MTB TRAIL STATS

Avg Rating:	49 trail reviews
Status: Open updated 6/21/09 by ositoking Closed Open Wet / Sketchy	Difficulty: Advanced
Length: 10 miles	Global Rank: #258
Tread: Singletrack	Configuration: Network
Ridden: 152	Wishlist: 58
Avg. Speed: 5.99 mph	Avg. Time: 1hr 1min

 

Santos in Ocala

 

Razorback in Reddick (Ocala)

 

Alafia River State Park in Brandon

 

The Berms in Cape Coral

 

  
reviewed by Grumpy_Cyclist on July 19, 2010

To rank this trail at the same level as the great trails in the USA is insulting to those places. I'm assuming that all of the reviewers are locals that have never been out of South Florida. The thought that this trail is at the level of Tsali, Dupont Forest or Moab is absurd. This trail isn't anywhere close to that class. In fact it's not even in the top Florida trails. Santos makes this place look like romper room, San Felesco has 40+ miles of trails and Tom Brown park in addition to having some great technical features also has some nice hills and scenery. Markham Park is a very small park, with very limited trails, a total elevation gain of about 5 feet built in mosquito infested swampland. I feel bad for the riders in S. Fla if this represents the best they have.

Similar Trail: Santos Trails Ocala, Tom Brown Park Tallahassee, San Felesco in Gainesville, Alafia in Tampa are all much much better rides.

  
reviewed by sun79rise on July 3, 2010

It has been almost a year, but I really enjoyed this ride. I was one of the few girls out there. It is pretty advanced but you can choose the lesser of two evils usually. BRING BUG SPRAY!!! I got a flat at the very end and had to walk back. Nice facility with a bike wash station. Great Ride!!!

Similar Trail: Ft. Pierce

  
reviewed by nir4040 on December 31, 2009

Great trail, getting better with time. It's hard to be a mountain biker when you live in South Florida but the group of good people (club mud) who take care of this trail make up for it with unbelievable bridges, drops and short climbs that they hand build! You guys rock! Unlike what is written in the title the single trail is less than 8 miles but these are all sweet.* Review edited 12/31/2009

* Review edited 12/31/2009

Similar Trail: Alafia

  
reviewed by foxrider71 on December 15, 2009

As always, an excellent trail system. 8.5 miles of great singletrack. Very nice technical sections (short but difficult climbs and downhills, bridges, skinnies, rock gardens, etc.). Now even better: The Outback trail has two new sections. There's a new novice trail at the west side. They're also building a new pump track. The freeride area is great. There's something for everyone. Best in South Florida.

Similar Trail: Oleta River and Amelia Earhart in Miami.

  
reviewed by GoKite5 on November 24, 2009

This is a Florida trail, but fairly technical with excessive rocks and short steep climbs and drops. I love an All Mountain bike on this trail. Fairly good trail, rocky, tight, short steep climbs and drops. Its my home turf so I give it a little boost on the star rating. =) Remember this is South Florida.

* Review edited 7/25/2010

  
reviewed by kpurvis76 on November 23, 2009

Better than you can expect for S. Fl. More technical, short but very steep climbs. Probably fourth best trail in Fl behind Santos, Alafia, Carter Road.

  
reviewed by Haromtbrider on November 11, 2009

Funn trail to look forward to on the weekends.

* Review edited 11/11/2009

  
reviewed by pbuitron on November 1, 2009

All you need to know; this park has the legandary " DNA Bridge" awesome park.. it has so many downhills... that you cant go wrong, just becarful with the lakes...

Similar Trail: one of a kind!

  
reviewed by rschaff1971 on September 6, 2009

fun trail, not as long as I thought. Ask Lee Bagget or Hughass. definatly one of the better trails on the florida east coast, fortpierce has similar smoother dips and trails which I thinks are longer but less well marked ... Markham Has some very sketchy rocky downhill sections, one mismanaged bump could cause you some pain

  
reviewed by Lidiacunha on July 27, 2009

I have ridden the beginners trails because at 49 I am a little cautious, but plan on advancing to intermediate as I feel more and more comfortable. I am actually thinking of moving to an apt. close to the park so I can ride more often. I love it!!

Similar Trail: Jonathan Dickinson, Jupiter, FL

  
reviewed by Biohazard74 on July 19, 2009

This is my 1st time at Markham park. I have ridden trails and gone off road biking when i was a kid all thru my teenage years but back when it was mostly BMX style bikes. And for the past 4 or 5 years i have been just riding a hybrid Raleigh SC 30for exercise .A friend of mine has been bugging the c*** out of me to get a mountain bike and start riding at the few parks with him and today was my 1st time and i must say i am "HOOKED" and cant wait to go back. Even if it was pouring i had an awesome time. This trail is a bit tougher than the others around i heard but i said screw it and i did about half of the park. I just couldnt go anymore. Its definately not easy. But i definately will be back soon. I ate the dirt a few times and also the bushes but it was all well worth it.* Review edited 7/19/2009

* Review edited 7/19/2009

Similar Trail: None to compare it too at the moment

  
reviewed by ositoking on May 23, 2009

The ride at Markham today was very sweet. It was raining today and a fun experience. It was a good feeling while riding.

  
reviewed by Floridadan on April 22, 2009

This is the gold standard for South Florida and maybe the state. Come here to see what right looks like. There is something for everyone.

