Trail Report: Point Washington State Forest Trails
The Point Washington State Forest trail system offers a surprisingly enjoyable network of singletrack through Florida’s coastal pine forests, just minutes from the popular beaches of 30A. In an area where road riding ranges from sketchy to downright dangerous and trail options are limited, these trails are a welcome refuge for cyclists trying to avoid getting hit by tourists.
The Longleaf Greenway Trail, stretching 7.5 miles through the forest, provides a gentle introduction to Florida trail riding. Starting from the Blue Mountain Beach parking lot, the trail immediately sets the tone with a wooden bridge crossing over Red Fish Lake before winding through the pine forest. While mostly flat, the trail keeps things interesting with basically random sandy turns that take some attention at speed.
What makes this trail system unique is its accessibility - multiple trailheads and highway crossings mean you can easily customize your ride length. Better yet, if you’re staying anywhere along 30A, you can likely ride to the trails rather than loading up the car. The trail is well-marked and maintained by local riders, though you’ll want to check conditions after rain as some marsh areas can get quite wet despite the wooden bridges. Worst case you turn around and can hook back up to the next section via road.
For those seeking a longer adventure, the Eastern Lake Trail Orange Loop offers another 10.4 miles of mixed singletrack and doubletrack riding. This loop provides a more complete forest experience, with about 60% singletrack sections that wind through the pine flatwoods. While neither trail offers really any elevation change, they’re suprisingly engaging.
Trail conditions here are highly dependent on recent weather. During dry spells, the sand can get pretty deep, making corners particularly sketchy. However, if it’s rained in the past couple days, the packed sand creates some surprisingly fast and flowy conditions. Just be aware that heavy rains can flood certain sections entirely, so it’s worth checking recent conditions before heading out.
While I’m not sure that I would travel for these trails, if you find yourself at 30A, you might consider bringing your bike and giving them a try.