General James A. Van Fleet State Trail

Infobox_protected_area | name = General James A. Van Fleet State Trail
iucn_category = V

---

caption =
locator_x = 228
locator_y = 155
location = Lake, Polk and Sumter counties, USA
nearest_city = Lakeland, Florida
lat_degrees = 28
lat_minutes = 28
lat_seconds = 52
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 81
long_minutes = 56
long_seconds = 02
long_direction = W
area = convert|29.2|mi|km|sing=on length
established =
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = Florida Department of Environmental Protection

General James A. Van Fleet State Trail is a rail trail in Florida, named after General James A. Van Fleet.

It is protected as a Florida State Park and occupies a convert|29.2|mi|km|sing=on abandoned railroad corridor through Central Florida's Green Swamp area. It extends from Polk City in the south to Mabel in the north.

It passes through Bay Lake and crosses Lake, Polk and Sumter counties.

The entire convert|29.2|mi|km|sing=on length of the trail is paved approximately convert|12|ft|m|sing=on wide and is mostly straight, containing only one slight curve toward the southern end of the trail just north of the Polk City trailhead.

Fauna

Among the wildlife that can be seen along the trail are egrets, herons and various raptors.

Recreational Activities

Activities include walking, running, inline skating, hiking, horseback riding, biking, and viewing wildlife.

Hours and fees

FLparkhrs. There is no admission necessary to use the park.

Accessibility

The trail has four trailheads with parking areas specifically for the trail, each spaced approximately convert|7.5|mi|km apart. These are located in Polk City at the intersection of State Road 33 and County Road 665, Green Pond, FL at the intersection of State Road 33 and Green Pond Road, Bay Lake at the intersection of Bay Lake Road (County Road 565) and the trail itself and finally in Mabel where the trail intersects with State Road 50. The right of way for the former railroad line continues north under a bridge beneath SR 50 on its way to Sumterville.

Amenities

Amenities include a picnic pavilion, several picnic tables, restrooms, and drinking fountains.

Restrooms and drinking fountains are available at the Mabel, Green Pond and Polk City Trailheads. Parking is available at all four trailheads.

References

* [http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt Florida's Greenways & Trails]
** [http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/eastcentral/trails/general_james.htm General James A. Van Fleet Trail State Park]
** [http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/state/van/default.htm Van Fleet State Trail]
* [http://www.abfla.com/parks/GeneralJamesVanFleet/jamesvanfleet.html General James A. Van Fleet State Trail] at [http://www.abfla.com Absolutely Florida]
* [http://areas.wildernet.com/pages/area.cfm?areaID=FLSPVF&CU_ID=1 Van Fleet State Trail] at [http://www.wildernet.com Wildernet]