Changed title to: Riding the North Ocala Trail System

khooping · September 12, 2006, 01:10:28 AM

Hello Everyone-

I'm planning a 2 day trip to do some riding this week. I ride at Holopaw, and have been to Brooksville and Ocala but am looking for other places to ride. Trying to stay within 4 hrs. of Palm Bay (East Coast Central FL.) I was considering Big Cypress but was concerned about not having 4 wheel drive and spending all day stuck. My wife and I like to trail ride and are experienced. I have a Z400 and she has a 250EX. Any folks who can post based on experience is appreciated.

Thanks

Kevin

Paul_S · September 12, 2006, 01:20:59 AM

We rode at Osceola Forest this weekend and it was flooded. We expected it to be a little wet, but the trails were all submerged. Fun on a 4x4, but not for sports.

UncleRico · September 12, 2006, 01:27:45 PM

It's sorta sad, but there's not many other places to ride trails if you don't own property.

Ocala has a new trail system in effect, so you might consider that, if you haven't been since they put the new system together.

Croom is the only other place I know of that is open to the public for trail riding that's in your range.

Good luck.

AintSkeered · September 12, 2006, 08:20:19 PM

Big Cypress? LOL Bring SCUBA gear!

sbripple · September 13, 2006, 12:55:28 AM

underhills go to plantbamboo.com west of stuart

Round Man · September 14, 2006, 06:21:56 PM

Try 5A.......

khooping · September 18, 2006, 10:12:31 PM

Just wanted to give everyone an update on where we rode last week. We ended up going to Ocala and staying in silver springs. We rented a cabin for a few days and got a lot of riding in. We had a nice sit down meal at Shellcrackers which was excellent and Wednesday night was all you can eat boiled shrimp. They usually have an evening special so give them a try. It doesn't look like much from the outside but believe me, you won't be disappointed in the food. The trail system is coming along great and I was pleasantly surprised that there wasn't more traffic on it. We only saw 2 other 4 wheelers in the full 2 days we were riding. (After we hit the trails) I don't know how many of you have been up and rode on the systems but I actually preferred it to the free riding we've done out in the Big Scrub area and south of 314. I included a link below where you can go and check out the maps of the new trail system. I'd like to hear how others feel about the trail system so far.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/news/trails-roads-pil-ocala.shtml

Ida_Mann · September 24, 2006, 12:21:51 PM

did you stay in Silver Springs, or Salt Springs,,,,,I can't remember the name of it but I think it's Shellcrackers,,,the name of the place in Salt Springs on 314.

Id@

khooping · September 24, 2006, 09:14:52 PM

ID@,

Sorry, it was Salt Springs. The number below is for the office you can call which is on 19. However, the cabins are on 314 behind Shell Crackers. We stayed in a two bedroom which came equipped with a full kitchen (minus coffee maker), TV, couches, 3 beds and 1 bathroom. It ran us 90.00 I believe for the night. It worked out really nice. We're going to stay at the resort next time just for comparison purposes. I'll let you know what we think of it.

Kevin

Advantage Real Estate Corp
13388 N Highway 19
Fort Mc Coy, FL 32134
(352) 685-3330

Ida_Mann · September 24, 2006, 10:44:57 PM

I didn't know that Joe ran those cabins as well.

Joe Massey is a neighbor of mine up there is Salt Springs.

I also didn't know that the resort was still open to rentals.

Id@