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Ft. Clinch State Park Mountain Bike Trail
Fernandina Beach, Florida
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:    |
19 trail reviews |
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Status: updated 1/1/08 by Metal_Head |
Difficulty:  Beginner |
| Length: 6 miles | Global Rank: #1635 |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Loop |
| Ridden: 59 | Wishlist: 26 |
| Avg. Speed: 10.05 mph | Avg. Time: 1hr 45min |
| Elevation Gain/Loss: +65/-420 ft |
Directions
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Description:
added in 2003 by guest
To view directions to Ft. Clinch State Park mountain bike trail, please login. If you don't have an account, sign up for a free account - it only takes a minute.
Description:
added in 2003 by guest 
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by red_stripe on May 16, 2012
fun and fast trail. can get a bit sandy but overall well maintained
reviewed by Smplthngs on March 5, 2012
I rode this trail for the first time on 3-4-12. I am truly a beginner as this is my 3rd trip on a MTB. I found it to be a lot of fun with the up and down hills, narrow corners, and obstacles. I enjoyed the cool shade and breeze plus I think this trail will teach me a lot about my bike and how to handle it. I see people talking about going fast and had 2 guys give me notice as they were nearing me. So I pulled out of the way as they were very experienced no doubt. Then I thought should they really be going that fast if there are hikers just over the hill or worse kids. I came up on a lady with 2 dogs on a corner and thought the dogs were gonna attack after I surprised them. I was going a very easy pace too.
reviewed by jeffrey_j on December 31, 2011
Great trail if you live in Jax/S. GA. If you live in S. Jax or St Augustine, Graham Swamp is a more fun, technical ride, but Ft. Clinch is a great overall ride for pretty much anybody. Bi-directional for hikers and bikers so be cautious!
reviewed by jordanw on March 29, 2011
This is a good trail with a little bit of everything. Good trail to work on skills and learn.
reviewed by FL_Biker904 on March 17, 2011
i rode here today. the trail is well maintained by the park. they cover a lot of the real loose sugar sand with mulch 'but theres still a few bad spots' overall the trail flows really good, and theres some good diversity
reviewed by vanevanson on January 9, 2011
I ride this trail the most since I started mtn biking in June 2010. The sugar sand will surprise you. The trail is maintained by the State Parks of Florida. They hold an annual race here and even when talking to some of the racers they say its a pretty tough course. There are 2 berms on this trail that are difficult to get up for me. For the most part, I love this trail. I drive 20 miles to ride this over the trails I live by in Ga. The trails I live by need some serious conditioning. I've been called hard core because of that. My ex-girl friend rides trails in Little Rock, Ar all the time and she said this trail was a difficult one as well. And she is a bad ass mtn biker.
* Review edited 1/17/2011
reviewed by reif-s on December 9, 2009
I heard that this trail had a nice "flow" and that proved to be very accurate. There was never long periods of ups and then long periods of downs, rather there is quick changes in elevation that made it a nice ride. The single track is relatively narrow and not too challenging for riders with moderate experience. I know that there are races here and I think it would be an excellent place to race. On top of the good trails, this is a beautiful coastal place with a lot of Civil War history.
reviewed by Narcosis on November 28, 2009
Superb training trail for a beginner in transition to intermediate level riding. This trail will MAKE you look ahead to see what is coming up, because if you don’t the penalty can be head splitting, literally. There are many low hanging branches lurking out of corners, heading down slopes and along the flat sections. Roots are plentiful and will challenge riders on small climbs, especially right before reaching the peak, and these aren’t small roots. I found the trail to be pretty flowy, with only the thick sand slowing me down. At first I thought the low hanging branches and many roots were uncalled for since this is considered a beginner trail, but branches and roots build character and will make riders better. I wouldn’t take an inexperienced rider or small kid here due to high likelihood of frustration taking over. The Florida State Championship off road bike series holds their second race of the season here, so that should give an indication this is no Sunday stroll trail. This is an Easy Plus trail and on the verge of intermediate status in terms of skill required.
Similar Trail: Blanket's Creek Dwelling Loop.
reviewed by robwas on February 18, 2009
I just happened to be camping at this park on a return trip from fishing the FL keys. My friend and I both had our Mtn bikes and saw there was a trail within the park itself so we decided to check it out. Our expectations were sandy, flat and something seniors would be riding on their beach cruisers but boy were we SURPRISED! Admittedly we were both way out of shape, not biking in years but this trail was a blast and perfect for our fitness level. There aren't any huge hill climbs but the trail has a lot of short (some steep even) up and downs, I guess terrain made by the sand dunes, however, most of it is not sandy in the least. There were a few spots out near the campgrounds but most of it was good solid singletrack, some roots but nothing ridiculous and a couple logs here and there. Great riding for a beginner or someone just getting back into trail riding it's sure to inspire more rides.
reviewed by jakegeorge823 on May 11, 2008
Next to the beach, Ft. Clinch is a six mile loop thru sand dunes, giving this trail a surprising amount of up and down for being on the coast. It is a good, narrow singletrack riding through the trees, not terribly difficult, but a lot of fun. At times, you can catch a glimpse of the marsh on the west side, but only a glimpse before you have to get your eyes back on the track. This trail can be ridden as fast as you want as there are surprisingly few roots in the trail. I've heard that when it hasn't rained for awhile the trail the sand can bog you down, but we rode it the day after a rain and it was perfect. Overall, a really fun ride.
reviewed by Pajizzle on February 4, 2008
Last weekend was my first trip to Ft. Clinch. The trails are fast and fun. Easy ride for beginers like me and the most up & downs I've ridden in jax. Don't forget your helmet or the ranger will be all over you.
reviewed by hazbiker on June 5, 2007
Due to recent rains, trail is fast and fun. There are a few wet patches in one area but nothing to get too dirty about!
reviewed by pyrophly on April 15, 2007
This is a super fun trail. It's a hell of a lot better than Hanna Park. It's never as crowded, it's well shaded, it flows fairly well. Not alot of roots either. If your riding with people that aren't very experienced it a good place to start.
reviewed by tlanta on July 11, 2006
when my friends invited me to the island, they told me to take my bike. Since I didn't wan't them to be disappointed, so I took it and told them that, being used to ride in CA and AZ (i live in GA now), I will be back in 20 minutes. Shame on me!. It took a little more than but I had a lot of fun.
reviewed by clkellogg on July 8, 2006
I loved these trails! The ups & downs were a work-out, the narrow paths were a challenge, the shade was awesome!
reviewed by EZ-E on July 18, 2005
Fun ups and downs on tree-covered dunes...trail is packed down but still a sandbox in many spots - ride after a good rain.
Similar Trail: Kathryn Hanna State Park (Mayport Naval Station)
reviewed by Kristi_B on May 23, 2005
The trail direction has recently been reversed; now you travel south along the river side and return on the beach side. If you haven't ridden here in a while, check it out - it's a nice change.
Similar Trail: Hanna
reviewed by Surfdaddy on March 7, 2005
I nice surprise. I live next to Hanna Parka so I am pleased but very used to Hanna. Ft Clinch was a good ride, lots of roller coaster up and down. If you are intermediate, then just don't go fast, if you are expert then go fast. Good, challenging, ride!
