Bicycling the Trails at Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center State Park

Most people associate the Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center State Park with the folk arts... you know quilting, blacksmiths,  spinning, weaving, music, instrument building, corn grinding.  Or perhaps with the events and festivals: Wild Azalea Festival, Tractor Show, Florida Folk Festival, Rural Folk Life Days, Festival of Lights, and more!

Museum decked out for Christmas

Some think of the Suwannee River and the canoe launch, the Carillon Tower, or perhaps Stephen Foster for whom the park is named.  But few give long thought to the fantastic back country trails including the Florida Trail which traverses the park.

Suwannee River
base of Spring House view

Well, on a brisk December afternoon I opted for a bike ride on the off-road trails.  The shadows were already becoming long at 2 PM when I started down the trail so it was obvious this would be a shorter ride.

Winter afternoon sunlight
at the trail head

It appeared that no one had traveled the trail in some time as the leaves were several inches thick.  This was probably a good thing because I couldn't see all the roots.  And as the roots were not visible I simply sailed over them!

Leaf carpeted trail

The more than 33 miles of back trails are beautiful and excellent for hiking or riding.  The 8 mile Hammock Loop trail tends to be somewhat narrow, you know the type treasured by serious off-road cyclists and hikers.  It can be a challenging trail so I tend to take it a little slower.

Trails can twist, turn, and
quickly climb or drop in elevation

For a break you can cycle (or hike) the back roads which offer a wider trail along with varied riding surfaces, beautiful scenery, and many of the same challenges as the narrower trails.

An inviting road
from the campground to the river

Next time you visit the park, take an extra day or two to investigate both Stephen Foster and Big Shoals trails.  Now both parks are adjacent to the Suwannee River and the trails will collect water so check with the rangers regarding trail condition and water level as one never knows what is passable.

See you on the road!