East Central Regional Rail Trail Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

East Central Regional Rail Trail is a recreational trail (and former rail trail) in Volusia County and the Space Coast that constitutes a part of Florida's Coast-to-Coast Trail. A paved trail, the route is popular with cyclists, as it crosses a variety of ecosystems and scenic areas including cypress groves, forests, and pine flatwoods. The trail is approximately 50 mi (80 km) from its westernmost point in Enterprise (near Deltona) to its easternmost point in Titusville, and is open to hikers and cyclists.

The trail is part of the Coast-to-Coast Trail, a project started in the 2000s, to construct a paved, multiuse recreational trail from Florida's Gulf Coast to the Atlantic Ocean. For funding and logistical purposes, the trail was split into several smaller trails with cooperation with local county and regional authorities. The East Central Regional Rail Trail is among the longest of these trails and is one of the earliest completed segments, with 50 mi (80 km) of trail constructed and dedicated in the 2010s.

As its name implies, the rail trail follows the route of one of the many railroads that historically crisscrossed Florida during its agricultural boom of the late 19th and 20th centuries. Much of the route parallels the Osteen-Maytown Road and therefore includes multiple parking lots/staging areas to access different parts of the trail. Notably, the trail fork into two tributaries about halfway along its route, with the southern fork going to Titusville (providing a link to the Intracoastal Waterway and Canaveral National Seashore) and the northern fork going to Edgewater.

Some parts of the trail have intermittent benches and road markings for cyclists, while other parts are merely pavement, as the route was constructed in short segments across several years. The Titusville fork of the trail, for example, includes semi-regular roundabouts enabling cyclists to make u-turns without stopping, while the Osteen-Maytown segment of the trail is elevated with several bridges over creeks. Being a rail trail, there are dirt banks along the side of the path for much of its length, and the trail is raised above its surroundings, which are swamp for much of the route.

Visit during the winter because heat in summer makes cycling or hiking on this route difficult. Much of the path isn't under shade, and the pavement gets heated by direct sunlight. Consider distances; some parts of the path are longer than they appear on a map, but there are signs along the way that indicate half-mile markers, distances to different segments and parking, and region maps.

Map of East Central Regional Rail Trail

All access points to the trail are parking lots accessible by car. The nearest passenger train station is the 28.8545-81.32271 DeBary Sunrail Station. US-17 connects the station to the 28.866-81.31682 Spring-to-Spring Trail, which accesses 28.8628-81.31153 Gemini Springs and the East Central Regional Rail Trail.

For more information on the Coast-to-Coast Trail, which includes the Spring-to-Spring Trail and the East Central Regional Rail Trail, see the Florida Department of Environmental Protection website. However, this map lacks information regarding staging points and access areas to the trail and shows only the route, with completed parts of the route in green and incomplete parts of the route in dotted purple. Volusia County provides a map of access points as of the path's planning stage in 2009.

Following the trail from west to east:

• 28.8662-81.25534 Thornby Park Trailhead, 110 Providence Blvd, Deltona. The westernmost point of the trail, allowing access from Deltona. A parking lot is a few minutes' walk south of the paved path. (updated Dec 2024)

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  28.8462-81.1625 Osteen Trailhead (I. Walter Hawkins Veterans Memorial Park), New Smyrna Blvd, Osteen (turn southeast on New Smyrna Blvd from FL-415). Direct access to the trail near the FL-415 bridge in downtown Osteen, along with parking and a small city park. From Osteen to Gobbers Lodge trailhead, the path follows alongside the route of the Osteen-Maytown Rd. (updated Dec 2024)
• 28.8453-81.06026 Gobblers Lodge Trailhead, Gobblers Lodge Rd, Osteen (turn south on Gobbers Lodge Rd from Osteen-Maytown Rd). Direct access to the trail east of Osteen with a parking lot and staging area. East of Gobblers Lodge, the path diverges from the Osteen-Maytown Rd as it turns southeast toward Maytown. (updated Dec 2024)
  • 28.833-81.02641 Cow Creek Bridge (about 2 mi (3.2 km) east of Gobblers Lodge Trailhead). This series of two bridges across Cow Creek provides a good view into the local wetland ecosystem. Birds and alligators frequently congregate in the creekbed. (updated Dec 2024)
  • 28.8111-80.96487 Edgewater/Titusville Trail Fork. The trail forks into two segments northwest of the Maytown trailhead. If approaching from the west, the northeastern fork continues to Edgewater while the southeastern fork continues to the Maytown Trailhead and from there toward Titusville. (updated Dec 2024)