Similar Trail: Amelia Earhart

  
reviewed by Sawyer on February 9, 2009

Markham Park and Oleta are both great trails, although you will likely enjoy Markham much more. The trails flow into each other so your ride never seems to come to an abrupt ending like Oleta. And since the trails are marked so well, anyone from a beginner to the most advanced can enjoy themselves. Some of the drops on the more technical sections are a little much, however the more you try them the better you'll get. But again, there are so many signs redirecting bikers to the more novice section of any given trail, that even most beginners can manage a majority of the way. I moved from upstate NY to FL a few years ago and never thought I would be so lucky to find anything quite like what Markham Park offers. Some trails make you feel like you're riding under a jungle canopy, others like you've reached the summit of a mountain, and yet others have you balancing on the most narrow of bridges. If you are looking for a challenging roller coaster of a ride then Markham Park will not disappoint. So when you go don't forget your helmet, not just because it's required, but because you'll probably end up really needing it.

Similar Trail: Oleta

  
reviewed by billtimmy on January 8, 2009

Markham is great, not for the faint-hearted. It's the toughest trail in South Florida. I can't number the times I've ridden up on someone who is straddling their bike nervously contemplating an obstacle. It's a lot of up & down technical so you have to work to enjoy. I've taken some major spills that have given me cuts and bruises to show-off to my girlfriend (not that she's really impressed with such things but HEY! big crashes deserve some recognition!!). No broken bones so far!!!

* Review edited 1/8/2009

Similar Trail: Oleta River State Recreation Area

  
reviewed by ositoking on October 26, 2008

We rode today and the trail is in great shape. The trails for advanced riders are excellent. There are a couple of new bridges. There is a new park rule. You need an ID card to ride. You have to go to the park office to get one. Its free. You also have to sign a safety waver and watch a 5 minute video about safety.

  
reviewed by silvergoat66 on October 8, 2008

This trail is awesome. It's well laid out, fast, and the technical areas are top notch. I had a blast riding it, and getting with your buddies afterwards and blasting each other on your falls and mistakes is almost as much fun as riding it. I recommend this park to everyone, beginner and veteran.

  
reviewed by jester450 on October 7, 2008

Best trail in South Florida! While many trails in this region are plaqued by soft sand and flat terrain, Markham Park stands out among the rest. It offers advanced riders much to do in an area that offers little. There are rough climbs, decent drops, and even a freeride section. The trails are very well labeled and well kept.

Similar Trail: Santos, Ocala, Fl

  
reviewed by wheelieboy on July 16, 2008

I love Markham Park! This trail is excellent for the advanced rider with many climbs, drops, and bridges. Even a small Jump area has just been added. Definitely the most fun trail system in South Florida. This trail is not as good for the begining riders as most of the trails seem to be expert and intermediate.

* Review edited 9/27/2008

  
reviewed by JackPompanoBeach on June 2, 2008

Markum Park is a blast! Very technical, and lots of places to get hurt if you fall! Also a lot of man made whacky bridges and jumps, this trail is a challenge for any rider. Beginners could find stuff to do, but it's more for advanced! I like the huge downhill ramps, I still get screwed on the wavy bridge every time...Between this and Oleta, a rider from somewhere else can have his or her self**ood time!

  
reviewed by DieselMike on April 19, 2008

I LOVE this place. Well worth my 2 hour drive. Today was my 2nd visit and I don't see how anyone could ever get tired of riding here. Your skills will improve with time spent at Markham, no doubt. Trails are well marked, but I would suggest stopping at the park office to grab a trail map ahead of time. The map is a big help in finding the beginning of trails. (All trails are one way)

Similar Trail: Alafia River, Caloosahatchee Regional Park

  
reviewed by ositoking on March 30, 2008

Markham is the greatest park in South Florida. One of the top ten in the state. They have many trails to choose from, for all level riders. Excellent advanced sections(mostly for cross-country riders).

Similar Trail: Alafia River State Park

  
reviewed by o.galban on March 21, 2008

the best !!!makes me want to move in a cross the street ..

