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BASIC TRAIL INFO

 

The Suncoast Trail is owned by Florida Department of Transportation, Turnpike Enterprise, and operated and maintained by the three counties' Parks and Recreation Departments. 

 

It is part of Florida's statewide system of greenways and trails.  You can explore maps and descriptions for this and other trails in Florida by visiting www.floridagreenwaysandtrails.com. Another option is to click the link below to go to the Greenways and Trails Online Trail Guide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Defining the trail: The Suncoast Trail, a 41.3 mile,  paved multi-use, recreational trail, begins at Lutz-Lake Fern Road (Suncoast Parkway, Exit 16), in Hillsborough County and stretches northward through Pasco County to U.S. Highway 98, in Hernando County.

 

As part of the Suncoast Parkway project, it was constructed parallel to the western side of the highway. Phase I, from Lutz-Lake Fern Road to State Road 50 opened along with the Parkway itself in 2001. Phase II, from S.R. 50 north to U.S. 98, was completed a couple of years later.  The trail, as we know it now (2015), had an official dedication ceremony, for Phase II, that took place on April 26, 2003 at the S.R. 50 trailhead.

 

The future looks brighter all the time for this gem of a trail. From being included in a future cross-Florida pathway network, called the Coast To Coast Connector, to having it bridge a 7 mile gap that will link it to the Upper Tampa Bay Trail.  The U.T.B.T. connector is a multi-phase, work in progress that is currently underway (March 2015).

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Four miles north of S.R. 54, the paved multi-use Starkey Park Trail ventures 6.5-mile west and connects the Suncoast Trail to the J. B. Starkey Wilderness Park in New Port Richey. 2011 saw the connector extended to the front of the park, near Starkey Blvd.  Future plans for connecting it to the Pinellas Trail having been drawn up and will utilize the bike path that runs south along Starkey Blvd. to S.R. 54 .  

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SIDE NOTE: To comprehend the magnitude of what is being done to unite the Florida coasts, click the "Coast To Coast Trail Florida" logo, below.

 

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SUNCOAST TRAIL LAYOUT

 

Although motor vehicles are prohibited along the entire length of the trail, it stays close to the parkway, only separated by fences, grass, and in some places concrete barriers.

 

Bridges that cross rivers and streams were built with enough width to accommodate trail users. Where roads cross above the parkway, particularly north of State Road 52, the trail briefly strays from the parkway, allowing users to cross the intersecting road at a level grade.

 

 

ROAD CROSSINGS

 

Locations where the trail intersects with minor roadways, pedestrian and cyclists are made aware the cross traffic via posted signage.

 

At the busier intersections, pedestrian crossing signals have been incororated as part of the traffic signal systems that are already in place.

 

The notable exception is at the State Road 50 interchange near Brooksville, where a dedicated overpass has been constructed to cross S.R. 50, approximately 500 feet west of the main parkway.

 

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TRAILHEADS & INTERSECTIONS

 

To better comprehend the topic a color-coded list as been generated. 

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MAJOR intersections appear in RED.

MINOR intersections appear in GREEN.

 

Official TRAILHEADS appear in italicized CAPS.

 

• LUTZ-LAKE FERN ROAD (Hillsborough) 

• STATE ROAD 54 (Pasco)

• J.B. STARKEY WILDERNESS PARK (Pasco)

• STATE ROAD 52/CONCOURSE NATURE PARK (Pasco)

• Shady Hills Road/CREWS LAKE WILDERNESS PARK (Pasco)

• Caldwell Lane

• Lawless Road

• West Bowman Road

• County Line Road (Pasco/Hernando)

• ANDERSON SNOW REGIONAL PARK (Hernando)

• Corporate Boulevard

• Spring Hill Drive (Hernando)

• Power Rd

• Switch Back Road

• Highfield Road

• GAR STREET/U.S 50 TRAILHEAD & REST AREA

• State Road 50 (Bridge removes crossing risk)  (Hernando)

• Rester Road

• Bailey Hill Road

• Centralia Road (Hernando)

• Seville Road

• Landfill Road

• U.S. HIGHWAY 98 (Hernando)

 

AMENITIES

 

There are watering stations in both Hillsborough and Pasco Counties that are frequently filled on a daily basis.

Information on amenities (such as restroom options, water coolers & fountains and places to purchase snacks and beverages) can be found by clicking the button labeled "The Lowdown on...", and then selecting the sub-tab "Amenities".

 

 

 

TRAIL MARKERS

 

There are essentially three types of markers that a paved multi-use trail system can have installed. 

 

1. The first would be a marker that designates one trail from another at an intersection. Currently, only the entryway to Starkey Park has such a sign (see photo, left). 

 

2. Next are the mile markers.  Two different types have been identified on the trail.  The first one is of good size and laid in concrete slight to the side of the trail. Unless you know where to look for the markers, one can easily pedal past them. The other type is a stencil applied directly to the trail surface.  It is much smaller than the other and it too can be easy to miss (see photo, left).

 

3. The final markers I will mention are about to be installed. These will be specifically for Suncoast Trail users needing emergency assistance.

Like other trails nationwide, officials recognized the need for the installation of a system that will help emergency workers identify and navigate to an exact location, with a faster response time, along the 41 mile trail.

 

The markers to be installed will probably be of the type that gets affixed to the pavement (as opposed to a being a similar to a highway mile marker sign). They will be installed at predetermined, evenly spaced intervals and will be made from a durable, UV resistant material expected to last several years. Each marker has its own unique, easily readable number, an address - basically,  which trail users can give to a 9-1-1 operator in case of an emergency.

 

 

FEES

 

Use of the Suncoast Trail is free, but in late 2010 parking fees were implemented and most of the official trailheads now charge a fee to park.  Do note that additional parking is available at Crews Lake Park in Shady Hills, where a fee is charged.

 

Current access to the trail is available at all crossing of public roads, many of which in, Hernando county, have become roadside, free of charge, trailheads.