• 28.8072-80.95968 Maytown Trailhead, Maytown Spur Rd, Maytown (turn south on Maytown Spur Rd from Osteen-Maytown Rd). Direct access to the trail, along with parking and a restroom, in Maytown. This trailhead is close to the division between the Edgewater and Titusville forks. There is a pit stop south of the trailhead where you can buy water and snacks. Maytown Rd is not directly accessible from I-95; to access this trailhead from I-95, exit at Deering Pkwy or FL-442 and follow US-1 to the Maytown Rd exit. (updated Dec 2024)
  • 28.7903-80.94392 Kurt Eichin Memorial Trail. The trail from this point (at the Volusia/Brevard County line) to the south was designated in 2019 with a memorial plaque and roundabout. (updated Dec 2024)
  • 28.7519-80.90223 Scottsmoor Flatwoods Sanctuary. There are two entrances to the western part of the Scottsmoor Flatwoods Sanctuary from the trail north of the Aurantia Rd trailhad. One of these is marked by a short boardwalk and hiking trail at the southern end of the sanctuary while the other entrance, which is indicated by a larger sign, is found about a mile to the north near a roundabout. The sanctuary restores and preserves the pine flatwoods ecosystem native to Florida. (updated Dec 2024)
• 28.7288-80.88879 Aurantia Road Trailhead, Blounts Ridge Rd/Aurantia Rd, Mims. Direct access to the trail/parking lot between Maytown and Titusville. Aurantia Rd is not accessible from I-95, so if entering the trail from the freeway, exit at Deering Pkwy and follow US-1 south to access this trailhead. (updated Dec 2024)

The easternmost point of the trail is 28.613397-80.81211710 Canaveral Ave in central Titusville. There is parking in downtown Titusville but no parking at the trailhead.

The best options for food and lodging along the route can be found in Deltona, Sanford, and Titusville.

After exiting the Maytown Spur, the Edgewater fork of the trail follows an underpass under I-95 and turns north toward Edgewater, crossing the Osteen-Maytown Rd with a marked crosswalk (though beware of fast cars on the road).

• 28.9444-80.943111 Cow Creek Trailhead, Cow Creek Rd, Edgewater. Direct access to the trail/parking lot south of Edgewater, not far from FL-442. Just follow Cow Creek Rd south from the highway. Going north from Maytown, the route parallels I-95 until reaching Edgewater, when it turns east to end in the center of town near the airport. (updated Dec 2024)
• 28.9861-80.921512 Rotary Park, 902 W Park Ave, Edgewater, ☏ +1 386 424-2485. The trail ends a block away on Dale Ave, but parking is available at Rotary Park. (updated Dec 2024)

Alligators and bears are common wildlife along the route. Alligators typically inhabit waterways and won't be dangerously near as long as you stick to the path. Black bears are more of a concern; see dangerous animals for further information.

Some parts of the trail aren't close to public view or emergency services. In particular, the segment of the trail on the Maytown Spur between Maytown and Titusville isn't adjacent to any public roads or access routes.

The trail includes regular markers (mile or half-mile) showing the distance to the next segment of the path, the coordinates, the county, and the name of the regional trail, although the exact appearance and details of these markers vary depending upon the segment of the route. Markers also include emergency (911) and non-emergency numbers to call in case of need for assistance.

• Canaveral National Seashore is a nature preserve to the north of the Kennedy Space Center with wildlife drives, hiking trails, and public beaches.
• New Smyrna Beach is a beach town to the north of Edgewater. While there is no direct link from the Edgewater trailhead, the beach at New Smyrna is open to the public with free and permited parking options and 13 mi (21 km) of beaches.