General James A. Van Fleet State Trail
Encyclopedia
General James A. Van Fleet State Trail is a rail trail
in Florida
, named after General James A. Van Fleet
, who was a distinguished combat commander in both World Wars and the Korean War.
It is protected as a Florida State Park
and occupies a 29.2 miles (47 km) abandoned Seaboard Air Line 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 miles (47 km) length of the trail is paved approximately 12 feet (3.7 m) wide and is mostly straight, containing only one slight curve toward the southern end of the trail just north of the Polk City trailhead.
that can be seen along the trail are egret
s, heron
s and various raptor
s. Also sighted are White-tailed deer
, Florida Gopher Tortoises
, American Alligator
s, Raccoon
s and Nine-banded Armadillo
s.
, running
, inline skating
, hiking
, horseback riding
, biking, and viewing wildlife.
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. The right of way for the former railroad line continues north under a bridge beneath SR 50 on its way to Coleman
. This line carried the Silver Meteor
between Coleman and Auburndale until 1988.
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.
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, named after General James A. Van Fleet
James Van Fleet
James Alward Van Fleet was a U.S. Army officer during World War I, World War II and the Korean War. Van Fleet was a native of New Jersey, who was raised in Florida and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy. He served as a regimental, divisional and corps commander during World War II and as...
, who was a distinguished combat commander in both World Wars and the Korean War.
It is protected as a Florida State Park
Florida State Parks
The Florida State Parks encompass the majority of the lands that fall under the authority of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. There are 160 such entities, including nature reserves, recreation areas, and historic sites, which can be found in every corner of the state...
and occupies a 29.2 miles (47 km) abandoned Seaboard Air Line Railroad
Seaboard Air Line Railroad
The Seaboard Air Line Railroad , which styled itself "The Route of Courteous Service," was an American railroad whose corporate existence extended from April 14, 1900, until July 1, 1967, when it merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, its longtime rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line...
corridor through Central Florida's Green Swamp
Green Swamp (Florida)
The Green Swamp is a swamp in Florida. It lies west of Highway 27 in Polk, Lake, Sumter, Hernando and Pasco Counties. The headwaters of the Peace River, Withlacoochee River, Ocklawaha River, and Hillsborough River are located here....
area. It extends from Polk City
Polk City, Florida
Polk City is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,516 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,515. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area...
in the south to Mabel
Mabel, Florida
Mabel is an unincorporated community in Central Sumter County, Florida. The postal codes are 33597, which is shared by Webster to the northwest and 33514, which is shared by Center Hill to the north.-Geography:...
in the north.
It passes through Bay Lake
Bay Lake, Florida
Bay Lake is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 23 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 22. It is named after Bay Lake, a lake east of the Magic Kingdom. Most of the Walt Disney World Resort, including...
and crosses Lake
Lake County, Florida
Lake County is a county located in the state of Florida, United States. As of the 2000 Census, the population was 210,528. The Census Bureau estimated the population in 2008 to be 307,243. Its county seat is Tavares...
, Polk
Polk County, Florida
Polk County is located in central Florida between the Tampa Bay and Greater Orlando metropolitan areas. The county was established by the state government in 1861 on the eve of the American Civil War and named after former United States president James K. Polk. The county seat is Bartow and its...
and Sumter
Sumter County, Florida
Sumter County is a county located in the state of Florida, United States. As of the 2000 Census, the population was 53,345. The 2006 Census estimate puts its population at 68,768 . Its county seat is Bushnell, Florida and the largest incorporated municipality is Wildwood, Florida. The Villages,...
counties.
The entire 29.2 miles (47 km) length of the trail is paved approximately 12 feet (3.7 m) wide and is mostly straight, containing only one slight curve toward the southern end of the trail just north of the Polk City trailhead.
Fauna
Among the wildlifeWildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
that can be seen along the trail are egret
Egret
An egret is any of several herons, most of which are white or buff, and several of which develop fine plumes during the breeding season. Many egrets are members of the genera Egretta or Ardea which contain other species named as herons rather than egrets...
s, heron
Heron
The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"....
s and various raptor
Bird of prey
Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. They are defined as birds that primarily hunt vertebrates, including other birds. Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing and/or piercing flesh....
s. Also sighted are White-tailed deer
White-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
, Florida Gopher Tortoises
Gopherus polyphemus
The gopher tortoise is a species of the Gopherus genus native to the southeastern United States. The gopher tortoise is seen as a keystone species because it digs burrows that provide shelter for 360 other animal species...
, American Alligator
American Alligator
The American alligator , sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator, is a reptile endemic only to the Southeastern United States. It is one of the two living species of alligator, in the genus Alligator, within the family Alligatoridae...
s, Raccoon
Raccoon
Procyon is a genus of nocturnal mammals, comprising three species commonly known as raccoons, in the family Procyonidae. The most familiar species, the common raccoon , is often known simply as "the" raccoon, as the two other raccoon species in the genus are native only to the tropics and are...
s and Nine-banded Armadillo
Nine-banded Armadillo
The nine-banded armadillo , or the nine-banded, long-nosed armadillo, is a species of armadillo found in North, Central, and South America, making it the most widespread of the armadillos...
s.
Recreational Activities
Activities include walkingWalking
Walking is one of the main gaits of locomotion among legged animals, and is typically slower than running and other gaits. Walking is defined by an 'inverted pendulum' gait in which the body vaults over the stiff limb or limbs with each step...
, running
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
, inline skating
Inline skating
Inline skating is a recreational sport practiced widely internationally. Inline skates typically have 2 to 5 polyurethane wheels, arranged in a single line. The in-line design allows for greater speed than roller skates and better maneuverability...
, hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, horseback riding
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
, biking, and viewing wildlife.
Accessibility
The trail has four trailheads with parking areas specifically for the trail, each spaced approximately 9.6 miles (15.4 km) apart. These are located in Polk CityPolk City, Florida
Polk City is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,516 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,515. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area...
at the intersection of State Road 33
Florida State Road 33
State Road 33 is a road running through Lake and Polk counties in Florida.-Route description:State Road 33 begins in Lakeland off US 92 and heads north to Polk City. From there, it traverses through mostly rural farmland into Lake County and Groveland. In Groveland, it intersects and begins a ...
and County Road 665, Green Pond, FL at the intersection of State Road 33 and Green Pond Road, Bay Lake
Bay Lake, Florida
Bay Lake is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 23 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 22. It is named after Bay Lake, a lake east of the Magic Kingdom. Most of the Walt Disney World Resort, including...
at the intersection of Bay Lake Road (County Road 565) and the trail itself and finally in Mabel
Mabel, Florida
Mabel is an unincorporated community in Central Sumter County, Florida. The postal codes are 33597, which is shared by Webster to the northwest and 33514, which is shared by Center Hill to the north.-Geography:...
where the trail intersects with State Road 50. The right of way for the former railroad line continues north under a bridge beneath SR 50 on its way to Coleman
Coleman, Florida
Coleman is a city in Sumter County, Florida, United States. The population was 647 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 679.-Geography:Coleman is located at ....
. This line carried the Silver Meteor
Silver Meteor
The Silver Meteor is a 1389-mile passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Silver Service brand, running from New York City, New York, south to Miami, Florida, via the Northeast Corridor to Washington, D.C., thence via Richmond, Virginia; Fayetteville, North Carolina; North Charleston, South...
between Coleman and Auburndale until 1988.
Amenities
Amenities include a picnicPicnic
In contemporary usage, a picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors , ideally taking place in a beautiful landscape such as a park, beside a lake or with an interesting view and possibly at a public event such as before an open air theatre performance,...
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.