Cycling on Amelia Island

Now that I’ve got a modern, new bicycle it’s much more pleasurable to cycle around Amelia Island. I’m still getting used to my Giant Liv Enchant – since I haven’t done much riding the last few years, I need work on my balance, speed, and stamina. But with miles of new bike trails, better sidewalks, and safer bike lanes, people are island-pedaling now more than ever. Did you know that the number one question asked by tourists when they visit Amelia Island is, “Are there safe places to ride a bike around the island?”
 

 

Cycling is one of the most versatile sports that anyone can participate in, and it’s also great fun. This past weekend I thought it would be enjoyable to try out some of the new trails that will now take you safely from the north end of Amelia Island to the very southern tip, and even beyond that. Some folks are under the misconception that there is one long, paved trail to take you through the island, but that is not true. The Amelia Island Bike Trail is a series of trails that connect together so that you can ride everywhere around the island safely. The thing I like about the island trails is they are diverse and distinctive everywhere you go, making your cycling experience fun and rewarding no matter where you cycle on the island.

      

I began my trip at Fort Clinch State Park, the most northern tip of Amelia Island. You can take the back trails if you have an off-road bike, and they are pretty challenging. But I chose to take the easier route on the main road, which brought me from the Amelia River though the state park’s maritime hammock and estuarine tidal marsh. When I got to the entrance of the park, I crossed Atlantic Avenue and continued out behind the Atlantic Recreation Center, where I entered Egans Creek Greenway.

 

      

The Greenway is one of my favorite parts of the trail. It is all off-road, but easy to bike, and I always see a multitude of birds, turtles, and occasionally a raccoon or otter. It was a beautiful, sunny day as I traveled the trail across Jasmine Street, and onto the southern part of the Greenway, which now goes all the way to Sadler Road, behind the Residence Inn. I highly recommend picking up a map of the Greenway, as there are other side trails and you can get turned around a little if you’re not paying attention. But I managed to come out unscathed, and then turned left toward the beach, riding on the sidewalk for a short distance until I came to 1^st Avenue, where I took a right.

      

1^st Avenue runs parallel to Fletcher, a quiet neighborhood street with very little traffic and friendly people who greeted me good morning as I cycled through. When I reached Bill Melton Drive and the Fernandina Golf Course, I rode through that neighborhood until I reached the Buccaneer Trail. The sidewalk along this road is very safe to ride on – it’s quite a ways back from the main road, and a treat awaits cyclists along that part of the trail - the Ten Acres Kraft Athletic Club. A private organization, Ten Acres has a large sign at its gate that welcomes bicyclists to come into the club to rest by the river.

      

This is a nice place to take a break, have a snack, drink some water, and enjoy the view of the river. If you ride down here at sunset, the view is especially picturesque. After my rest, I rode south until I came to A1A, which took me all the way to the south end of the island, to Amelia River State Park. This part of the trail is where I noticed so much improvement – the bike lanes are wide and safe, and cyclists are easily seen by motorists.

      

If I were to continue over the Nassau Sound, I would have discovered even more trails through Big and Little Talbot Islands, and if I was feeling even more adventurous, I could ride straightaway to Mayport, take the ferry across the St. John’s River, and ride all the way to Jacksonville, and even St. Augustine. Whew! I think I’ll save that for another day.

      

For a map of Amelia’s bike trails and more information, visit: www.ameliaislandtrail.org and www.ameliaisland.com/biketrails