Florida’s bike trails beckon you to rediscover the joy of bicycling

Florida is the ideal place for bike riding, with mostly flat terrain, comfortable winter temperatures, and gorgeous scenery around every turn. It’s a recreational and wellness activity many seniors can continue doing very late in life.

Bicycling is one of those simple pleasures of life. There’s no better way to see the world than from the seat of a bicycle. Florida is blessed with some of the nation’s best trail networks. Odds are, wherever you live or vacation in Florida, there are cycling opportunities nearby? Don’t have a bike? That’s OK. You can rent one from one of Florida’s many local bike shops. 

Why bike riding is good for seniors

 

Regardless of age, bicycling is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and stay fit. Biking is a low-impact sport that isn’t hard on the joints. You can go at your own pace. Ride solo or in groups. Many seniors can continue riding a bike even into their 80s. There’s even a group for 80-and-over cyclists on Facebook. You can learn about it in this story from This Retirement Life. 

 

Bike trails have become increasingly popular in recent years, making bicycling safer since you compete much less (or not at all) with motorists when riding on a dedicated bike trail. Nationwide, there are more than 23,000 miles of bike trails built on the routes once occupied by trains, with more under construction, according to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Florida has 55 such “rail trails” stretching more than 800 miles, but this is only a portion of the total number of bike trails throughout the state.

 

Why Florida is ideal for senior bicyclists

 

Florida has several advantages for senior bicyclists. The weather makes it possible to ride nearly all year, even though late-fall, winter and spring are the best seasons while heat and humidity levels are lower. Another benefit is the relatively flat terrain. I say “relatively flat” because it depends on where you are in the state. Coastal regions are very flat, but portions of Central Florida can be surprisingly hilly, especially from the vantage point of an aging body trying to pedal a bike up a hill. Still, compared with many other states, riding a bike in Florida is relatively easy. A third advantage is the popularity of dedicated trails, most of which are multi-purpose trails that bicyclists share with walkers and an occasional skater or jogger.

 

Riding on trails is not only good exercise but can be a social activity. Bicyclists tend to be a friendly bunch, except perhaps for a few of the spandex-wearing serious bikers who are more interested in speed than saying hello to strangers. Expect to see quite a few senior adults. You might even see one with their small dog riding along in a basket.

 

 

New bikes made just for senior adults

Bicycle makers have responded to the demand and are building bikes tailored for older riders. Touring bikes are most popular with seniors. These bikes feature high handlebars, wide tires and comfortable seats. Some feature a “step-through” design making it easy to mount a bike. For those with balance issues, there are three-wheel bikes, including low-riding recumbent bikes.

Need an extra boost on those hills? Some senior riders prefer electric bikes with what is called “pedal assist.” I personally ride a Magnum Metro e-bike and love it, but there are many fine brands. An increasing number of local bike shops offer e-bikes or even specialize in them. You can learn more about e-bikes in this story on This Retirement Life. 

 

Let’s take a look at some of my favorite Florida bike trails. If you’ve ridden trails in Florida or elsewhere that you think other seniors would want to know about, please take time to add a comment at the end of this story. We would love to hear from you!

 

Central Florida Trails

 

One of my favorite Central Florida trails is the West Orange Trail, a 22-mile paved trail in suburban areas west of Orlando. One highlight of this popular trail is that it literally runs through the middle of the quaint downtown area of Winter Garden. This trendy section of shops and restaurants makes a great stop along the route. If you need to rent a bicycle, you can do so either in the downtown area or further west at Kilarney Station, a trailhead that includes parking, a bike shop, restrooms and refreshments.

 

Between Winter Garden and Kilarney Station, the West Orange Trail passes through Oakland, a laid-back, older suburb with beautiful large oak trees. You will also pass some upscale new residential developments. Riding this trail, and taking in the sites along the way, makes a great half-day to full-day outing. If you wanted to retire to Florida and live with easy access to a first-class trail, this would be a great choice. 

 

Feeling adventurous? The West Orange Trail links on its western end with the South Lake/Minneola Scenic Trail, which runs another 9.5 miles. The portion of this trail closest to the West Orange Trail includes some challenging terrain (hills), so fair warning! Most senior riders would be well advised to avoid this portion of the route, starting your journey on the South Lake/Minneola Scenic Trail instead closer to downtown Clermont and Lake Minneola, and then riding west. 

 

 

 

I’ve ridden the South Lake/Minneola Scenic Trail several times. In my opinion, it has some of the most diverse scenery you will find on any Florida bike trail — and that’s saying a lot. Like many of Florida’s trails, a portion of this one is shaded. Another portion runs along the shore of beautiful Lake Minneola, with boat rentals, picnic tables, and even a white-sand beach. There are plenty of well-maintained facilities along the trail, including the Clermont Waterfront Park and three trailheads (with restrooms) on the western half of the trail. If you venture a couple blocks off the trail into the old downtown area, you can find restaurants, ice-cream shops, and interesting stores.

