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Florida's Premier Destination- The Cross Florida Greenway!

By
Real Estate Agent with Environmental Visions

Stretching 110 miles from the St. john's river on the east to the Gulf of Mexico at Inglis to the West, the Cross Florida Greenway has something for everyone when it comes to nature-based recreation. enviro visions

Thanks to Richard Nixon halting construction on Cross Florida Barge Canal in 1971, state leaders were provided with the opportunity to persuade the federal government to give the state the land for a vast recreational area, and let the state reimburse the counties for the property they bought from the private landowners.   It took 20 years to get the deauthorization of the Canal through Congress and the plan implemented, but today the Cross Florida Greenway is a reality!

Florida's Greenways & Trails Program manages the Greenway and has been developing the many individual components that make up this incredible playground.  Protecting a variety of natural habitats and providing numerous recreational opportunities across 11 counties, it is the place to go to enjoy Florida's natural areas.

Marshall Swamp has a lush nature walk.   There are miles of river for scenic paddling.  Mountain bikers will be challenged to their heart's content at the Santos trail site, and equestrian trails can be found in multiple locations. 

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The first ever Land Bridge built over six lanes of I-75 traffic for people and wildlife complete with shrubs and trees and proved immensely successful (animal tracks indicate they use it all the time!).   

And a perfect place to stay:  Silver River State Park located in Silver Springs, Florida, 10 minutes east of Ocala.  The park has campsites AND luscious cabins.  it is located in a great place to provide a jumping off point for enjoying all the Greenway has to offer!

For more information check out the Office of Greenways and Trails Website:

                                                 http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/cfg/default.htm

   **Map and signs courtesy of OGT.     

Comments (8)

Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

Eva, that is a huge greenway, WOW 110 miles.  It sounds like a wonderful place to visit. 

Sep 02, 2008 01:34 PM
Eva Armstrong
Environmental Visions - Tallahassee, FL
Environmental Visions

Marchel - It is a wonderful place to visit - and people LOVE living next to or near this recreational paradise!  Thanks for writing!

Sep 03, 2008 12:57 AM
James Angelo
Florida Homes Realty & Mortgage LLC - Jacksonville, FL

this should attract a lot of action.

Sep 03, 2008 01:03 AM
Eva Armstrong
Environmental Visions - Tallahassee, FL
Environmental Visions

James - Thanks, let's hope so!!!

Sep 03, 2008 01:13 AM
Richard Byron Smith, NMLS #184479
Mortgage Loan Officer, Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation NMLS #2289 - Chattanooga, TN
Mortgage Loan Officer

Eva,

Is this one long trail for biking and running?

Richard

Sep 03, 2008 03:47 PM
Eva Armstrong
Environmental Visions - Tallahassee, FL
Environmental Visions

Richard - No - it's much more!  When the Corps was digging what was supposed to be a barge canal crossing the State of Florida from Jacksonville to the town of Inglis on the west coast, they bought thousands of acres of land on boths sides of the project.  Part of it was for a flowage easement for  the dammed Ocklawaha River as well as the expanse of the canal project itself.  When Nixon shut the project down, Florida pursued the cash to pay back the counties and the landowners so the state could own the land and create a vast recreational area.  there is no direct route you can take along it, except by water... and even that is interupted by the locks that are still in place. 

There are several large trail systems that have been created on the canal lands that provide biking, running and equestrian trails.  The Santos Trail is one of them.  Located in Marion County, it has a wide variety of terrain and many different paths, allowing for all types of activities to go on at once!

Thanks for the question!

Sep 08, 2008 11:59 PM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

another great post! thanks for all the information about a part of the state that I really don't know that much about!

Nov 03, 2009 09:37 AM
Eva Armstrong
Environmental Visions - Tallahassee, FL
Environmental Visions

BarbaraJo-- this is a great place to visit IF you enjoy outdoor sports! - or send the kids!  Thanks...

Nov 10, 2009 06:41 AM