General James A. Van Fleet State Trail

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General James A. Van Fleet State Trail
IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
Location	Lake, Polk and Sumter counties, USA
Nearest city	Lakeland, Florida
Coordinates	28°28′52″N 81°56′02″W / 28.48111, -81.93389
Area	29.2 mile length
Governing body	Florida Department of Environmental Protection

General James A. Van Fleet State Trail is a rail trail in Florida, named after General James A. Van Fleet.

It is protected as a Florida State Park and occupies a 29.2 mile abandoned railroad corridor through Central Florida's Green Swamp area. It extends from Polk City in the south to Mabel in the north.

It passes through Bay Lake and crosses Lake, Polk and Sumter counties.

The entire 29.2 mile length of the trail is paved approximately 12-foot wide and is mostly straight, containing only one slight curve toward the southern end of the trail just north of the Polk City trailhead.

Contents 1 Fauna 2 Recreational Activities 3 Hours and fees 4 Accessibility 5 Amenities 6 References

[edit] Fauna

Among the wildlife that can be seen along the trail are egrets, herons and various raptors.

[edit] Recreational Activities

Activities include walking, running, inline skating, hiking, horseback riding, biking, and viewing wildlife.

[edit] Hours and fees

Florida state parks are open between 8 A.M. and sundown every day of the year (including holidays).. There is no admission necessary to use the park.

[edit] Accessibility

The trail has four trailheads with parking areas specifically for the trail, each spaced approximately 7.5 miles apart. These are located in Polk City at the intersection of State Road 33 and County Road 665, Green Pond, FL at the intersection of State Road 33 and Green Pond Road, Bay Lake at the intersection of Bay Lake Road (County Road 565) and the trail itself and finally in Mabel where the trail intersects with State Road 50.

[edit] Amenities

Amenities include a picnic pavilion, several picnic tables, restrooms, and drinking fountains.

Restrooms and drinking fountains are available at the Mabel, Green Pond and Polk City Trailheads. Parking is available at all four trailheads.

[edit] References

• Florida's Greenways & Trails
  • General James A. Van Fleet Trail State Park
  • Van Fleet State Trail
• General James A. Van Fleet State Trail at Absolutely Florida
• Van Fleet State Trail at Wildernet

• General James A. Van Fleet State Trail is at coordinates 28°28′52″N 81°56′02″W / 28.481, -81.934 (General James A. Van Fleet State Trail)Coordinates: 28°28′52″N 81°56′02″W / 28.481, -81.934 (General James A. Van Fleet State Trail)

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