Topic: J. B. Starkey Wilderness Park

[ProEdgeBiker.com]

Just wondering, is there plans to make some MTB trails in J. B. Starkey Wilderness Park?
 
this dude i work with told me he saw some SWAMPers out there and was told that there were plans in the works.
 
Funny thing is that if you go to http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/starkey-park.html the 1st picture that pops up is MTBing in the woods but i know people that have been told to get off the off-road trails.

 
C.

[Paintboy]

I live right by there. And been using that park since it opened. it would great if they did open the trails up . but for now those trails you speaking about are for hiking only.. If you would like to ride head north on the power  lines and you will run into the sorenova tract.that has alot area that you can ride . That would be a great area to develop in to some trails..

[Darrinw2001]

As far as I know SWFWMD is not very keen on letting outsider groups into their properties to make or manage trails. The only exception that I know of is Wilderness parks and that is due to Hillsborough county managing the area. I know that a lot of their  properties have multi-use trails that allow biking, but they are shared with equestrians and hikers and usually are not single-track but forest type roads that are not much fun to ride.   

[ProEdgeBiker.com]

then their website has some False Advertising by slapping a pic of an MTBer..

[Singletrack Samurai]

As far as I know SWFWMD is not very keen on letting outsider groups into their properties to make or manage trails. The only exception that I know of is Wilderness parks and that is due to Hillsborough county managing the area. I know that a lot of their  properties have multi-use trails that allow biking, but they are shared with equestrians and hikers and usually are not single-track but forest type roads that are not much fun to ride.

Have you seen the pictures? Those guys look pretty happy!

[Scott]

I spoke with some one in the know to be named at a later date last year about this very subject. They were plotting trails, not sure where they're at currently with this project.

[Alan]

As far as I know SWFWMD is not very keen on letting outsider groups into their properties to make or manage trails. The only exception that I know of is Wilderness parks and that is due to Hillsborough county managing the area. I know that a lot of their  properties have multi-use trails that allow biking, but they are shared with equestrians and hikers and usually are not single-track but forest type roads that are not much fun to ride.

Have you seen the pictures? Those guys look pretty happy!

Only the roadies look happy.  Paved roads through the forest make them happy.


Back when I was in the Boy Scouts we spent a weekend up at this park (this was back in the early to mid 90's).  At the time they had a huge paved loop similar to Flatwoods and a bunch of offroad multi-use singletrack trails as well.  A few of us did some trail riding and didn't run into any issues with getting kicked out.  The only issue we did run into was one of our leaders got closelined by a piece of unmarked barbed wire that was drawn across the trail at about eye level.  Luckily he only had a few deep cuts...nothing serious. 

[Scott]

The paved section is still there and accessable off the Suncoast trail about 2 miles North of 54, it is a nice section of trail about 7 miles one way with facilities at the park end

[ProEdgeBiker.com]

As far as I know SWFWMD is not very keen on letting outsider groups into their properties to make or manage trails. The only exception that I know of is Wilderness parks and that is due to Hillsborough county managing the area. I know that a lot of their  properties have multi-use trails that allow biking, but they are shared with equestrians and hikers and usually are not single-track but forest type roads that are not much fun to ride.

Have you seen the pictures? Those guys look pretty happy!

Only the roadies look happy.  Paved roads through the forest make them happy.


Back when I was in the Boy Scouts we spent a weekend up at this park (this was back in the early to mid 90's).  At the time they had a huge paved loop similar to Flatwoods and a bunch of offroad multi-use singletrack trails as well.  A few of us did some trail riding and didn't run into any issues with getting kicked out.  The only issue we did run into was one of our leaders got closelined by a piece of unmarked barbed wire that was drawn across the trail at about eye level.  Luckily he only had a few deep cuts...nothing serious. 

Well i hope you guys were prepared.

1st off by having your Cycling & your Fist Aid Badges:

 
Then you would of Gotten the Medicine Badge:
 

[ProEdgeBiker.com]

The paved section is still there and accessable off the Suncoast trail about 2 miles North of 54, it is a nice section of trail about 7 miles one way with facilities at the park end

when i do suncoast i go from 54 to 52 then into the park 5mi in and out to get 30mi total. it would be nice if they made some off road trails in there.

[Harvey]

Funny this should pop up when I was exploring out there yesterday. There are trails in the works. They have been approved in an area south of the Anclote River in the tract. We went out there with some directions to get to a defunct bridge over the river, but the river is so high we couldn't get to where we could climb onto the bridge to cross. We left by heading south on the powerline cut and left that in Longleaf. There are mega roads out there, which I am going to explore more extensively with my GPS in the near future.

The official word is that as soon as SWFMUD rebuilds the bridge, we'll be able to start cutting trails. Don't know what that timeframe is, though.

[ProEdgeBiker.com]

Funny this should pop up when I was exploring out there yesterday. There are trails in the works. They have been approved in an area south of the Anclote River in the tract. We went out there with some directions to get to a defunct bridge over the river, but the river is so high we couldn't get to where we could climb onto the bridge to cross. We left by heading south on the powerline cut and left that in Longleaf. There are mega roads out there, which I am going to explore more extensively with my GPS in the near future.

The official word is that as soon as SWFMUD rebuilds the bridge, we'll be able to start cutting trails. Don't know what that timeframe is, though.

HELLS YES!

[Skinman]

That would be the closest trail system to my house if they do. There is a nice Orienteering course at Stakey as well. Great for teaching my scouts. Its a huge tract of land. Would be nice to have some place to carve that wasnt 45 minutes away!

[Paintboy]

Skinman
 
 Is that orienteering course for everybody?

[Singletrack Samurai]

That would be the closest trail system to my house if they do. There is a nice Orienteering course at Stakey as well. Great for teaching my scouts. Its a huge tract of land. Would be nice to have some place to carve that wasnt 45 minutes away!

google map satellite image, you would be surprised what you find close by to ride...

[E90X + 1.1.11]

I ride my road bike up in that area

[mksandoz]

google map satellite image, you would be surprised what you find close by to ride...

LOTS of ROADS! yay! hehe

[Harvey]

this dude i work with told me he saw some SWAMPers out there and was told that there were plans in the works.

I just re-read this and realized that was me, Maria and Nuccio. I had my SWAMP jersey on that day. Maybe not such a good idea when I'm poaching "trails".

google map satellite image, you would be surprised what you find close by to ride...

Exactly what I have in mind for that area. My explorations will definitely get the Koach Karlos stamp of approval.

[Skinman]

Skinman
 
 Is that orienteering course for everybody?

Yes it is!!

[Dave In Odessa]

Can someone keep us posted when the process resumes?  That's 10 minutes from the house, so I'd love to help build some trails out there. 

That place is flat, but it doesn't seem to sit very low, so I doubt the rainy season would be an issue there.

[Paintboy]

Hey Dave all swamp trails started from illegal trail building . You in ??   

[Skinman]

I'm in 

[Dave In Odessa]

Illegal is my middle name.