flatwoods draws a large amount of riders to the trails, so expect to have a little company on your outing.

Well, those should keep you busy for a while!  I'll post up other great mountain biking trails in Florida in the future, so check back often. Now, get out there and hit the trail!