* Review edited 3/23/2008

  
reviewed by pqow92 on December 15, 2007

I just started riding for two weeks. Awesome trail, always friendly people, even on the advanced stuff. Because of this trail my hardtail will be replaced soon by a full suspension lol...it is TOO fun, i hit this place up about 2x a week, say HI to asian guy with black cannondale f5 if u see me..lol

Similar Trail: Oleta, bout 15-30minz away dependin on traffic

  
reviewed by Jcd75 on October 4, 2007

Awesome park for the advanced rider. Great drops, and very well maintained. New trail has opened but i was told that it was ridiculously muddy and to wait a bit. If you are advanced, you will love Markham. For beginner to Intermediate try Oleta. STAY AWAY FROM AMELIA!

Similar Trail: Oleta River State Park in North Miami Beach

  
reviewed by danno346 on October 1, 2007

I found out this weekend that they opened up the expert sections in the "Outback" trail that was closed off before. Next time I go, hopefully they'll have a new map of the new and expanded trails.

  
reviewed by danno346 on September 24, 2007

They just added a new trail to Markham. I talked to one of the other riders out there and he said it just opened this past week. "Route 66" is about 1 1/2 - 2 miles long and it reminded me of some of the trails at Oleta. But word for the wise. Dont ride it after heavy rains, unless you like mudding. Most of the trail was just mud and at a few places my pedals were underwater. It was good fun and a good workout, but if you're not looking to ride in the mud; wait until winter for this trail.

  
reviewed by krismurphy01 on August 7, 2007

Trail has many levels and my whole family finds it challenging. I ride the expert trails and my kids ride the intermediate. You will really need to have good equipment because the cheap stuff tends to break on this trail. Two of my friends found out the hard way that having the right stuff makes a difference (frame issues).

Similar Trail: Still looking

  
reviewed by tatroxell1 on June 13, 2007

1st time today. awesome trail! but extremely technical. not for the faint of heart. almost too hard for me in some of the expert sections....but after a few more times i'll get it.

  
reviewed by pyrophly on April 15, 2007

Fun single track. I rode this in March 2007. It was hot. Bring lots of water. I would recommend riding in the morning or evening.

  
reviewed by danno346 on April 4, 2007

Rode here last week and just now got a chance to write the review. The trails seem to be getting sandy, but I think that's because it's been so dry down here lately. Other than that it's still a good place to ride. It's a good trail to ride on the weekend or after work.

  
reviewed by Major813 on February 19, 2007

DUDE !!!!! this park is intense. I would say the toughest in Florida so far. I almost got killed on this Drop on "Gun Range!" I highly recommend following a group so you can get a feel for the drops, because these will hurt you. I fell off my bike a few times and I am a pretty good rider. My only complaint is the park is very compact. I mean you pretty much go from one trail immediately to the other with no time to recover unless you take a break. All in all a great park

Similar Trail: Alafia and Razorback

  
reviewed by danno346 on February 10, 2007

Rode this afternoon, it took us a while to get into the park because they are having a country music fest there this weekend. The trails are still open, but you have to go around the back to get to them. And the front gate to the trails is closed so you don't have access to the bike wash and map fpr the trails. But after the 11th it should be back to normal. The trails really benefitted from the coconut cup series. They cleaned most of them up and I think they even opened up some that have been closed the last few times I've been there. I just hit the "alligator alley" trail for the first time and that one was good to go. It branches off from the "crime scene" and has a few steep climbs and a whole lot of bridge drops. So if you like those definitely hit that trail up.

* Review edited 2/10/2007

  
reviewed by randy_schneider on February 1, 2007

just keeps gettting better and better. they just recently fixed up large sections of the single tracks. Ridden in about 8 parks in three states. And it's bar none the best. This place get's surprisingly packed after work

  
reviewed by Miguel_Leyva on January 29, 2007

Awesome trails, a place where you can practice differents techniques for all drops and climb. The 10 miles of trails are very impresive.

Similar Trail: Razorback, Ocala

  
reviewed by randy_schneider on January 18, 2007

after riding the trails here 5 or 6 times this past month I've enjoyed it more and more. I still say when you see guys that have been riding forever having to hike a bike that some trails a quite undoable except for the elite experts. But that's fine just a little more excersise. brings your game the day that you go to Markham there are some burners on that trail. large groups of them. mkae sure to go to the shoulder if there's a better rider than you. Markham has now surpassed oletta as my favorite in the the area.

Similar Trail: oletta

  
reviewed by mt._reaper on January 17, 2007

grew up on these trails and now in georgia and yet to find a course as challenging. everything it throws at you is 100% doable without walking up steep climbs you just have to be an expert to do the expert trails.

  
reviewed by randy_schneider on December 13, 2006

Don't want to sound like a panzy, but just not rideable in some parts. Very technical and it's great to have a park in south florida so can't complain too much.

