South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
Mountain biking? Here? We’re the country’s flattest state, but Florida still offers amazing trail rides
Many Florida mountain biking enthusiasts know the experience all too well: They’ll mention mountain biking in the country’s flattest state, which tops out at 345 feet (in the Panhandle, mind you), and people will look at them as if they have five heads.
“Mountain biking? But Florida doesn’t have any… mountains?” they might inquire.
Yes, inquisitive friend, that may be true. But what I’ve learned, along with many other Sunshine State off-road cyclists, is that having real mountains is not a prerequisite for experiencing some amazing trail rides.
And the interest in cycling off-pavement is only growing in Florida.
“The growth of it in the last 10 years has been insane,” said J.C. Mazza, a trail builder who also assembles bikes at Kyle’s Bike Shop. “There’s a push toward mountain biking because it’s so dangerous to ride in traffic here. I like road riding, but I moved more toward the woods because trees don’t run you over.”
Orlando’s urban shreds
It’s common to see entire families out at Orlando Mountain Bike Park (899 Coy Drive in Orlando), a focal point of Lake Druid Park near Colonialtown. It’s also not uncommon to see junior giving mom or dad a run for their money, showing off with wheelies and jumps.
The park, which opened in 2015, features a pump track with wooden features, small jumps and berms for entry-level riders to cut their teeth on.
Back in the woods, 1.7 miles of a mountain bike trail, known as singletrack, awaits cyclists of all ages. Roots jut out and keep beginners on their toes, while rock gardens, wooden rollers and drops provide additional challenges for thrill-seeking riders.
It’s just one of several easily-accessible trails in the Orlando area. Soldier’s Creek in Winter Springs gives riders a fast 1.3-mile trail, while Markham Woods in Lake Mary presents eight miles of flowing singletrack surrounded by natural scenery near the Wekiva River.
It takes a village to support the trails
None of these trails would exist or stay rideable without the dedication of local enthusiasts and clubs tasked with maintaining them. Around the City Beautiful, that responsibility belongs to the Orlando chapter of the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association.
Sue van Bernum, the organization’s president, discovered mountain biking relatively recently but now feels passionate about working with land managers and maintaining the trails for all to enjoy.
“The best part about building trails is you’re actually preserving land,” she said.
“It’s family-oriented, unlike road biking. It just pulls a lot of people together.”
This is evident when heading out to trail maintenance days, which sometimes draw dozens of volunteers who donate their time to sustain the paths they so love.
“A lot of us don’t know each other, but it’s that love for mountain biking that brings us all together to support each other. And it’s the same thing with the trails,” said Shawn Lukens, owner of Mount Dora’s Adrenaline Bike Works. “None of this would exist in Florida without the community.”
Lukens fondly remembers Wednesday night rides at Markham Woods (before the pandemic), which would frequently bring out more than 100 riders to share good times and grill out after the ride.
The growing community reflects surging interest in riding trails, and it’s local organizations like the Ocala Mountain Bike Association, Swamp Mountain Bike Club, Brevard Mountain Bike Association and SORBA Orlando that help make this type of outdoor recreation possible.
“The scene has gotten huge since SORBA Orlando got going,” Mazza said. “There are definitely more places to ride now.”
Florida’s ‘Mecca’ of mountain biking
While the Orlando-area offers several exciting riding opportunities close to home, local riders are quick to point out that there are plenty more trails a short drive away.
“Within an hour and a half, there are