Are you looking for a place to go bike riding in or near St. Augustine, Florida? I have a few bike trails that I can recommend. Some of the bike trails I know of run through St. Augustine and others are located near it. Here’s a quick look at five of the best ones:
1. Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve
Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve in Ponte Vedra Beach is one favorite places to go bike riding near St. Augustine. Even though the bike trails are unpaved, they do not deliver a very strenuous ride. For the most part, the looped trail is sandy and level. What I enjoy about it is the scenery. The trail winds through flatwood forests and past both tidal and freshwater marshes. It is a great bike trail to take if you just want a casual ride. Public restroom and picnic areas are also available onsite. Admission to the park is a modest $1 per bicyclist or $3 per vehicle. It is typically open daily from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
2. Anastasia State Park
Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine is another one of my favorite parks for bike riding because of the beach. We typically bring our own bikes but may opt to rent them from the Island Beach Shop located within the park. A concession stand is onsite too should you want to grab a bottle of water after your ride. The bike trails encompass more than four miles and some are paved. You can also ride your bike on the beach itself if you are looking to get a workout and break a sweat. The park tends to open daily from 8 a.m. until sunset and admission is $2 per bicyclist.
3. St. John’s River to the Sea Loop
If you want to make a whole weekend or more of it, you may want to consider taking a ride on the St. John’s River to the Sea Loop. It is an impressive 260 miles and will take you through St. Augustine as well as other quaint Florida cities and towns. The trail is a hodgepodge of terrain that ranges from paved to unpaved. There is no fee involved in using the trail and there are plenty of places to rest and refuel along the way.
4. Mala Compra Trail
The Mala Compra Trail is located on A1A between St. Augustine and Flagler Beach. You can access it from Bing’s Landing. Bing’s Landing is an eight acre park that is interesting all on its own. It offers a public restroom, barbecue grills and picnic tables where you can relax after your bike ride. The bike trail is geared towards mountain bikes and is quite strenuous, especially if you do not go bike riding often. The trail is a good six miles long. It can be rough going in some spots if you are not use to switchbacks. Personally, I find it challenging and rewarding all in one shot. There are even a few jumps, bridges and rock gardens along the way. The trail is open daily from dawn until dusk and admission is free.
5. Jacksonville-Baldwin Trail
The Jacksonville-Baldwin Trail is roughly a 40 minute drive from St. Augustine. It is a paved bike path that is over 10 miles long and it may be accessed from U.S. 301. The bike trail is quite rural in spots and there are not a lot of places to grab extra water so be sure to plan accordingly. It is free to access the bike trail and its open daily.
Killeen Gonzalez enjoys the great outdoors with her family and has traveled extensively.
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