Van Fleet Trail in Orlando FL

[+ipoded]

Hi!

I'm on a vacation in Orlando FL Dec 22nd to Jan 5th and I'm planning to do the Van Fleet Trail by bike.

Is anybody planning to do the same geo-bike-trip? Would be nice to share the experience with somebody

 

Has anybody done the trail and do you have some advice/help/suggestions for my upcoming trip?

 

Any other great caching experiences in the Orlando area that are a must-to-do?

 

Thanks for all the answers and help you give!

 

Sincerely,

ipoded

[Keystone]

I am moving this thread from the Geocaching Topics forum to the South and Southeast forum.

[+Isonzo Karst]

Not planning to bike and cache that trail, so I'm no help on the companionship, but I am quite familiar with the trail. It's flat asphalt in good condition. It runs north/south and has decent shade most of the day being tree lined. Even in the winter, you might be happy to have shade.

The trail from US 50 on the north, to Polk City on the south and is about 30 miles. Lots of covered shelters along the trail, some built out over the surrounding swamps. Water available only at US 50, Green Pond and Polk City.

 

Coming from Orlando, depending on where you're staying, you could come I-4, which will put you on the south end of the trail in Polk city, http://coord.info/GC2RZKJ, and the trail from that point north runs through a mix of residential, rural and state held lands for about 10 miles to Green Pond Trailhead, http://coord.info/GCZR9Z. If you come from Orlando west on U.S 50, you'll be at the north terminus of the trail, US 50 parking, see http://coord.info/GC2T9VJ

There's also parking (but no other amenities) at Bay Lake trail head, about 9 miles south of US 50, http://coord.info/GC2YDAT.

 

The 19 mile north section of the trail is my favorite, as it's surrounded by public lands, state forest or water management district lands, no crossing paved roads, and only one crossing forest road at Bay Lake.

This is from US 50 down to the Green Pond Trailhead.

 

Here's a link to The Blue Man's bookmarked list of caches, Your Orlando Vacation

Edited August 19, 2012 by Isonzo Karst