Variety of scenery awaits on Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail

Further north, the 16.5 mile Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail takes you through diverse settings, from urban to rural, and even includes a few hills. This is a mostly shaded, scenic trail that goes from Gainesville and passes by the Payne’s Prairie Preserve State Park on its way to the small town of Hawthorne.

If you wish to explore further on foot, there are some short hikes and scenic overlooks accessible from the trail. You can extend the ride another six miles by linking with another trail that connects to downtown Gainesville. One negative on this trail is the lack of nice trailheads. There’s only one restroom, and it’s primitive (not flushing).

 

 

Jacksonville’s trails await you

The Jacksonville area has two well-known bike trails, each providing a unique experience. The first is the Amelia Island Trail, which runs along SR A1A near the beach and through the town of Fernandina Beach. This six-mile trail passes by plush resorts, large homes, and several nice shops and restaurants. The trail will eventually connect with the East Coast Greenway, an ambitious plan to build a multi-use trail from Maine to Key West.  

SuperCorsa Cycles, a bike shop along the Amelia Island Trail, is not only a great place to rent a bike, but comes in handy when you need a repair. This happened to me when I rode this trail and got a flat tire, on the opposite end of the trail from my car (of course). While getting my flat tire fixed, I enjoyed a great lunch across the street on the outdoor patio at Bar Zin.

On the other side of Jacksonville, far from the beach, is the well-maintained Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail. This trail is different from the Amelia Island Trail in nearly every way, but equally enjoyable. At 14.5 miles, it is more than twice as long. It is also rural and quiet, with hardly any traffic crossings. Don’t expect, however, to find restaurants and shops along the way.

Gulf Coast trails

I had the pleasure recently of riding the Legacy Trail, another popular trail that runs from Venice to Sarasota. Nearly 11 miles long, this trail is very flat and straight, and much of it is tree-lined. Even though you are near urban areas, the trail itself has a more rural feel. It also passes through Oscar Scherer State Park. A good place to park and start your ride is at the historic Venice Train Station, at the southern end of the trail.

 

The best-known multi-purpose trail on the Gulf Coast side of the state is the Pinellas Trail, a 53-mile long trail that runs from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs. This trail gets 75,000 users per month. It will eventually become part of the Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail, which will run for 250 miles across Florida from St. Pete to Canaveral National Seashore. From the Pinellas Trail, you can easily take short jaunts over to Clearwater Beach or Honeymoon Island State Park. Be sure to spend time in quaint Dunedin, a town north of Clearwater that takes pride in catering to the needs of cyclists. 

 

A bicycle is the best way to navigate on beautiful Sanibel Island, off the coast of Fort Myers. The island boasts 25 miles of paved trails that take you to beaches, restaurants, shops, and nature areas. It’s OK if you show up without a bike because rentals are plentiful. Some resorts even provide complimentary bikes. Learn more about biking on Sanibel Island in this article from Florida Rambler. 

Also worth exploring are bike trails on Gulf Coast gems including Boca Grande, Pine Island, and Punta Gorda. 

Gawk at millionaires’ homes on this Palm Beach Trail

One of the most interesting bike trails in South Florida is the Lake Trail in the exclusive small town of Palm Beach. This famous town is where the Trumps, Kennedys, and other ultra-wealthy families hobnob. Fortunately for us, a six-mile-long bike trails runs along the intracoastal waterway behind some of these million-dollar mansions. The lush tropical scenery alone is well worth the ride. Don’t have a bike? You can rent one at a bike shop along the trail. You can read a good review about this trail in the Florida Rambler.

Florida has hundreds of great bike trails, not to mention that some of the smaller tourist towns are very bike friendly all over town, including Key West and Cedar Key. We haven’t even touched on the Florida Panhandle in this article, but there are great trails there as well, from Pensacola to Panama City Beach to Tallahassee.  

To discover more Florida bike trails, a good place to start is on the website for Bike Florida. Another good resource is the website 100FloridaTrails.com. 

Find a bike trail near you

Bike trails are growing in popularity throughout the country. It’s a great activity for us seniors as we age. There’s nothing like the feel of riding down the road atop a bike, with the wind in your face. It’s fast enough to be thrilling but slow enough that you can still wave and speak as you pass other people. On a bike, you will see neighborhoods and scenery more up close and personally than from a car.

If you haven’t ridden a bike in years, now may be the time to try it. Before buying a bike, my advice is to talk with a knowledgable local bike shop that deals regularly with senior cyclists, not the younger “Spandex” crowd that favors fast road bikes or thrill-seeking mountain bikers. As a senior adult, what you need from a bike is far different than it was when you were 30. You need a senior-friendly bike. You can get tips on how to buy an age-appropriate bicycle in this story from This Retirement Life.

When you buy a senior-friendly bicycle, be sure to purchase a helmet and wear it faithfully every time you ride. A local bike shop is a good place to get the bike and accessories you need.

To find bike trails near you, visit the website of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, or just search online using your city or state’s name followed by the words “bike trails.” You may be surprised by what you find.

So, adapting a phrase from legendary cowboy Roy Rogers, “happy trails to you.”

 

Got a favorite bike trail you want to tell us about? Add your comment below. Thank you for sharing!