Jacksonville-Baldwin Trail

It’s been interesting to watch the growth and improvement of this trail since Feet First’s initial visit in 2000. Then it was a nice trail through the trees between Jacksonville and Baldwin with one bathroom in the middle and an abundance of shade, making it ideal for Florida summers.

The trail we rode today is all that and a whole bunch more. At 9 a.m. Mark, Bruce, first-time tour rider Rachel and I headed east on the trail to Jacksonville, starting from the Baldwin Trailhead that’s connected to a city park with picnic pavilions, nice restroom facilities and a playground for kids. A skateboard park is under construction next to the trail. The trail and park planners have turned this into a recreation destination.

About half way along the route east, we detoured to explore Camp Milton Civil War State Park. It’s a place packed with history, has a wonderful shaded boardwalk, and much more, and there is direct access to the trail. It’s providing another destination for visitors and trail users alike.

At the east and west ends of the Jacksonville-Baldwin the trailheads aren’t fancy, but the Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Department has equipped them with porta-potties, which shows somebody is thinking about what trail users might need and further indicates they’ve done the important math to figure the MPB (miles per bladder) we boomers need.

All of this, along with the nice ride and good company, made for a fine day on the trail. We went at a quicker pace than in the previous days, but still found time to look at the bunnies, the quail and fox squirrels along the way. Bruce, Rachel and I wrapped it up with a dinner stop at Everybody’s Restaurant on U.S. 90 in Baldwin. We enjoyed a classic Southern meat-and-three, and the “Baby Doll” down-home atmosphere of a restaurant where folks look at guys a little funny if they aren’t wearing ball caps. Bruce did get a lesson in North Florida economics. “Cash has worked just fine since 1949,” advised the waitress who served attitude equally as well as she did food, and offered to put him to work washing dishes. Rachel came to his rescue.
Total miles: 30
- Gary Kirkland
Photos are posted in the gallery.

Trail Condition: Excellent
Facilities: Excellent
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