I know you have never thought about Florida as a State where you can mountain bike. Florida does not have a lot of mountains to do so. In fact, many of these MTB trails are a combination of flat terrain and small hills. Some good features are that part of these trails have been intervened by men, so they have a lot of fun places to ride and to even do jumps. There are swamps, difficult twisty sections, technical trails creatively designed along rocks and through forests and sandy hammocks. Wildlife is also a part of these outdoor corridors. Small animals such as squirrels can be seen along these trails.
Image courtesy of Rodrigo Tejeda at Flickr.com
We give you some of the best trail systems to enjoy. Some have a degree of difficulty and some are for beginners and pros as well.
Markham Park Mountain Bike Trails.
The first thing you need to know when you go to this park/trails is that you need to visit the park office near the park entrance to watch a safety video before you go out to the wilderness. Also, you need to pay for entrance: 25 plus tax per year or 5 plus tax per day. The trails are closed certain times a year due to festivals, events or races. Dogs, pedestrians, hikers and trails runners are not allowed, making it an exclusive trail for biking. There are terrain variation from trail to trail going from single tracks, to rock gardens, fast tracks, and steep technical climbs and descents. The park also has a pump track and a skills area near the trailhead. It is so complete that it also has fun places for extreme athletes such as a small freeride and dirt jump area. The good thing about the park's trails is that they connect between one and other. There are some parts with manmade features and advances slopes, but in each one there is an option to go around the obstacle for less experienced riders. The trails are maintained by volunteers with supervision of the Broward County Parks and Recreation with financial assistance from the Markham Park Trail Building Fund.
Markham Park Mountain Bike Trails.
The first thing you need to know when you go to this park/trails is that you need to visit the park office near the park entrance to watch a safety video before you go out to the wilderness. Also, you need to pay for entrance: 25 plus tax per year or 5 plus tax per day. The trails are closed certain times a year due to festivals, events or races. Dogs, pedestrians, hikers and trails runners are not allowed, making it an exclusive trail for biking. There are terrain variation from trail to trail going from single tracks, to rock gardens, fast tracks, and steep technical climbs and descents. The park also has a pump track and a skills area near the trailhead. It is so complete that it also has fun places for extreme athletes such as a small freeride and dirt jump area. The good thing about the park's trails is that they connect between one and other. There are some parts with manmade features and advances slopes, but in each one there is an option to go around the obstacle for less experienced riders. The trails are maintained by volunteers with supervision of the Broward County Parks and Recreation with financial assistance from the Markham Park Trail Building Fund.
Image courtesy of Ines Hegedus-Garcia at Flickr.com
Amelia Earhart MTB Trails.
These trails are free to ride in the weekdays, and 6 dollars per car in the weekends and holidays. Sometimes they are closed after heavy rains, events and races. The use of helmet is a must and please beware of directions and signs. Trails change direction quite often. They are open from sunrise to sunset. The trails are suitable for riders of all skill levels. They go along pines and native trees with a 7 to 8-mile (13 km) distance giving riders a safe, fast-flowing ride. It includes both smooth, well-maintained single tracks and fire road trails with a number of climbs, downhills that allow high speeds moments around several new banked corners. It has several bmx style jumps along the trails to be careful of, but it is mostly a family tour with a combination of levels. Trails are maintained by a Miami-Dade Parks registered volunteer group, with permission from the park management. Trail closures are very important in this park, so please check before you go and respect these rules at all time.
Caloosahatchee Regional Park.
This is more of a beginner / intermediate ride for not so experience MTB riders. You won’t encounter a lot of sand which is very common in South Florida and it is mostly a flat ride with some technical sections consisting of short steep drops and climbs. The trail is 11 miles long and could be completed in more or less 1:10 hours. It is open to the public from 7:00 am to 7:30 pm. No night rides are allowed unless you have a membership card which gives you entrance to night trails Tuesdays and Thursdays. Depending on the direction you will encounter a loop through a flat section of meadow to a wooded low section that includes three optional challenging climbs. If you change direction, you will start along a ridge that follows next to a creek. After a while in the first loop there is a picnic table and the intersection of the back loop. Optional rides include a skill area consisting of bridges, jumps, and a narrow section to challenge the rider.
These trails are free to ride in the weekdays, and 6 dollars per car in the weekends and holidays. Sometimes they are closed after heavy rains, events and races. The use of helmet is a must and please beware of directions and signs. Trails change direction quite often. They are open from sunrise to sunset. The trails are suitable for riders of all skill levels. They go along pines and native trees with a 7 to 8-mile (13 km) distance giving riders a safe, fast-flowing ride. It includes both smooth, well-maintained single tracks and fire road trails with a number of climbs, downhills that allow high speeds moments around several new banked corners. It has several bmx style jumps along the trails to be careful of, but it is mostly a family tour with a combination of levels. Trails are maintained by a Miami-Dade Parks registered volunteer group, with permission from the park management. Trail closures are very important in this park, so please check before you go and respect these rules at all time.
Caloosahatchee Regional Park.
This is more of a beginner / intermediate ride for not so experience MTB riders. You won’t encounter a lot of sand which is very common in South Florida and it is mostly a flat ride with some technical sections consisting of short steep drops and climbs. The trail is 11 miles long and could be completed in more or less 1:10 hours. It is open to the public from 7:00 am to 7:30 pm. No night rides are allowed unless you have a membership card which gives you entrance to night trails Tuesdays and Thursdays. Depending on the direction you will encounter a loop through a flat section of meadow to a wooded low section that includes three optional challenging climbs. If you change direction, you will start along a ridge that follows next to a creek. After a while in the first loop there is a picnic table and the intersection of the back loop. Optional rides include a skill area consisting of bridges, jumps, and a narrow section to challenge the rider.
Image courtesy of Daniel Oines at Flickr.com
While the rest of the United States suffers the cold winter season, head down to the south of Florida to enjoy biking through swamps and forests. Maybe it is not the ideal time to go surfing and to enjoy the beaches, but you can go visit the southern Sunshine State and have a blast with your family at some of the parks and trails that Florida has to offer. There is something for everybody. Most of the trails are designed to be family friendly and some are challenging extreme sport trails to practice your advanced MTB , BMX and dirt jump skills.