Similar Trail: amelia

  
reviewed by ass_minch on November 29, 2006

I have a question im takin a trip to fla from ohio this december and i have a question? could sombody help? i just started mountain biking and all these parks oleta, markham, quiet, amelia look extemely fun but are these pics of the advanced trails cause im lookin to ride a easy but fun with jumps and drop off hills with roots, and ladder bridges that arnt to high up do all these parks have that i put a 10 cause it looks sweet

  
reviewed by simplyalf on August 19, 2006

Well, my first time there was today. I found the intermediate trails to actually be more advanced! It was a fun spot, howevefr, here are to many rocks and other things in the way that you really cant see coming up as well as drop offs. I suppose that is mountainbiking but some spot really dont have room to gain speed to jump any of this. Alot of sections were to sandy. Alot of spots dont even have room to get your bike through as they are to narrow. I beleive before the hurricane, this track may have been better, but I dont think its a top tier park. Also , on the first advance section, as you enter the park, as well as all advance sections, it is impossible to get your bike up some of the steep rocks or climbs thehy have set up, it is a must to have to walk up and down alot of this stuff, which makes it quite annoying!!! Being this is south Florida and we are not a true mountain bike state and there are so few trails about, Im sure Ill be back. We will see what happens next time...

  
reviewed by ositoking on July 13, 2006

Markham is the greatest park in South Florida. One of the top ten in the state. They have many trails to choose from, for all level riders. Excellent advanced sections(mostly for cross-country riders). There is a new extension bridge just added. It is about 100 feet.

* Review edited 5/22/2007

Similar Trail: Alafia River State Park and Razorback(Ocala)

  
reviewed by TEDSTER on July 4, 2006

I CANT BELEAVE WE DROVE 3AND 1 HALF HRS. TO THIS TRAIL THAT HAS NO COMPARISON TO ALIFHI AT ALL THIS DEFINALY IS NOT WHORTH THE RIDE WHO EVER RATED THIS TRAIL TOP 10 IN FLA IS A JOKE ! MORE LIKE 5 MILES IF YOU ONLY RIDE THE MORE TECNICAL PARTS LIKE WE DO ONLY TWO PLACES THAT ARE ANY TROBLE . THIS TRAIL IS NOT AN 8 A VERY DISAPOINTING 4 MAYBE !

  
reviewed by scottjhay on June 25, 2006

Being a visitor to Florida, I never expected to find a trail like Markham Park. Definitely more of a flowing ride than Oleta River with a lot more technical man mage obstacles. Nicely marked with skill level. It definitely keeps you thinking with some well thought out "suprises". Florida needs more trails like this.

  
reviewed by tony-williams on June 7, 2006

If not the best, among the top three best trails in Florida. I dont know where people get this trail is in comparison to Oleta. Markham is much better. It has a wider selection of levels, with great expert sections, packed dirt rather then rocks, jumps, and bridges. Almost the entire trail is under the shade of the trees as well. This an amazing place to ride.

Similar Trail: Johnathan Dickenson

  
reviewed by ositoking on March 26, 2006

I ride this trail today and it's definitely the most challenging trail in all of South Florida. The advanced section are excellent. I would like to invite everyone to come ride here.

Similar Trail: Alafia river state park

  
reviewed by ositoking on October 8, 2005



* Review edited 5/22/2007

  
reviewed by Lando_Grifin on June 25, 2005

Definitely the most challenging set of trails around South Florida. Intermediates are really advanced, and advanced are, well, relly advanced. Not for beginners. Trail signs (names, directional, etc.) could stand some improvement.

Similar Trail: Oletta River State Park Quiet Waters Park

  
reviewed by TAZY on May 10, 2004

MY FIRST TIME THERE I WASN'T EXPECTING THE DROPS. I AM REALLY LOOKING FOWARD TO RETURNING. I FOUND THE TRAIL CHALLENGING

  
reviewed by Adventurecycling on May 7, 2004

I have ridden this trail several times. The latest being on Easter 2004. In my opinion it is great because it ranges from novice to advanced. A lot of the novice tracks are not singletracks, but are wide, hard, shell packed roads. However, there are fun novice singletracks. The intermediate tracks are fun and challenging. I'm guessing the advanced trails should provide most expert riders a challenge. There are many technical areas to test your balance and skill. Jumps, rail riding, ascents, descents, and sand mounds are some of the plusses. Being it is a network system, many of the singletrack's exit's are near its entrance. Since it is in Markham Park there are full restroom facilities, bike wash station, boat launches, miniature airplane field, tennis courts, outdoor shooting range, campgrounds, volleyball nets, charcoal grills... basically Markham Park is 650+ acres, so you can make this a weekend trip if you choose and catch up on some of your other hobbies too. Admission is charged per car load on weekends and holidays. Will be heading out there again on 4th of July Weekend 2004.

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