Guana River State Park Trails

Guana River State Park Trails

	Guana River State Park Trails
Location:	Florida
Nearest Town:	Jacksonville
Directions to Trailhead:	Go south on A1A from Ponte Vedra. Entrance to park is at MAIN entrance to park (not beach area). Pay entrance fee. GET MAP OF TRAILS. Park on other side of dam. Trail head is there.
Trail Description:	The Real Florida. Great cross section of beach, woods, marsh, etc.
Trail Length:	3-10 miles
Trail Type:	Singletrack & Fire Roads
Skill Level:	Intermediate
Submitted By:	Yard Sale

M.o.D. from Jacksonville, FL Date: January 22, 2003 Trail Ridden: Once a year
Recommended Route: As mentioned, two entrances to park: 1) Dam off A1A 2) Take 210E over the new Palm Valley Bridge. Coming off the bridge take the first right hand exit lane that wraps back under the bridge. Take first left on "Roscoe Rd", follow to the end (Cul-de-Sac) will see sign for dirt road into the Wildlife Mgmt Area Parking Lot. Recommend signing in before riding, it is pretty remote out there. Read below for riding routes... Other recommended trails in the same area: Hanna, Westside Regional, White Springs Network, Razorback, HardRock, Bellevue Network
Review: Good off-season trail when you can't drive hours for the technical challenges of Ocala, White Springs, etc. I say "off-season" for two reasons: Surface and Bugs! During the warm/wet season (May - November) you want to stick with only the Dam entrance. The trails in the back will too soggy and the bugs use your DEET like salt and pepper before they tear into your a$$! The North road is a good central run for your ride. Many of the trail systems loop out and back from it. Grab a trail map from trailhead. There are three towers(see map) in the area and that makes for good stopping points to enjoy the natural surroundings. The orienteering of finding our way is fun. The wildlife and difference in ecosystems makes the ride unique and enjoayable for sightseeing...which is good since the trails are not technical. Just good for a 'spin'. Look for Osprey, Eagles, Deer, Armadillos, and you can see the reds and trout running the baitfish from the northeast tower. 8-10 mile ride = 2.5 - 3 hours	Overall Rating:

fsurn from Atlanta, GA Date: April 1, 2002 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Go to the right to the Wildlife Management Area Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: Rode this trail in March, so the bugs were not bad yet. Yes, it is a beginner's trail, but loaded with different challenges for said beginner. Loved biking out to the marsh area, saw lots of different wildlife. A really nice relaxing ride for anyone.	Overall Rating:

B-man from Jax, FL Date: April 20, 2001 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Ride the long loop segment, out to the south and back. I think the colors were green and red. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: As the others said, definately not mountain biking. Although, you need a mountain bike to ride them. One leg of the long loop to the south is nice because it follows the waterway. Some great scenery. Also good if you're into photography. I'm a fairly technical rider, but I could still have a good time out here if riding with non-mtb folks. I heard a lot of crap running back into the woods as I went along. I could only fathom what kind of creatures they were. Probably don't want to know. One note, you might want to think about entering the wildlife mgmt. area as someone suggested. The roads back in there seem extremely soft in parts, I had to walk my bike for a good ways. Although catching the sunset on one of the trails along the intercostal and then busting ass back might be fun...I might give that a try.	Overall Rating:

Gene Pruett from JAX FL Date: December 31, 2000 Trail Ridden: Please Select
Recommended Route: Follow directions above. Other recommended trails in the same area: Reddick, Santos, Hanna, Krusty Knuckle,
Review: This is a cool trail system for beginners or wives, like mine who don't like adrenaline, sweat, and pain. We come here about every six months and ride down the intercostal and out to the tower. Listen, this is trail riding not mountain biking. However if you go there is a lot of wildlife and make sure you go out to the tower. It is a beatiful site. To get there you have to leave the Guanna area and go into the Wild Life Management area. Here is how. Ride up to the north west corner of the trail system. There is a gate there and a sign indicating it is the Wild Life Management area. Go through the gate, take the first trail, or should I say fire road, to the right. Stay with this road until you see a sighn to the tower. It is about 40' high and looks out on the intercostal. Time it right and you can watch the sun set and still pound back out before it is completly dark. (If you try that take lights.)	Overall Rating:

from Date: April 5, 2000 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: see header Other recommended trails in the same area: Hanna Park
Review: was nice and easy beginner stuff..one thing killed it though..the bugs were incredible. If you plan on riding this trail, bring a HUGE can of bug spray.	Overall Rating:

