| Those who are expecting an urban trail will be | | | | from a gun range near the trail is the only break in the |
| pleasantly surprised to discover the true beauty of the | | | | serenity of the Jacksonville-Baldwin trail. |
| Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail. Traveling its 14.5 mile | | | | About 6 miles west of the Imeson Road trailhead lays |
| length, the rider will cycle through diverse habitats, | | | | Camp Milton State Park, with a direct link from the bike |
| including pine flatwoods, wetlands, and hardwood | | | | trail. This was a Confederate Army encampment |
| uplands, as well as pastureland. Wildlife including deer, | | | | during the Civil War. You can visit the ruins of the |
| rabbits, gopher tortoises, snakes, turkey, eagles, and | | | | defensive works, a recreated homestead, boardwalk, |
| hawks are also seen. Watch out for the cows that will | | | | and campaign bridge replica. There are modern |
| sometimes wander onto the trail and listen for roosters | | | | restrooms here, located just off the |
| on the nearby farms. | | | | Jacksonville-Baldwin Trail, which forms the northern |
| The dense tree canopy is among the most beautiful in | | | | boundary of the State Park. |
| Florida, providing intermittent shade and in some places | | | | Biking west another 5.5 miles takes the rider to the |
| creating a tunnel-like experience. While there are | | | | Baldwin Trailhead. Here the trail connects to a city park |
| restaurants, shops and gas stations near the Imeson | | | | that includes picnic pavilions, restrooms (portable toilets |
| and Baldwin trailheads, this is not the trail for those | | | | only), and a playground. Baldwin is a town of about |
| seeking restaurants and other amenities! Because | | | | 1,600 residents, founded in 1835 as a farming and |
| facilities along the trail are sparse, the rider is | | | | railroad community. The railroad tracks run through |
| encouraged to bring plenty of water and snacks. The | | | | town in all four directions, and Everybody's Restaurant |
| trail crosses only a few roads and being a rail-trail | | | | is a favorite stop for home-cooked meals. |
| (mostly flat and straight), it is equally popular with | | | | Another 3 miles west takes you to the Brady Branch |
| serious cyclists for distance and training rides and with | | | | Road trailhead and the end of the 14.5 mile trail. Here |
| recreational riders and families. | | | | bikers will find plenty of parking and more portable |
| The trail was developed from an unused rail corridor | | | | toilets. |
| acquired from the CSX railway line, and has been | | | | While not an official trailhead, many trail users park at |
| incorporated into the State of Florida Greenways and | | | | Camp Milton State Park. A short paved pathway |
| Trails project through a partnership between the City | | | | leads from the parking lot to the bike trail. There are no |
| of Jacksonville, the Florida Department of | | | | entrance fees to the State Park and here riders enjoy |
| Environmental Protection, and various other | | | | ready access the only full restroom facilities along the |
| organizations. Officially a city park, the trail is very well | | | | trail. Parking here also places you in one of the nicest, |
| maintained by the City of Jacksonville and | | | | shadiest sections of the trail. Camp Milton is located off |
| Jacksonville-Baldwin Trail volunteers. | | | | of Halsema Road, about 1.7 miles north of U.S. route |
| The eastern end of the trail is at Imeson Road, north | | | | 90. |
| of Commonwealth Avenue and west of I-295, about 5 | | | | Other than the first road crossing just west of the |
| miles west of Jacksonville. The Imeson Road trailhead | | | | Imeson trailhead, here are no "bad" crossings. Most of |
| has restroom (portable toilets at this writing) and | | | | the "Vehicle Crossings" signs are for gated |
| benches. The parallel equestrian trail starts here as | | | | forestry-service roads and most of these haven't |
| well. From this point, the first three miles are mostly | | | | been used in years. Overall, there are few real road |
| open, traversing residential neighborhoods with little | | | | crossings, making this one of the most pleasant and |
| shade, but this quickly falls behind. Occasional gunfire | | | | relaxing bike rides in Florida. |