Rail trail · Florida
General James A. Van Fleet State Trail
A dead-straight 29-mile paved rail-trail through the remote Green Swamp in central Florida, offering a rare backcountry corridor far from urban noise.
Length
29 miles
Surface
Paved
Route
Point to point
Endpoints
Mabel (Polk County) to Bay Lake (Sumter County)
Season
Year-round; fall through spring is cooler and drier, with summer heat and humidity. Morning starts recommended to avoid afternoon storms in summer.
Plan your ride or walk
The Van Fleet Trail cuts a near-perfectly straight 29-mile corridor through the Green Swamp, one of the largest and most ecologically important undeveloped landscapes in Florida. There are no towns, no services, and almost no road crossings along the route, making it genuinely remote by Florida standards. The paved surface is flat the entire way as a legacy of its railroad grade, passing through longleaf-pine flatwoods, cypress swamp edges, and open scrub. Wildlife is the draw: sandhill cranes, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, and gopher tortoises are commonly seen, and alligators use the drainage ditches alongside the trail. Because the corridor is so isolated, bring all the water and food you need before you set out; there are no facilities along the way.
Getting there
The northern trailhead near Mabel is on County Road 471 in Polk County, roughly 35 miles south of Orlando. The southern trailhead at Bay Lake sits off County Road 471 in Sumter County. Both ends have small parking areas. The trail has no interior parking, so plan an out-and-back or arrange a shuttle between the two ends.
Official trail information
Confirm current conditions, closures, and any required trail pass on the managing agency’s page.
Florida State Parks: General James A. Van Fleet State TrailWhat to bring
Gear keyed to a long, flat trail day: footwear, hydration, sun protection, and a pack sized for the distance.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Van Fleet State Trail?
The General James A. Van Fleet State Trail is 29 miles long, running point to point on a flat, paved former-railroad corridor through the Green Swamp. Most visitors ride or walk an out-and-back segment rather than the full one-way length.
Are there any services or water stops along the Van Fleet Trail?
No. The trail passes through remote Green Swamp land with no towns, no restrooms, and no water along the route. Both end trailheads have portable restrooms but no running water, so bring everything you need before you start.
What wildlife might I see on the Van Fleet Trail?
The Green Swamp corridor is excellent for wildlife. Sandhill cranes, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, gopher tortoises, and a wide range of wading birds are commonly seen. Alligators use the drainage ditches alongside the trail, so stay on the paved surface.
Is the Van Fleet Trail paved and free to use?
Yes, the trail is fully paved and flat. Florida State Parks does not charge an entry fee for this trail, so it is free to use for walking, running, and cycling.
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