Bike Trails in the Panhandle of Florida

The Florida panhandle crosses from Pensacola to Apalachicola Bay. Cyclists who crave hitting wooded trails will find plenty of choices for pedaling the panhandle: Pine trees, rivers and springs line the interior of the state, while sugar sand beaches cloak the coast. While Florida doesn't have an abundance of mountains, the panhandle has more terrain with varying elevations than the rest of the state, offering cyclists more of a challenge then they could get on southern Florida trails.

  1. Blackwater River State Forest

    • Bear Lake Recreation Center at the Blackwater River State Forest has a six-mile mountain bike trail that circles the man-made lake. The forest has camping and hiking opportunities as well. Bear Lake is near Highway 4, two-and-a-half miles east of Munson.

    Point Washington State Forest

    • Point Washington State Forest has three biking trails, ranging from three-and-a-half miles up to 10 miles. These trails are best used for off-road cycling. This park has no camping opportunities, although campers can stay at nearby Grayton Beach State Park.

    Maclay Gardens State Park

    • Maclay Gardens State Park has a multiuse trail that takes cyclists through more than 1,000 acres of ornamental gardens. This five-mile trail goes around Lake Overstreet and is suitable for all types of bicycles. Campers can stake a spot just east of this park at Three Rivers State Park.

    Deer Lake State Park

    • Deer Lake State Park has a 10-mile trail that runs through more than 10 ecosystems along the sand and coastal dunes of the panhandle. This trail has areas suitable for all types of bicycles as well as an upland area more suited to mountain biking. This park has no camping, although nearby Grayton Beach State Park does.

    Florida Caverns State Park

    • Florida Caverns State Park has a multiuse trail that accommodates horses, hikers and bikers. This park has some of the state's few dry-air caverns; although cyclists cannot traverse these caves on wheels, the park has daily guided tours. Cyclists can pedal past sinkholes, rivers and floodplains, ideally on a bike with tires suited for off-road terrain. This park has camping.

    Grayton Beach State Park

    • A 10-mile paved biking and hiking trail that follows Highway 30-A and a four-mile trail that traces the pine woods await you at Grayton Beach State Park. The longer trail can accommodate all types of bicycles while the shorter trail through the flatwoods is best suited to off-road and mountain bikes. This park has camping.