BLEEDER from Jacksonville Date: March 29, 2000 Trail Ridden: Once a year
Recommended Route: Other recommended trails in the same area: Fort Clinch; Hanna Park; Scattered singletrack (short-lived, so you'd better hurry!) behind Publix on Beach Boulevard (not too technical, but some are fun as hell at speed!)
Review: This area is highly recommended...but only for those of you who want to have a leisurely stroll through the marshlands of Florida. My wife and I come for the scenery and to spend a little time together away from everyone. Considering my love for the radical, this is a full-circle change of pace. The "trails" are mostly open to woodland fireroads and riders are few and far between. There is NOTHING technical about them...and it was never designed to be so. It's simply an area of undeveloped marsh and woodland with road access. For those of you who like nothing more than go for an easy ride off pavement, to fish the dam or the ponds that are scattered about, or just to come for a picnic with your significant other, this might be your spot. If you decide to go, the area is @ 10 miles, so bring plenty of water with you, along with bug spray...this is Florida, ya' know!!!	Overall Rating:

Bill Renninger from Miami, FL Date: January 8, 2000 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: I rode this trail with my wife, as a previous reviewer mentioned doing. This is serious beginner stuff here. No hills, no roots, just smooth woodland paths. Not my bag.	Overall Rating:

Joe from Jax., FL Date: August 22, 1999 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: JTB to A1A South, about 13 miles on the right hand side, about 1/2 mile North of Gate gas station. Only dirt road entrance Other recommended trails in the same area: Hanna, West side regional, Fort Clinch
Review: I ride about once or twice a week at various places in FL, and this is the only place where I feel safe taking my wife, and or my less aggressive family members. The track is realitively hard pack (for East side Florida) jeep roads and about 10 degrees cooler than the other tracks in the area because of the proximity to the beach/intercoastal. Absolutely no technical merrit to this place what so ever, but nature abounds. If you want to get someone who has never riddden off road before hooked on the sport, this is the perfect place. Expect about 10 mies of scenic, canopy laden, relaxation.	Overall Rating:

John from Jacksonville Date: June 21, 1999 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: See Header Other recommended trails in the same area: Hanna Park Fort Clinch
Review: I would say this trail is for beginners - and that might not be a good thing since they might conclude Mountain Biking is boring as hell. I live about 15min from this place but only rode it once. It is almost perfectly flat, although it IS fairly scenic. Except for heat and some sand there is NO challenge to it. If you are a beginner who is still a bit shaky on the technical stuff, this might be a good place to do some miles and get comfy on that saddle (I don't mean that as an insult). Then go to Hanna. It is a very simple trail system and you can't really get lost but I have heard of some people getting confused for a bit. The trails seem longer than they really are somehow...	Overall Rating:

Yard Sale from Richmond, Va Date: June 2, 1999 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Start at gate on far side of dam. Continue straight until the trail intersects with others. Turn right and start Orange trail. Intersections have numbers and trail colors that match your map. If your time is limited, do the Orange and Red Trail. You can do the entire outside routes including a few spur trails in under 2 hours. All trails are great. Other recommended trails in the same area: Hanna Park Fort Clinch
Review: This is a really nice system of trails. It shows you what the real Florida is like. Sometimes you are riding in oak hammocks, sometimes palmetto fields, sometimes along the Intercoastal Waterway, sometimes fireroads, sometimes singletrack, but always someplace cool. Make sure you take some of the spur trails, especially the one to Shell Bluff. Also, whenever you see the sign "Bench", check it out. It usually sends you to a great place to sit with a beautiful view. There is nothing technical here but it might be a little threatening for a beginner because you are so far out in the bushes. Don't forget to take lots of water, snacks and your tool kit. A flat at the far end of this trail might be tough. You are pretty much on your own. I didn't experience bugs but, they have to be out there.	Overall Rating: